Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 53

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1 IN ir 4 .4, i I-', 1 D2 ts 0, ,,,,1, bow, II Al. I tt 11 I i 4 -1 A 4t 'But I wouldn't let her Catch expostulated Abelard. And we can see each other every day. We can go to the theaters and the parka', and 'you can go shopping. Why, it will be then it wilibe unique, It will be real stylish.

I'd like to have'just that sort of a stylish time." In the end Mrs. Abelard.capitulated to Abelard's consutning fear, and he. with returning joy tds things and went in search of another hotel. a half hour he was back fairly adiant. It's only a half block, away'.

he'said, "and from my window I can see Now we can enjoy a His fear didnot allow him' to any more visits tc Mrs. Abelards hotel, became a patron boys sent her hourly mites. until be made a' discovery, He found a telephone in hiS room. "Do you think they have one in the Winton?" he asked the clerk. "In every room, just as we have," replied he.

then I could May in my room and talk to a person in the Winton in her room?" asked Abelard, and ran quickly away with his key as soon as he discovered that he could. From that on there were no more messengett boys employed between Mr. and Mrs. When Abelard proposed a trip to Mrs. Abelard he did it over the telephont.

and they met near the place it was proposed to separating when they left. s' trips through the streets were the most tmcomfortahie experiences of his as he lived In expectation of hearing his name sounded in a shrill voice and of being put to the necessity of a wild rush down the street to ayoiti capture. 0 BELARD stooa hesitatingly beside ths box of Ai dried apples and the barrel of soda crackers. lie shifted kineasily on his feet and occasionally his hand dropped into barrel or the box ind ottmes forth holding an apple or a cracker Th ,..,1 t. transferred to his mouth.

kir. Watkins, the grocery man. watched the proce2eg3 'grimly, glancing over the rim of his spectacles. 1 his spectacles. 1' Was there anythitig'isiss you was a-wanting.

Abe lard?" be inquired, with ai 11114 concealed reference to the dried apples and the crackers Nothing to speak said Abe lard quickly. "Nothing to speak said Abelard quickly. women, were startled. They looked around in time to Dee Abe lard in passage again. Drat that man, what ails exclaimed fat Mts.

Tilden. He never acted that way before." said the widow. He comes in of an afternoon and buys his two cigars for a nickel and is always pleasant like." Mrs. Tilden gave the widow a shrewd look as she settled her glasses on the bridge of her nose. WelL never saw a man so pestered by a woman in my and I've known Jeremiah." 'Both wotnen laughed heartily at thfs acknowledgment of feminine tnle in the Tilden household.

She's breken off five matches which Abelard had fixed tip.ontintied Mrs. Tilden, and th6se are to my How.manylnore she's nipped in the bud no one knows." The visitor rose and the widow sold her the finecut for Jeremiah: As she turned to go out the door she bumped into Abelard, who gave up the attempt to enter and scurried rapid- ly away. Did you ever?" she exclaimed. What does all the man?" No explanation could be offered, and Mrs. Tilden, findini-- the obstruction removed, succeeded in getting through the .9 Alone again, the widow sat down and ejaculated once more: Well.

for the land's sakes" Then she continued to sit In deep thought. OutSid0Abelard could be seen passing but since bis colliSion with Mrs. Tilden he avoided the entrance i There vitPe Otte cusforoc4, but as hig1t4eame on and Mrs. William began to put up thin shutters shswas still exclaiming a For the laild's sake!" itt Intervals and Abelard was still scurrying abont the neighborhood. ti I' I it, .1 11 Thought- might have forgotten some, dried apples oar soda crackers," said Mr.

Watkins pointedly. Abelard blushed and moved with greet suddenness from the vicinity Df the apple box and the cracker barrel. Mr. Watkins grunted and turned to draw a gallon of gasoline. At that Abelard quietly tore a square of wrapping paper from the roll.

