The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-06-20
Lets Elope"
By R. RAY BAKER

tCopyrlght, 1913, by the Mcclure News |
paper Syndicate)
Two persons and 200 miles came
between Ethelyn Ramsdel and Charles
Halstead.
his mother. The miles we're those that
interviewed between Harbor Springs.
q 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 preached 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 floor above and
clear his throat. This brought Charles
out OF his semi-trance and he sudden
~ recalled that the air outside was
wonderfully lnvlgorating and that his
lungs needed some of it.
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
I'm oSnoCiQlIV
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 a similar interview with
her son in the house next door; for
the Halsteads and Ramsdells were
neighbors When Ethelyn was a child
her mother had died, and Mr.. Hal
stead had departed from this earth
before his son had mastered vocabu-
larry of fifteen words. Ethelyn and
Charles had gone to school together
when they were In the lower grades
as we'll as in high school, and he had
been graduated only one year ahead
OF her.
Charles had not made confldant
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
portant night, told her that the ell
max had been reached.
4What 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, but
just the same Tn going to Interfere
for your own sake"
The young people knew very wei
that they could not give each othel
up, especially since their affection
seemed to increase 100 per cent, aftel
they were forbidden each others 80
ciety. So they met surreptitiousl!
when opportunity offered and whel
these opportunities did not come SUI
ficiently frequent of their own accor'
they were manufactured.
But Charles was wasting his time
and he realized it. He had no pro
fession, no business, and II he was t
marry he must find way to carve
career or at least obtain a job tina
would provide for two. Furthermore
he felt ashamed that his mother shout
continue supporting him out OF tn
comfortable but not inexhaustible sur
his father had left her
At last he decided to leave hi
home town and seek his fortune In
larger city. To his surprise his mothe
consented even encouraged him in IN
idea.
81 dislike having you leave hom
son." she said, "but l realize it is fc
the best. My sister will come an
live with me. Yes, it Is for the best
The young people had not abandone
their plans for the future. After ono
bringing up the subject of matrimon
Ethelyn never mentioned her intel
lions to her father, for Mr.. Ramsdell
refusal to consent to "any such no
sense" had been firmness itsel
Charles had met like failure In h
attempts to PERSUADE his mother TIL
Ethelyn was the. girl for him; so tht
continued their clandestine meeting
secretly rejoicing in the risk and my
terry attached to them.
When Charles left home he wro
regularly three times week to Eth
lyn. and at first he received letter I
letter In reply.
AT least they don't care II '
write" he said. That's some grn
f1cation."
But her answers became less fl
ouent. He continued his three Il
tiers week, but the replies diminish
TO one a week and finally one eve
fortnight. So he cut his correspor
ence In proportion, but he cared no
the less for Ethelyn. His affectio
on the contrary. was increased duri
their separation.