The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-04-29
RELATIVES COAX GIRL TO KEEP
HUSBAND ''GOD CHOSE
INDEPENDENCE Banker Backed by Fam
lily in Plea to Dorcas Keown to
Drop Annulment Suit i'm Vain.
Prefers Machinist's Love TO
Luxuries of Life.

Luxuries of Life.
When Mrs. Henry L. Rushfel
looked her husband of three days II
the eye at Lamont, Iowa Thursday
morning, and said: "I'm going tt
find Henry only Henry wasn't the
real name-she revived a question
that has been setting her family anG
friends by the ears for weeks and
months, and which they thought had
been settled once and for all when
the two were married Monday after.
noon, says the St. Joe Gazette.
But that was because they didn't
know young girls heart. They had
counted on argument, ceremonies
and influence to turn her from he1
girlhood sweetheart to what was OBJ.
viously "a God match
And Henry l.. Rushfelt, assistant
cashier of the Jackson county bank
at independence, Mo-, leader in his
church and clean cut, outstanding
young man, truly might be consider
ed good match
Love Points the Way.
IT happened, however, that Dorcas
Keown didn't love Rushfelt, and she
did love Henry. Arguments, influence
and such aren't much avail in such a
case For Dorcas, as did Mary Tudor
in when Knighthood Was In Flow
err" could kneel before the altar of
her old love with hair loosened as a
sign of her virginity still enduring,
and with a heart that was all for
Henry, she started back to unravel
the tangled web of legal technical
tiles and to be free to wed her girl
hood sweetheart.
So, beset with doubts as to the
morality of her action, suffering tor
lures in the thought that she might
, be bringing dishonor upon her
church but steadfast in the belief
that she had done her real lover a
great wrong she came back to St.
Joe to make a reparation.
Wed Against Will.
As a result, two hours after she
reached the city, she had told her
story to Attorney E. M. Swartz and
has signed petition alleging she
had been overpersuaded and had
married Rushfelt against her will.
She charged that members of her
family were in the conspiracy, and
prayed for an annulment of the mar
rage.
Then trouble piled up for Dorcas.
Rushfelt came hurrying to st. Joe.
kilograms summoned her father and
brother from their farm near Lamo-
nj. Other members Of the family
gathered around. Friends joined the
seige. All were assailing the girl.
They were horror stricken. They
looked upon her as having commit
ted an atrocious sin. They argued
and pleaded.
This is New DOrcas.
But this was new Dorcas; she
stood firm. 1t was not the sick girl
who, overwhelmed by protestations
OF love and the arguments that she
had been called of God to be the wife
Of Kuehfelt, and the mental attitude
OF all the members of her family,
and the very obvious good match" "
had consented to the wedding Dor
cas- had thought it all out. She was
listening to the voice of love. She
had decided.
So Henry L. Rushfelt went back
to independence last night on the
1880 O'Clock interurban. And Dor
cas-, with bit of respite won by her
answering declaration that she
would rot be Mrs Rushfelt, and that
she did love Henry, went to her
What is in the. making for the
situ:tion, is to be seen. The father
and brother are determined that the
petition with it's startling allega-
lions, be withdrawn; the members of
the family still want the good
match" and young Henry L. Rush
felt, assistant cashier, handsome
young fellow, clean cut, a leader in
the church, is still very much in love
with Dorcas.
Family Nearly Surrenders.
Yesterday afternoon the beseigers
said they would never give up. Soon
er or later they would conquer the
girls will. Rushfelt would get the
girl. Last night, after tho father and
brother had repeatedly told the girl
she had subjected herself to ten
year term in the penitentiary for per-
jury by her petition, half relented.
They resented the accusation they
were trying to force the girl to live
with Rushfelt against her will. They
even wanted to fight a reporter, out
on dark street going to a car, for
making the statement. But they
changed their attitude bit, and now
it looks as If. it may be little cas-
Ter for the girl as far as family OPP
position is concerned.
Then. too, it must be said that one
sister, Mrs. Anna Fullick, who until
Saturday, lived at 15O4h South 10th
street, was a partisan for her little
sister. 1t was to her that Dorcas
had flown when she left her husband
at Lamont and started back to find
Henry. Her home was the only ref
uge she had.
A Pretty Girl.
Dorcas is a trim little person,
tastefully dressed and pretty, when
in good health. For several weeks
she has been sick. She is dark and
has expressive brown eyes. She is
of the ranks of the workers, and this
morning will start out to one of the
local factories, even her. trouble al
lowing her no relief from toll.
Yesterdays exciting and nerve
racking day was spent by her at the,
home of q sister, Mrs. George H. Will
lis 3O181k Locust street. The sister
has something of Dorcas' own spirit,