On the counter and left the store. NVith his sheet of brown paper he. Went bp the alley by the side of the storp and-seated himself on a box. Looking about he, avied 'a piece of board, which he secured. Laying it across his knees.

he spread his paper on it and produced a pencil. With these he busied himself. Presently he betrayed symptoms et distress and had periods of misery which 'ha, trial), 14-- tivitie Elitil.legirhbottt 'Oros 'another and tors at. his heir with the hand which was not- engaged In nzOrtur the His nceupattOn cvortettmed- much time and the PeriOds of distress' became trquerrt. he concluded his labors ant piffling a ha.pailterchief from his pocketi mopped his I The office of the hotel was not a safe place.

It and the Winton were the two hotels to which a eraveler from hit native town would naturally turn In the city, and his sister Might be expected to appear in either of them a few minutes after she arrived. If she did arrive. The first day passed without Incident to alarm him further and his- innate fears were diminishing gradually when he awoke on the fellow-ins morning. Directly after break, fast, and after he had called up Mrs. Abelard, he ventured but and purchased two tickets musical extravaganza playing at one of the This was riotous dissipation, but Abelard was nerved to it by a desire, to see a real show." The acquisition of these tickets he corcununicated to his wife over telephone and 'was told.that she proposed going shopping.

That gave him allart of the day to himself, and, purchasing a sackful of candy, two comic papers, and a magazine, he went into win: ter quarters in his room and prepared to enjoy himself. This serene and quiet performauee was interrupted three hours afterwards by a ringing orthe telephone bell. What he heard inferred from what he said; It-Started thus: "0 Lord, what are we 'going to liar 't Where was she when you saa--- 7 "Did she bee you?" "I forgot all about our names on the Where is she Can't she lookin through the How are you going to get her away from in front of the I I. Suppose she doesn't go to eat?" I'm trying to be spunky." I guess you'd be scared, too, if she was your sister." "Does she think I am with your- Well, you Mightbe able guess from the way, she acts." I won't let her take, me -Anyway, she doesn't know where I "Telephone to the hotel office and. have them make her to 1 send you your ticket the Well, I'll tell the boy to stick it under thel dOor without trying to get, in the room." You can slip out in the evening when she's not looking.

when she goes to eat- meet you inside the theater. You can find your way." $, A stenographic report of what was said at a telephone is not of necessity an Indicator of emotions. felt was better shown by his contortions; his inflections, and his grimaces. They indicated that he was in a state of mind far from tranquil. His peace of mind for the rest of the day was gone.

He sent for a messenger boy and gave him Instructions how to deliver the ticket and further instructed him to return and report on the state of affairs outside the door. You just see if there's a lady sitting tat the door," he said. The boy reported that the lady was not sitting there and Abelard's spirits arose a degree. It required all his courage to leave his room and get his supper, but he accomplished it without accident. -Nothing but -overpowering 'desire to see the show would have tempted him out elf the reomat night.

but that did. At 8 o'clock he emerged and made his way quickly into. the street. He looked in all directions, and then started at full speed for the theater. He was obliged to pass the Winton, but he was under full headway as he neared it Just as he reached the entrance he was caught in a crush of pedestrians and forced to mark time for an instant, and In that Instant he glanced towards the hotel.

Then there was a cry of Abelard," and the people passing by were surprised to see a mild looking man jump from the sidewalk to the street and round a corner at full speed, while a woman came running from the hotel crying: Abelard, Abelard." The victim ran at full speed. the cries behind him diminishing in strength, until he came to the theater; Into which he plunged immediately. A little behind him came Miss Higgins, much out of breath from running and crying albud. At the theater door stood a policeman. i Did you see Abelard?" she inquired of him.

"Did I see who. ma'm?" asked he. Abelard," she answered. lie came running down here just slow." Was he a timid looking man with a red asked the policeman with an inspiration. Yes, 0, tell me where be went," said the anxious Miss Higgins.

He went inside the theater, ma'am," replied the officer. Has he done anything to you?" O. no, he's just my brother. Could I go in the theater, too?" she inquired "Just buy a ticket If you haven't got one." was the corn. forting response.

