The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-10-18

to the latter class.
L felt like soldier on the battle
field, who must either run from the
enemy or dash forward for safety. l
did not seize, standard and cry, For
wardr' But l did what amounted. to
the same thing. l advanced toward
the bride and led her to the parson,
who was. standing at one end of the
room with book in his hand.
There was but one halt in the we'd
ding ceremony. When asked for the
ring I had no ring. / muttered some
thing about hurrying to join the coiors
and stupid forgetfulness. The brides
mother took, a ring from her. fngerr and
handed it to me. put it on; the Brides
finger and in a few minutes was mar
ried: man.. AS soon as I could escape
congratulations announced that if /
did not Join my regiment at once /
would be pronounced a poltroon and a
coward, and, leaving my regretful
bride, dashed out, got into the car
In which, had come and, leaving an
astonished throng, turned on the pow
er and sped out Of the grounds into tie
street. i'lF-@@ -
I had not gone d block before say
a man in uniform and carrying SUIT
case hurrying In the opposite direction.
Turning to the curb. shouted Hey.
there! :
He looked at me and, not recogniz-
ing me, was about to hurry on. He
appeared to be about my age, my build
and looked not unlike me. '''''
; "Going to be married?" l asked.
Eyes; I'm late. Excuse me. must
get on" -ass
""Get in here" said, opening the car
door. ~ i,&
Thinking that was intending to aid
him in making haste, he did as babe
him. Instead of turning and driving
back, sped on.
."What are you doing?" he cried.
LET me out. was to have been mar
ried at noon, and it is now quarter
past"
I increased the pace.
"Who are you? And where are you
taking me?' he cried.
"Comradev' said I in an impressive
voice.
"Comrade be hanged! Are you go
ing to kidnap mel"
Have you any bowels Of compass
sion?"
t"Let me out of this or Pip
"Can you bear to hear some bad
news?" .e .f
"Yes. Hurry up. Has anything hap
pened to Lillian?" '<~,~5s"-'. ....1s.
"She's married"
Married"
Eyes, married; married by mistake ~
Married by mistake!> Are you de-
mented?'
mot demented; a crack Drained
idiot"
He looked at me as though he be-
lieved that l had told the truth. then
asked:
Whom has Lillian married?'
Me-" groaned.
"For heavens sake, cease to tanta-
lie me and tell me what all this
means"
l struck q broad country road at this
moment and, slackening my pace, told
him the story of what had happened
to me during the past two hours.
When l had finished the recital said
to him solemnly:
"For Lillian's sake, for heavens sake,
do not reveal this blunder. Let Lii
liant was fortunate had learned
her name-''remain in ignorance that
she has married the wrong man."
/ suppose it was my intensity that
convinced him of the truth of my
story. At any rate he expressed no
doubt that the girl he was to have
married had become my wife. Posses
sion is nine points in the law. In ad-
dition to the shock he would bring to
Lillian by making known her mistake
and my rascally taking advantage OF
it, there must be a divorce. He con-
fessed that he had not seen her for
three years; that, being ordered to the
colors. he had revived an old attach
ment and had written her that since
he must 60 to the war he preferred to
go leaving behind him wife who
would care for him II he returned
MANNED and mourn for him II killed.
"a somewhat selfish view to take of
the matter" l suggested
Yes. and wonder she accepted the
proposal. l suppose It was patriotism.
All the women are losing their heads
about the war"
1T seems to- mel said after q
pause, that It is tweedledym and twee-
dledee between us. You were to have
been married with a selfish motive.
permitted girl to remain in q mistake
she had made till, being corneredi ]
committed still more rash act. 1t
seems to me that we are both beholden
to do what seems to be tor her best In
terest. II you win permit her to re-
main in her mistake ] viii do the same
till favorable time arrives for con-
fession. Then II she win remain my
wife I will do my best to make her
happy. S'
"All this is very fine but where do
I come in
The remark was discouraging, but !
kept on holding before him the trouble
a