The Tupelo journal., 1915-11-12
JOHN SAW THE LIGHT
AND THE WEDDING BELLS RANG
IN DUE COURSE.
Fact That MoIIie Had Much the Best
of the Situation May Have Had
Something to Do With His
Decision.

1t is three years since the report of
the ease with which wealth could be
acquired in this country reached John
Does ears in Europe and lured him
across the broad Atlantic. To the
questions of the immigration inspec-
tors at Ellis island John Doe answered
that he had been twenty-three years
in this world; that the b~lessedness of
the married state had lev appealed
to him. and that he could exc out his
existence by plying his trade as a
cloakmaker.
His first year in American John Doe
devoted to earning and saving every
cent he could, picking up English
meanwhile. The second year found
him starting out in business for him
self and meeting with marked sue
cess. The third year a general strike
occurred among the cloakmakers and
the manufacturers had a hard time to
pull through.
The strike found John with a large
batch of untitled orders contracted for
DIT IAS IONCi IdNC VI NCSSG' AS tAN
workmen had won their strike for
higher pay and returned to work John
discovered himself facing bankruptcy
and he cast about him for a means
to save what he could out of the
wreck.
Mollie was an exceedingly pretty
girl. Even John, whose thoughts were
devoted to ways and means for max
ing money, noticed this fact, and now
as he racked his brain for a scheme to
save something from the oncoming
storm he looked ref1ectively at Mollie
where she sat working at a sewing
machine, and a plan suddenly occurred
to him. Why not pretend that he was
engaged to Mollie and give her valu-
able presents of jewelry in honor OF
the fictitious event, and when the
bankruptcy had blown vel reclaim
his property and start up again with
the money thus spared?
When first she heard of it Mollie
demurred at being a party to such a
project, but upon Johns Offering her
a substantial consideration she con-
Iented to undertake the role Of tenn
porary fiancee. John then presented
her with several pieces of diamond
lewelry, such as a ring Of two, a
lavaIliere and earrings, and to make
the engagement seem more plausible
he fitted out a fiat with nice furniture.
After the bankruptcy took place
John was forced to testify to the
various presents he had made to his
hancee, and the court thereupon or
dered that all the jewelry be turned
over to the receiver in bankruptcy.
AS to the furniture, the judge held
that it was personal and household
property, and as such exempt under
the bankruptcy act.
IN the course of time Johns case
was completed and he was free to
start over again. Accordingly he de-
termined to sell the furniture he had
bought for his supposed bride-to-be,
but by this time Mollie had become so
attached to the furniture and so
~reconciled to the thought of getting
married that she refused to give up
he property. John was in a guam
Aary.
You promised to return it to me
when | bought it and put it here"
said John, as he looked around the
coy little fiat.
But all my friends think we are
really and truly going to be married
soon, and if | return it to you and we
don't get married | may eve get
another young man. If you are going
to break off the engagement you
Should at least leave me the furniture
sc that | will have it for a dowry
when | do get married.
John looked at Mollie and she was
really good to look upon.
Il was only fooling you" said he
with a smile. Come, lets get mar
ried right away"