At the box office Miss Higgins' courage almost failed when she learned the price she would be required to pay, and there was another difficulty, as the ticket seller could not tell ivr where Abeiard was sitting. However. after-much fumbling at her purse 'he secured a ticket and committed herself to the mercies of the usher. Before she entirely realized what was happening to her she found herself seated amid strange surroundings. and Abelard was nowhere to he seen.

Frightened and timid. she sat quietly and hardly dared more than to turn her head slightly from side to side as she looked about the rapidly filling house. Four girls with gyrating skirts bounded on the stage bud ft gan a wonderful dance. -above the, applause which greeted them there sounded an anguished voice. Abelard, Abelard," it cried.

This ain't no fit place for you. Abelard. You come right out of here, Abelard." There stood Miss Higgins, tall, gaunt. worried, and diss tressed. the target of all eyes in the theater.

Ushers were hurrying down the aisle to her seat and Abelard crumbled ur in his seat" Come along." cried Mrs. Abelard. clutching at his sleeve. aVe've got to get out." She expected that the ushers would be after them next as the real causes of the lie obeyed and the people were treated to the sight of Miss Higgins marching out one aisle with a respectful usher at her arm and of Abelard and Mrs. Abelard, red faced and humiliated, marching out another.

At the entrance they found alise Higgins-with the usher Confronted by a policeman. Abelard's courage took a- sudden bound into active being. He went boldly to the officer. That's my sister," be said, and she ain't done -nothing wrong." Miss Higgins gave a grateful cry of recognition and fell on his neck. The next evening a boat left its wharf on the river, bound up the lake, and it carried a wedding party -of three, sitting In the stern.

Now, this Is the kind of a wedding trip I like." said Abelard, sitting in the center of the line of three. we alon't ways wanted you to come along. Jane, but we didn't know how you would take it." forehead. That dope, hearose and came back to the Just before she, closed her store she sat down and wrote He glanced up and'dowo and across. A little to the right was 4 something on a bit of writing caper.

Her emotions during a small cigar stare. Towards this he started to go, but this act did not seem to rack her as did Abelard's under simia stopped after se few 'steps, and came back. tar circumstances, but it proved to be a tedious matter. When Then with more speed he walked down the street, turned she had finishes she blew out the lamp and closed the door a corner, 'walked another block, tinned another corner, and behind her. so on until he was back in front of the cigar store.

For a There she encountered Abelard. He would have avoided moment he hesitated. but directly was away again, tacking her had she not clutched him by the coat, saying at the a You did not wait for your receipt Abelard. Here It is." S' Four times be passed the cigar store, hesitating a little She pushed a piece of paper in his hand, and, releasing longer lecb time. The last time he continued straight ahead him, walked away.

Abelard glanced at it and saw enough to and was loet to Hight up the street. know that it was not a receipt. 'Then he became a victim of It was; art hour before he was observed returning. and nervous terror and hastened homealooking about him apprethis tithe she walked more slowly. At the cigar store' he hensively at times.

turned suddenly. as if not to give himself time to change his A supper with fine, warm biscuits and honey, baked potamind. and the door. toes. and broiled ham, coffee, and cup cakes waited him, and Afternoon, Abelard," said the storekeeper, arising and his sister, with motherly care, rebuked him for staying out so taking a bqx of Cigars from the case.

late and at the same time ministered to his wants. s- Afternoon, widow." said Abelard. Abelard's look as he allowed these ministrations to pro-'The choice of two cigars required mtsch effort this after- ceed was that of a dog which has expected a whipping and is noen. 4Abelard fumbled in the box, hesitated. compared one being caressed.

