Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-12

ne seemed broken hearted. II her ~
eDt bonds were severed and sha i p.ss
listen to this other love without 80"
she was not sure but that she rr,.s
yield. snt
Beyond this the confidence ais :.
extend. Perhaps had the ladies -. Ds
a dozen years younger each rniobt - -.
told the other the name and ho-na
her admirer and as much else So.
him as she could call up. But AZ -
ty-two one is not so confidential a. !.
twenty. Besides, there was a 49,,
reason why neither cared to ,al, :.
much. Each of these men, 50 defers,,
tial to the wishes Of the wonna, !.
admired, had a wife Of whom no -.
trying to get rid, or, If this il staff.
the case too strongly, his wife was -
ing to get rid of him.
There was one comfort in this hs...
matter which pertained to both -
these ladies. Neither had any cbud,s,
There were no innocents to be wrun,
by parental infelicities. The law ~
ing elastic, each was on the vsv !,
prove that she had married bad ns,
and had been made unhappy and az
would be able to marry a good man
who would be blessing TO her. WIS,
was to become of these two unvorthv
men neither wife considered.
1t is long road that has no end
and both these ladies at last founS
themselves free from one matriuop,sl
yoke and delighted at the prospect o,
taking on another. Mrs. Smiths resi-.
dence in the west became unneces.
sary a month earlier than Mrs. Jones
and she departed for the east. By this
time the bosom friendship Of Their
younger days had blossomed again
and each had admitted to the Other
that as soon as the knot was untied
she proposed to have a clergyman-if
one could be found-to tie another one
Before Mrs. Smiths departure it had
been agreed between the two that she
should welt for her friend and that
they should be married at the same
time.
During the next months separation
letters passed between them, Mrs
Smith writing of the subsection of her
fiance to her slightest whim and MIRA
Jones chatting under the delay In her
own coming to the same happiness
And it is worthy of mention that the
two men who were casting of their
partners to step into blessed felicity
with these two women were also look
ing forward to their own weddings
A few days after Mrs. Jones obtain
ed her decree she arrived In the city
of New York and the same evening
met her friend Mrs. Smith in private
room at fashionable restaurant. The
ladies met for the purpose Of dining
together, and each had invited her
fiance to be of the party.
The ladies met some time before the
dinner hour and had a good, long chat
each congratulating the other on her
freedom from a brute and her ap-
preaching marriage with prince Of
chivalry. The princes arrived simul.
taneously, were taken up to the dinner
room in the same elevator and were
ushered into the presence OF Their
fiancees at the same moment, the at
tendant announcing:
"Mr. Smith and Mr.. Jones"
There was CONSERVATION on the face
of each and every one Of the four
Mrs. Smiths fiance was Mr.. Jones'
and Mrs. Jones fiance was Mr. Smith
1t seemed for time that the emDar
rassment would be unconquerable and
that the only way out Of the contre
temps was for the party to scatter
Mr.. Smith, addressing his recent VIE
finally said:
MY dear, please explain.
Mrs. Smith pointed to Mrs. Jones ior
the desired explanation. but ME-
Jones was unequal TO the task. III
Jones came to the front.
MY friends" he said, 'it Is evioen.
that we men have swapped wives anu
you wives have swapped HUSBANDS
Mr.. Smith, l have heard what TERN
BILE fellow you are to live WITH anu
have no doubt you have heard VIVA.
terrible fellow l am TO live WIZ. y.
opinion is that none Of us are GOING T"
better ourselves by the change Mause
/ propose that we make rp ana ss'
married again. -.
'T concur" said Mr.. Smith, VII"
the gentleman's statement anu
make you. Gertrude. a similar one,'
The two divorced women looheo =
each other. A suspicion or slips
came upon Mrs. Jones lips. a
Smiths lips caught IT. and 1t proaoe'
ad into n louOb
Come, ladies'" said Mr. Jones'
us have dinner I have been nuhs
for a new love. I am now hunsr! ~
lobster" -
"And l." said Mr.. Smith, for 'e''-
pin" "A
The party sat down TO dinner a.
many choice viands' "asuss
down with several bottles OF cna.
payne. At the end of 1t a clergymss
was called in, who remarrieu
woman to her own husband. ana e.
couple departed for its own nome, -
isfied that all is not gold thar gi''1 N.
and that 1t is better TO bear tne
we have than to iy to Others we hn''
NOT ~