Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-07


ing, animated manner ana most ioVeiy
race, bright and enchanting 10 look upon
AS caugnt her eyes Tor an instant, was
dumiounded. Snch radiant eyes had never
seen Detore, ana they auected me strangely.
Inen ana There registered vow 70 MAKE
ner my wife. suppose you VIII laugn at
this 1 40 now as l write IL twenty-iour
hours later, but Know Oh such cases That
nave turned OUT exactiy as proPneaed
WONDER now NINE WIN endi Aitnough l am
supposed 70 snow an my lnmost tnougnts 70
the world ON TINS paper, ma IL Impossible
70 descripe no" teit but you, VINO may
nave passed through some sucn e1perlence'
can imagine what my state OF mind was; a
sort OF love at first sight, you might call 1T
was standing alone, lost In my resolve
when voice intended only Tor tne person 70
whom IL was addressed, interrupted my rev.
erie;
"Why, l can scarcely oeiieve my eyes,
May, but II there isn't the walper VINO at-
tended TO US last night at tine care atter the
theatre. IL must be true what tho paper
said about fashlonaole houses hiring those
fellows to stand around and act as private de-
tectiVes ana look pleasant 1 diunb DeneVe
IL then, put u must 90 so;' ana there was
sound OF maidens giggling' turned 70 look
at the person referred to, but seeing no one
around, IT nashed upon me tnae L was tne IN
dlvidual. Horrorsl 10 resemble waiter as
wellI But no TIME was allowed me Tor CON
temptation, as Mrs. Parker came up at that
moment and TOOK my arm.
Come now" she said, "let me Introduce
you to Miss Earle. know You viii ike her.
AMI MISS Earle, Mr. stevens, ana tound
Inyset DowlnS 10 the young lazy whoml had
liked upon In my mind as the future Mrs. 5.
Self possession is my great pride, but l must
confess felt nervous as Miss Earle's eyes
were turned upon me. Would she see In me
deceased father or unclef The music came
10 my rescue then-how blessed it-and in
moment we were lost in a waltz. Lost-yes,
actually lost. All my doubts and fears van
ished as sped over the floor as lightly as
as-l am unable to supply suitable meta
phor was going to say dream, but that is
so hackneyed
We danced as long as the music held out
and after little promenade and chat upon
minor subjects suggested seat In the con-
servatory just Off the parlor, where we
could watch the lively scene. She accepted
and led the way. From our seat we could
see portrait that hung over the mantel of
the parlor. 1t was picture of the most hor-
rible looking young man or boy that had
ever seen, and Miss Earle, CHANGING at it, be-
gan to remark upon its lack of beauty. Sud-
ueuly BIS Stuppeu suoTL
81 beg your pardon" she said, earnestly,
"but that is not-the caricature was never
meant for you, was itl As 1 spoke some-
thing in your look made me fear that it was"
My face must have exhibited some fear, for
she started, and then bursting into a merry
laugh, cried: "How ridiculousl am GER
tainly crazy; of course / see that it wasn't.
Pray pardon me, Mr.. Stevens,n and she
bowed in mock humility.
My Nemesis againl 1 tried to laugh it off,
but my heart was heavy and my tongue un-
manageable. l really felt relieved when, a
few moments later, Mrs. Parker announced
that her chaperone was waiting for her. I
saw Miss Earle to the carriage and when
seated inside she held out her hand, saying:
"Forgive my unfortunate remark about
the picture, please" held her hand for a
moment and with strange sensation I
watched the carriage disappear in the dark
heoS 1'oy ~ was hoo ihuiteotioil- HdfbSA