There was abject apology and contrite with another, and took several to the window. When he morse in his eppearanve, covering a deeper feeling of joy. His came back with them he said, as if under strong emotions did not interfere with his eating heartily, and his emotion: scruples seemed to disappear as his sensations of bodily corn- These, here two will make It just a dollar I owe you, fort increased with the consumption of hot biscuits and honey. weal it?" He became slightly nervous after supper and was entirely Yee, but there ain't no hurry, Abegard." said the widow. ready for bed when his sister folded her paper and announced I'll just pay you now," said Abelard.

lie weet to the the hour. Once in the privacy of his room, he drew out the door and opened it, kicking a box against it to hold it so. widow's receipt and read it anxiously. Then he came back to the counter and handed the store- Then he threw himself on the bed and employed a pillow keeper a dollar bill in which his note was folded. to keep from arousing his sister as he laughed.

continued I'll give you a receipt," said the widow, but Abelard to chuckle, at times needing the assistance of the pillow, for had gone through the door With great suddenness. Unfold-. an hour. At the end of that time he fell asleep. ing the bill, the widow discovered the settare of paper.

This a The next morning Abelard ate his breakfast cakes with she read and then sat down behind her counter. his custordarY appreciation, but he looked commiseratingly For the lands sake," she exclaimed. Then she looked and at the same time guiltily at his sister whenever her back at the paper. For the lands sake," she exclaimed again, was turned towards him. He was noticed to be nervous durand continued repeating it as if it contained some solution' ing the day, and he bought his cigars at Mr.

Watkins' store of mystery. instead of at the Widow Williams', as bad been'his custom. Glancing up through the espied Abeiard on His conduct that day and the next was such as to rejoice the oppoite side of the street, but he was in passage and the heart of his sister. It continued to be model in every re-, soon was lost to sight. spect for a week, and nothing troubled Miss Higgins.

At the The appearance of a portly form in the doorway stopped end of the seven days, when he cleared his throat and re-the stream of exclamations which was coming from the wid- marked with some discomposure that he had been thinking ow's mouth. about a trip to Chicago, his sister was startled, but she was Afternoon, Mrs. Williams," said the visitor. not antagonistic. a "Afternoon, Mrs.

Tilden," said the widow. I ain't been there for ten Abelard as if ward- Jeremiah's supply of fine cut is just about gone," said ing off attack, and I just want to go for two days or so. I Mrs. Tilden. Thought I'd get him some more before he can ain't getting any good of all this money, and you need some say that I stinting him things I could bring back" have a chair," urged the widow.

To his surprise his sister offered no Objections. "0, I can't stay but a minute Ira that busy with pre- I guess you do need a change, aAbelard," she said serving," said the visitor, but she sat down and took off her You've been that nervous in the last few days that I ain't bonnet. As she did so the form of Abelard, still in passage, known what to do. You go and have a good, time, but don't was seen going by the window. you get married to no woman." Waen't that Abelard inquired- Mrs.

Tilden. This last was said playfully, and Abelard.responded by Thought I recognized him. Ain't doing anything now, is telling his sister to go on and laughing at her reminder of he. but living on the money that was left him? Suppose not, his failing. so it was sealed, and Abeeard departed the next lie gave up his shoe shop the minute he got those $800.

Said day. he didn't have to 'work any more now that be Was wealthy. On the following morning Miss Higgins met Mrs. Tilden at Was going to get Mr. Watkins' counter.

Mrs. Tilden laughed noisily and the widow nervously. So Abelard's gone to Chicago, her portly Just then Abelard was seep again, coming from another three- neighbor. Gitting right pert since he got that money, ain't tam. He stopped at the door, put his head inside, said "0 he? Better watch out that he ain't playing no game on you.

with suddenness as he saw Mrs. Tilden, and was off once Reckon you know that the Widow Williams has got a man to more. 7 keep store for her for a couple of days: She's gone to Chi- "Ho needn't have let Me frighten him, away." said the cago. too." 'visitor, with resentment ain't going to eat him." .1 Miss Higgins wen roe with some fears, trying to argue Then both women laughed herself out them. She busied herself with household duties He don't seem to have much success at marrying, and then went tce, Abelard's bedroom to straighten out his said th.trleitor."".111s sister lends to that.

Why. clothes. She fumbled through the pockets of his every day" if you wasito take that man out of Miss Higgins' house she'd suit, which been left hanging on the nails of his closet lave a tit. Never in all me life saw a woman so jealous, and His best he bad worn on the trip. The contents of the pockets ol a brother, to Perfectly crazy, that woman is.

