Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-11
THE SOUTHWICKS.

Leander Southwick had been married
scarcely year when by the death of an
uncle in Nevada he fell heir to an estate
worth s450,0O0
The inheritance was so unexpected that
for some time it was difficult to believe
that be- a hun bic grocer, was the posses
soc of fortune greater even than that of
his boyhood dreams.
-Four hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars! Whatll we do with all that money!"
he said 10 his wife.
Sophrcnia Southwick, equal to any
emergency, from weighing a Goldfish to
making up the monthly accounts, was
never at Il loss for an idea.
I'VE must go into society,"" she promptly
replied.
Society shouted Leander. What do
we know about society,""
Now, Leander, it's ridiculous for you to
speak in that strain. You know that none
of those rich New Yorkers-and | believe
| there are 400 of them-know any more
| about society than we do"
But they had some education, hadn't
they;"
Yes, but can't we get education as well
as they?"
How do you propose TO get it?"
Il propose to so to one of those semina-
ries."
go to a seminary" shouted her hus-
band. Why, you're too old"
Too old, Leanderl Why, I'm not TWEEN
ty-three, and you told me this morning
| that didn't look more than eighteen~
Southwick of course saw the absurdity
| OF his wife's pos ton, but realizing it was
useless to try to dissuade her, relaxed his
efforts and finally acquiesced in her deci-
sion.
by Jovel She's a dandy! Do you sup
| pose Bert'n have the first dance with her
at the next recepcion?"
Il don't know about that. think if
you wanted to you could cut Bert Fair.
banks out"
The speakers were two seniors of Stan
ford seminary at Ephesus, n H Stanford
| is boarding school for both sexes, and
takes high rank among coeducational in
situations
But, strange a. it may appear its more
than local renowu is derived from its sheet
and pillow case parties.
At these parties the young ladies' faces
| are masked, their forms are draped with
sheets arranged in Greek fashion and their
heads are enveloped in pillow cases.
| What makes the parties especially en-
| joyable is that they are not previously an
| nounced For not until the sheeted forms,
! like n troop of ghosts file into the concert
hall are the young men aware that the
monthly reception has been varied
| The presence of a new girl adds a bit
! OF sensation to Stanford reception 1t
| was new girl" Of whom the two seniors
were speaking.
She was tall and slender, of graceful
| figure and of fair complexion. Her blue
| eyes sparkled under long lashes, and a per-
! feet Roman nose gave her an air of supe-
| rior intelligence.
Her mouth was shapely, if not small, and
| was capable Of the sweetest smile although
| its general expression was one of mischief
| Such was the SOphronia Southwick of
| Stanford-a decided improvement on the
Sophronia Southwick of rural Northrop
By an inadvertence on the part of the
secretary, cou 1led with SOphronia's love OF
mystery, she had been registered as Miss
instead of Mr. Southwick.
Leander So thwick was not an adept in
killing time; therefore, after Sophronia's
departure he had sufficient time on his
hands to furnish him with problem more
perplexing than the distribution of his
| suddenly acquired wealth. Letters from
| Ephesus somewhat broke the monotGny of
his life
One especially delighted him He tore it
open and read with avidity.
1t was breezy epistle, and in it Sophro-
mia disclosed in gushing language the
secret of the sheet and pillow case diver
sion.
TITS going to De awfully jolly" she
wrote. Not a soul will know us. That
mole on my right hand ~ which you could
always tell me when we went to the mas
querades, hasn't been noticed here, think
How wish you could be here"
Have you asked her YETI"
NO, thought I'd better wait till she
came up"
But suppose Fairbanks has asked herr"
"Oh, don't believe he's got the nerve
Besides, Miss Southwick dosen't care for
him, anyway"
This dialogue between Clarence Whitney
and Chef Tufts took place near the plat
form of the concert hall in Stanford semi
nary.
About twenty other boy students were
present, and by and by, as the orchestra
began to tune up" the townspeople
f1ocked in.
When the s o'clock bell rang the settees
were filled and a great crowd was about
the door which led 70 the girls corridor.
the assembled crowd as the sheeted forms
fled in
The orchestra struck up a march and
Tufts almost Instantly took unto himself a
partner.
Whitney prepared to do likewise
But simultaneous with Whitney, man,
not student and apparently stranger,
seized a shapely hand which hung from a
gracefully shaped sleeve.
81 beg your pardon" said Whitney, glar-
ing at the stranger
81 beg your pardon" replied the stran-
ger, with considerable feeling.
To this Whitney inpatiently retorted:
Excuse me, sir, but have this lady and
mean to keep her."
You mean to keep her, do you' Do you
know who she is2 This woman is my wife,
you puppy"
"Wifer exclaimed the bystanders.
"OhI' groaned several, while the sheet