The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-01-25

like young tigress, was an immi-
grant woman, an Italian. An ignorant
peasant type, gentlemen. One Of the
lower human breeds, probably from
Sicily or Corsica, or one Of the half
savage islets tucked away in the Medi-
terranean. She had been refused adj
mission as liable to become a public
charge.
THE interpreter explained it to her.
And she turned on him like q fury,
pouring out a food of incoherent
words. When they had quieted her
the Interpreter told the court what
she had said She wanted to come to
America. She had had q love affair,
and she never wanted to see Italy
again. She could not go back after
spending her savings OF years upon
the passage,
Had she anyone who would be re-
spensible for her?" asked the court.
No, but she was strong and could
work,
THE board consulted. Then the de-
cision was announced. They were
sorry. but since she had no husband
she could not be admitted" aiaa
"She glared about her like trapped
beast. She shrieked and raved,
beautiful. peasant Madonna with the
tragedy of womanhood upon her face.
And all the while the young fool,
watching her, was taking mental notes
for his big story. ~ bigst
And deep down in his mind horri-
BILE idea was growing. The girl he
loved had given him back his ring.
They were to have been married with.
in three months. What chance to
pour out his injured feelings in one
irrevocable act. jf
"Chivalry, called it? Rather chiv-
airy turned inside out. Madness,
cruelty, hideous jest at fate. He
spoke to the court
am willing to become this wom-
ans husband he said.
There were no other reporters pres
ent. What a story, If there had been!
The court laughed at him, and then,
realizing that he was actually in earn
est. scOlded and almost threatened. It
was all in vain. The longer he talked.
the more hardened and resolute he
grew. He would marry her, that she
might enter America.
They sent her away; he followed
her. He insisted on bis right to speak.
He bribed an official to let him talk,
and bribed an interpreter to translate.
She listened In apathetic wonder. She
agreed to marry him. She only knew
that by going through this ceremony
she could gain the entrance to the
land of her hearts desire. And So
they were married.
After the ceremony he left her,
stipuIating only that a brief notifica-
ton should be sent out. He himself
printed paragraph in his paper,
which explained nothing, save that he
was married When the news ap-
peared he did not know where the
woman was.
But his flancee read it and came
to him-came to him, gentlemen, one
morning, to his apartment, and was
shown in. What passed between them
was never revealed, but for a year the
young man was not heard of. He had
simply disappeared Then he turned
up again on Broadway and resumed
his work.
He had gone down into the dust OF
humiliation. told you what q sweet
girl his fiancee was They realized
too late the intensity of their love.
They promised to be true to one an
other through life. The question of
divorce was never bruited. 1t was
contrary to the girls faith. That was
all.
You can see the picture. gentle
men," continued Norris. Here was
the man, married to woman OF whose
he was ignorant. He
would not even know it when she died.
But more startling event was to fol-
low. For, about three years after the
an Italian man came to see
him. He had married the girl, he ex-
planned in broken English. Yes, he
knew all about her marriage to the
young man, but he regarded 1t as q
Joke. for he was Catholic. and of
course considered any ceremony by
The civil power as worthless. He was
happily married, and they had bam-
bino.
The fool went with him to his
home, out of curiosity. The peasant
woman, who could already speak Eng
fish after a fashion, laughed and
blushed and made him Welcome She