She's she piled on a.table, and, sitting down before it, proceeded to old'Er'n him and she brought him up. Nc't that there's any go through them at her leisure Credit to the one that she has to take the resporssi- Presently she came to a square of paper which she recog' baits-. And she treats that man just like he was a child nized as a billhead of the Widow Williams. of 7, and him 'a Man of When -Jeremiah goes around There," she said, I knew that Abelard was running up. -growiing that I don't give him any liberty I just point to a bill with that woman.

and he always said'he paid her whenAbelard Higgins and he has to shut up." ever it got to be a dollar. And now she's dunned him." Much of this wad well known to the widow and she made Determined to ascertain the amount to which Abelards no comment. reckless -smoking plunged him in debt, she unfolded the "Why, that continued Mrs. Tilden, "once when paper and read it. Then she cried outa shriek loud and Abelard was courting- the school teacher, and -was 'getting shrilland ran for her bonnet This is what she had read: on so as everybody thought there was going to be a match.

Dear Abelard: Yours of the 22d inst. received, and I that woman she marches right into Miss Worthington's take my pen in hand to reply that I haven't any objections to house in the evening and collars him; You march- your proposals. I know that you are an honorable man and SaYs, and gives Miss Worthington such a look. Abelard mean what you I have been lonely, and I have often a he didn't have any spunk at the right time. Ile picked up thought that you were just the sort of a man I could like to his hat and went.

Of course the next time Miss Worthington have around the house. I will trust you and will meet you saw him on the street she didn't see him." in Chicago at the place you said next week. Truly yours, Some one said "0" just then in the doorway, and both Asae, He WILLIAMS." I've forgotten It." exclaimed Abe lard. What?" asked Mrs. Abelard, seeing her husband fumbling In his coat pockets and turning his trousers pockets Inside out.

The letter! the letter!" said Abelard with increasing excitement What letter?" asked the still amazed Mrs. Abelard.1 The letter." reiterated Abelard, scattering a package of papers he had pulled from his coat: the letter, the letter! Your receipt. I've left it at home. It's in my other coat." Ile looked at Mrs. Abelard with an expression of utter hopelessness.

She'll be after us," he cried. She'll find us. She'll take me back me back II, way room In the clerk's offices and that the plump gentleman had pocketed a fee for leading their feet towards the justice of the peace who held sway at the door of the matrimonial bureau. All this had happened less than two hours before, and already the happy bridegroom was disconsolate because he discovered that he had left fatad evidence at home in his clothinz. "We must get out of here at once," said Abelard starting up with energy: "And give up our wedding trip?" exclaimed his horrified bride.

"Not give it up," urged Abelard. Just go on it sooner." No, sir. Abelard," said his wife firmly. I don't propose to live in perpetual terror of your sister. We are going to stay here two days and then we are going to leave on the lake trip.

'There are some things I am going to see here, and I am not going be frightened out of You can go it you want to. I am going to stay." Abeiard sat thinking. Suppose I went to another, hotel," he said. You could stay here, and I could be at the other one. Then if she found either one of us we could say we didn't know where the other was and hadn't seen each other.

We could have a nice time that way, ant when the boat goes we could meet each other on board." Suppose your sister found you alone in Chicago," said his wife. She would have you 'on a train for home, and I'd never know what had happened to you. Now, Abelard, don't be a goose." nan tice nial al- die- his hag tied er." pro, Ang the and o' if Duld lund thee ther said I'd Well. she had to find it otrt some time, didnt she?" asked his wife with impatience'. Man, I married you- to proiect you from your sister, and now I mean to do it." Abe lard had abandoned himself to his fear, and he gathered small encouragement from his wife's statement.

They sat in their room in a small hotel in a busy thoroughfare. Abe lard's conduot, in his wife's eyes, was doubly reprehensible for the reason that he was not quite two hours a bridegroom. Less than two hours before with much timidity they had inquired their way to the County building and secured a marriage license. Before they had been able to get away a large, plump gentleman with a smile of welcome had descended on them. with the result that they had been married in an out of the.