The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-08-29
CONTINUED. }
MATT GROWS MATRIMONIAL.

snow, young man," be said to himself,
"this is idiotic. In the first place, Matt is
child, not a young woman; in the second
place, she is vulgar little thing, not young
lady; in the third place, you ought to be
ashamed of yourself for thinking of senti-
ment at all in such a connection. Is your
brain softening, youngster, or are You labor
ing under the malign influence Of William
Joness The kiss you gave to this unsophisti-
Gated daughter of the desert was paternal, or
say, amicable; it was a very nice kiss, but it
has no right to make you dream of stuff and
nonsense"
But the influence of the dream was over
him, and in that housekeeping, half-waking
state, he felt like a boy in love. He found
himself calculating the age of his own friend
Let him seel it was fifteen years since, in her
own figuratve expression, she ''come ashore
and the question remained, How old was she
on that interesting occasioni AS far as he
could make out from her appearance, she
conld not be more than sixteen. For damsel
Of that age, her kiss was decidedly precocious.
AT last he tumbled off again, and dreamed
that Mat was q young lady of beautiful
attire and captivating manners, TO whom he
was engaged and her speech, strange to
say, was quite poetical and refined and they
walked together, hand in hand, to a country
church on a green hillside, and were just
going to enter, when who should appear upon
The threshold but Mr.. Monk, of MonkshuIst.
But they passed him by, and stood before the
altar, where the parson stood in his white
robes, and when the parson asked aloud
whether any one saw any just reason or i'm
pediment that the pair should be joined in
holy matrimony, the same Monk stepped
forward, with Mephistophelian smile, and
cried, eyes, l dor On which the young
man awoke again IN agitation to find that it
was broad daylight and a fine fresh summer
morning
Whom should he find waiting for him when
he had dressed himself and stepped from the
house ON wheels but Matt herself. Yes, there
she was, as wild and quantity attired as ever,
quite unlike the ethereal individual of his
dreams; but for all that her smile was like
sunshine, and her eyes us roguish and friendly
as ever.
Conscious of his dream he blushed while
greeting her with a friendly nod.
well, Matt, here again, chr he said;
adding to himself, This won't do at all, my
gentleman; II the young person continues to
appear daily 1he caravan VIII nave 10 move
ON,
OV ~ oN A1.eny ho,i'o'ii,ne vi NC, illiil
Enl1o' iooAns a. ID l,Aioy 'iioue nIiuiiy ioi
Soilu minutes, aiie eAcia'ieA
iiilln I. DTliea uJn M VI r'0i'1i'' No
M = w. - 80 ,. oeo -'-'i'ol
pe,u ine' suiu 'nd young ili'ih' III very
Soiry hoi 'na.r
| II" iiAiNAi.i ""i''5 n|y "u o""iiie
neae Pf9 iis anu spying 40 SoI'
| my GEAR MILL, TeEhied tne young man
hentiy' l COMO mere as hlliii'io tIVlsO'
seeking supJectS ior my surprising genius 70
wore upon Il II Is Prying anu SPYING 10
a'oolP' " poiio'i "'o in'o Uii9 notiu'i'' " nI'
Iurepo.h SCENT, Alliillai anu nilll'''nri ieaf
InuSt plead BuhSy pu' otn'r "iS''-
ahe interrupted nm WIN an ifiilsitienI eA-
claiiia1iol' accoihiRAiileu ny iii1ch oL ner
pretty ShouiderS;
| Don't Talk IKE tlM; Tor Then know
you're chafiing Talk serious, and I'll tell
you something
All right. III be serious as parson. Gc
ahead?
| MIR. monk, Oh MonkshilrSv, wants toInarry
me. lie tGid SO to " llilain Jones
The information was dehVered with as
sun'sd careiessness; but aIter IL was GiVel
Matt wntched the effect Of IL upon tina hea-ei
with precocious interest," Brinkley opened
his eyes In very natural amusement.
Come, come, MatG; you're joking"
NO, Amt. It's true"
But you're only child-avery nice child
l admt-but to talk OF holy matrimony IL
such connection 1s-excuse my frankness-
preposterous. People con tmhrry little girls.
But Malt ohd not consent TO THIS proposltlor
nc ell
Il amt q little girl, she affirmed, with
decisive nod OF her head I'm sixteen, nnt
I'm growed up"
The young man was amused, and could no.
refrain from laughing heartily. Bat thC
girls brow darkened as she watched him, nnt
her under lip fell as if she would like to cry
"f you go on laughing" she said, ''I1l ruI
straight back home, and never come here M
more"
wen, Ill Try 10 Keep my countenance
put the Idea Is very funny. Really, now
don Z you see 1t IN that light yourseltF
Certainly Matt did not, to judge from tin
expression OF her lace. She turned her heat
away anu Drlhkiey saw, 70 MS SUPPRESS tlia
te yea was roinng Gown ner cheek'
come, maCt' ne SAID kinuiyi you niuis'ii
oake tnis 30 SERIOUSLY Aeii nie I'LL apou
liners gooo girL
m Will you wont ,augn'
. - wUhI shehIVnere.
wen, WHEN was yns III MY ueu Uni
morning heard William Jones a-talklng 7
some one. he Thought was asleep, but
got up and ilstene1, and heard Mr. Monk
VOICE; and he SAID, says ne, 'Shes over SIX
teen years old, and I'll marry herr and VII