The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-07-04
LETS Elope"
~
BY r. RAY BAKER

The persons We're her father and
his mother. The miles were those that
interviewed between Harbor Springs
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 UNI
happiness, when he broached the sub
-jcct to her, and they stayed up till
sndnight 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, if
they had not heard Mr. RamSdell step
s'ut of bed on the floor above and
clear his throat. This brought Charles
out of his semi-trance and he sudden
ly recalled that the air outside was
wonderfully invigorating and that his
sungS needed some of it.
The next morning Mr.. Ramsdell
sailed 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
snto matrimOny with the only young
anan 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
hut 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 goins
about with Charles any longer.
About the same time Mrs. Halstead
was having similar interview .ith
her son in the house next door; for
she Halsteads and Ramsdells We're
neighborS. When Ethelyn was child
her mother had diUl, and Mr.. Hal
stead had departed from this earth
before his son had mastered Il vOcahu.
larry of fifteen words. Etheyn and
Charles had gone to school together
when they We're in the lower grades
as well as in high school, and he had
of her.
Charles had not made confdant
of his mother II 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
portant night, told her that the eli
may rad been reached.
M ,o,,
she demanded. you're too young. |
know you are of age and ought to be
capable of judging for yourself. but
just the same I'm going to interfere
for your own sake"
The young people knew very we'll
that they could not give each other
mp. especially since their affection
seemed to increase 100 per cent after
they We're forbidden each others so
rfety. SO they met ~stii'rePriti0ilS.y
when opportunity offered ana when
These opportunities did not come suf-
.ficiently frequent of their own accord
they were manufactured.
But Charles was wasting his time,
and he realized it. He had no pro-
fnssion, no business. and if he was to
marry he must find way to carve a
career or at least obtain job that
would provide for two. Furthermore,
ne felt ashamed that his mother shonld
continue supporting him out of the
comfortable hut not ineXhaustible 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 he
idea.
II dislike having you leave home,
son." she said, but realize it is for
the best. My sister will come and
live with me. Yes. it is for the best"
The young people had not abandoned
their plans for the future. After once
bringing up til. subje. of matrimony
Ethelyn never mentioned her inten-
qions to her father for Mr.. Ramsdelrs
refusal to consent to "any such non
sseaaSe" had. been firmness itself.
Charles had met like failure in his
attempts to PERSUADE his mother that
EtheIyn was the girl for him; so they
continued their clandestine meetings,
secretly rejoicing In the risk and n,ys-
aery attached to them.
When Charles left home he wrote
regularly three times a week to Ethe-
lyn. and at first he received letter for
letter in reply.
AT least they don't care If we
write" he said. "rhat's some graft
fieation-"
But her answers became less fire.
Guent. He continued his three let
tiers a week. but the replies diminished
to one week and finally one every
fortnight. So he cut his correspond
ence in proportion. but he cared none
the less for Ethelyn. His affection,
Gn the contrary, was increased during
their separation.
Within year Charles "made good"
in real estate Office in Grand Rapids
and decided the time was come when
he could provide for wife. He was
apprehensive. however that his sweet
hearts apparent neglect indicated a
lapse in her love.