Rock Island daily Argus., 1892-12-31

ter quietly watched her father as he read
his letters, trying to read their contents
hv the reflection from his fare
NO bad or unpleasant news anyhow"
was her mental comment after studying
the signs.
Annie Taylor was as beautiful AS she
was wild, willfUl and uHtutored in the
conventionalities of the world. Her mother
died when Asnie was five years old, and
after that sad day she never knew worl-
ans watchful care, and her maiden heart
grew wild, like the flowers of the field
After the death Of his wife Colonel Taylor
would have none but servants about his
house, and Annie was growing - rroaI2n-
! hood with no gentle hand tC restrain the.
irIpulsive nature inherited from he. father.
She had been away at boarding s-.tn..i:
is true, but there she found res;r...;., uu.y
by rule, AMI her waywardaess W. ..p.,-ta
in; not cured. She was at home So al....-
the winter holidays with her aILe-. as !.J
been her yearly custom.
Having finished his last lc,;cl Cu'aurl
Taylor lowered his chin, rolled up :.l~ eyes,
peered at his child over his spec;.cles - If
he were a c)nnoisseur studying ~ article
OF virtu. and merely snorted, "HuEqh.'
Good news, papa;' asked Annie, re-
turning his stare over her coffee cup
Yes, snapped the colonel sentea;ioI>ly.
Then he made charge 1T the broied
chicken on his plate.
WHAT
You're not going back to school,"
Nor 1t was an exclamation with u
rising infection, full of heavenly ecstacy
and accompanied by clasped hands, joyful
smile and suppressed Shrek of delight.
You're going to get married.
mol" This time the exclamation had
the falling infection. The clasped hands
dropped into her lap with dull, sickening
thud, as they say in the accident column
of the newspapers, and the suppressed
shrek of delight gave way to a suppressed
mixture of moan and sob.
The colonel merely grunted, scowled and
drank deep of the contents of his cup.
'1-get marrieds Why, papaI I've never
been in love, even once"
Great Scotti And what Of it! There's
plenty Of time for love-after you are mar
ried. Why, you're only seventeen"
"But-but-no young man has ever had
chance to show me any attention and
| make love to me- she was saying earn
estly when her father interrupted with
bang on the table with his fist.
well, l should say not Young men
| hereabout know your father too well to
fool with their lives in that way"
"Oh, papa, surely you do not intend to
deprive me of having some fun, as every
girl has before she marries, by flirting with
the boys"
Fun You call that funt" roared the
| colonel 81 call it idiocy A sensible girl
gets married when the right man turns
| up. and"-
But no man at all has turned up for me
that know"
He hasn't, hey, Well, he will I'll
| produce the right man. Don't trouble
your little head about small thing like
that"
''Oh, certainly not, il you are assuming
| all the responsibilities. But might I be
allowed to know who he ist Perhaps I've
| never seen him.
''Well-no, you have not"
That's one comfort. An entire stranger
! no doubts'
mot at all. It's your cousin"
MY cousint"
Your cousin-William Burnett, who
! has been in Germany at school the last ten
years."
| "The original of the picture hanging
above your desk in the hbraryf"
"The same"
Il don't like him"
"You don't know if you do or not; you
| never saw him."
| "Why, his portrait"-
| "You are not marrying the portrait.
That was done three years ago. No doubt
he has greatly improved since then That
Ia a small part of the affair, however. A
| girl can learn to respect any man who Is
suited to her and--has money"
"Then he is richf"