The Lamar register., 1919-09-17
Lets Elope"
By r. RAY BAKER

Two persons and 200 miles came
between Ethelyn Ramsdell and Charles
Halstead.
The persons were her father and
his mother. The miles were those that
intervened between Harbor Springs.
a northern Michigan town. and Grand
Rapids. the furniture manufacturing
center of the same state.
Charles had voted for the first time
In his life and Ethelyn had just passed
eighteen, when he decided he had been
single long enough. She agreed to help
him out of his state Of unwedded un-
happiness, when he broa ached the sub
ject to her, and they stayed up till
midnight TO discuss the plans-and
they would have continued the discus
sion needless OF the fact that there
were things such as clocks. and per
sons such as fathers and mothers, II
they had not heard Mr.. Ramsdell step
out OF bed on the Moor above and
clear his throat. This brought Charles
out of his semi-trance and he sudden
ly recalled that the air outside was
wonderfully invlgorating and that his
lungs needed some OF II.
The next morning Mr.. Ramsdell
called his daughter into his study and
took the negative and winning side Of
the debate: "Resolved. That . young
lady. just past eighteen. ought to leap
into matrimony with the only young
man she has ever known. especially
when he has no financial prospects
whatever"
Ethelyn argued In vain that she
never could care for any young man
but Charles. and she pleaded tearfully
and at some length. but her father
said he was looking out only for her
welfare when he forbade her going
about with Charles any longer.
About the same time Mrs. Halstead
was having u similar Interview with
her son In the house next door: for
the Halsteads and Ramsdeils were
neighbors. When Etheiyn was q child
her mother had died. and Mr.. Hal
stead had departed from this earth
before his son had mastered a vocabu.
larry Of fifteen words. Ethelyn and
Charles had gone to school together
when they were in the lower grades
as well as in high school. and he had
been graduated only one year ahead
OF her.
Charles had not made n confidant
of his mother In the matter Of his
love AFFAIR. but she had kept an eye on
him and Intuition. coupled with his
long absence from home on that i'm
max had been reached.
"what can you know about lover
she demanded. You're too young.
know you are OF age and ought to be
capable OF Judging for yourself, hut
Just the same I'm going TO interfere
for your own sake"
The young people knew very well
that they could not give each other
up, especially since their affection
seemed TO increase 100 per cent. after
they were forbidden each others 40
ciety. So they met surreputiously
when opportunity offered and when
these opportunities did not come suf-
nciently frequent OF their own accord
they were manufactured.
But Charles was wasting his time,
and he realized IL. He had no pro-
fession. no business. and II he was to
marry he must find way to carve q
career or at least obtain a job that
would provide for two. Furthermore,
he felt ashamed that his mother should
continue supporting him out of the
comfortable but not lnerhnustible sum
his father had left her.
AT last he decided to leave his
home town and seek his fortune In
larger city. To his surprise his mother
consented. even encouraged him In the
idea.
"I dislike having you leave home.
SON." she said. but ! realize II is for
the best My sister will come and
live with me- Yes. II Is for the best"
The young people had'n not abandoned
their plans for the future. After once
bringing up the subject OF matrimony
Ethelyn never mentioned her inten-
tions to her father. for Mr.. Ramsdell's
refusal to consent TO "any such nom
sense" had been hrmness itself.
Charles had met like failure In his
attempts to PERSUADE his mother that
Ethelyn was the girl for him; SO they
continued their clandestine meetings.
secretly rejoicing in the risk and mys-
tery attached TO them.
When Charles left home he wrote
regularly three times q week to Ethe-
ixp and at dr,t he received letter for