Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-03-29


Republican. and his life was insured
for two thousand dollars. He was
alone in the world, just as she was.
Together they inspected the poultry
and live stock exhibits. He treated
her to saltwater taffy, ice cream soda
and "shore dinner" in the refresh
ment tent. They saw the trotting races
and the balloon ascension. Before
bidding her good-by at the railroad sta
ton, he informed her that he owned an
automobile, and, if she hadn't no OBJ
lection he would kind Of like to drive
over one of these days and take her
to ride.
The following Saturday afternoon
he did drive over. The ride was de-
lightful; the little car ratified and
skipped" but kept going A week
later he came again, and twice during
the week following. A month later
he proposed marriage. 1t. was then
that she told him of her other love af-
fair. When she was eighteen she had
been engaged to a man who kept a
billiard saloon at Pigeon Cove. Later
she broke the engagement.
81 found out" she said with shud-
der, that he was dissipated. He
never told me, but once 1 saw him
drunk-intoxicated, mean. He had
been drinkin' whisky then, but when
he couldn't get that he drank Jamaica
ginger. He'd been arrested and in the
lock-up two or three times. If he'd
told me might have forgiven him !;
1 was a girl and I probably should
have forgiven him and been sorry af-
forwards. But he'd never told me and
1 couldn't forgive that. That's why
I'm telling you this now, Obed. The
time to tell such things is before mar
riage, not afterwards. There mustn't
be secrets between husband and wife.
I've read too many stories in books
about folks with a past gettin' mar
ried, and nothin' but misery ever came
of it. If you've got anything in your
past life now is the time to tell me of
1t, Obed."
":Sure thing!" agreed Obed, prompt
ly. what do you say, Lurelia? Will
you marry me?"
She said yes, and, six weeks later
they were married and she came to
Orham to live with him in the little
cottage at the rear of the hotel prop
erty. Now, a very happy wife, she
was making him a cranberry pie be-
cause he liked 1t better than any other
kind.
The pie baked, and the table in the
dining room set for dinner, she
stepped to the kitchen door to see If
he was In sight. He was not but some
one else was, disreputable male,
who was sauntering toward her across
the back yard. His clothes, his hat,
his unshaven face, classified him in
her judgment as a tramp. She was
not afraid Of tramps and asked him
what he wanted.
"Ma'am," he said, "does anybody
name Of Ellis live hereT'
"Mr. Obed Ellis lives here" she re-
The tramp nodded. "They told me
this was his hang-out," he observed.
II thought I'd just stop in and see
him. So you're his wife, Ell? didn't
know he was married"
"Come in and sit down." she said.
He came into the spotless kitchen and
sat down upon one of her freshly
scrubbed chairs. He looked about the
room. crossed his dingy. ragged
trousered legs. and shifted.
"Say," he observed, cheerfully,
"that pie over there smells good to
me-"
She did not take the hint. II can
give you some cold meat and bread
and butter" she said. coldly. "Will
that do?"
He grinned "And a slab of that
pie, eh?' he Queried
II should say not! That pie is for
my husband. If the meat and bread
and cup Of tea won't satisfy you.
then"
"Oh. they'll satisfy me all right, II
there's enough of 'em. Just watch
what l do to 'em. Trot 'em out"
She filled plate and put 1t and the
cup Of tea on the kitchen table. $50
you used to know Mr.. EllisT' she OBJ
served. what is your nameT
He grinned again, as well as one
can grin with a mouth full.
my name is Dugan." he said;
mike Dugan. but they don't generally
call me that. Got any more teaY'
She ref1lled the cup. where did
you and my husband know each 9TH
err" she asked.
"Oh. over In the pen-the JAIL
mean"
The teapot did not fall from her
hand. but 1t came very near IL
''The Jail" she exclaimed. "why-
why, what jail?"
'"The Ostable Jail, Of course. There
amt no other in these diggin's. ODE
and me were in there at the same
time"
"When was thisT' she asked.
"Eh? Oh, dunno. Four years ago,
maybe. How about comm acrost with
the butterr'
She put the butter-plate beside him.
"You and-and my husband were
INN the Jail together four years
agoT' she asked.
"Sure, Mike"
"What-why was ne thereY'
"Eh? Oh, same thing that gets 'em
all. Needed the cein, I guess. Didn't
he never tell your
She wanted to cry, but instead she
tried to laugh.
"Was-was yeu in there for-for
stealin'T
| "Me7 NOT on vour lifai Rum was