Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-31

saw before her a HsHsssk TslIsgWkasF < W.
man who her heart liREAA N Eet,p'tSss TX ~
told her was her Nh5pRl IN "FiSN WI \ N
destiny. Would NSF sNNNLIN
she marry the y A. I-[
original of that
library portrait while such young men as
this were free to seek her hand? Never!
Neverl Never! Oh, wasn't he handsome?
And to compare him with the other!
Then she looked at the card in her hand
alphabetically took her eyes off her Wis
itor long enough to examine the card. The
name was William Burnett. That was the
name Of her cousin whose portrait-but
who was his young Apollo?
Her Apollo broke the spell.
Il see you have my card, miss. l sent 1t
to Colonel Taylor. Is he not at homeE"
Your card? This is William Burnett's
card" she said, turning it over in her hand.
Il am William Burnett"
\ great light leapel into her face. She
advanced until she stood before him, de
vouring i'm with those great blue eyes.
''YoU-Wil!iam Burnett? Indeed, are
you he?"
Indeed I am-aud your most humble
admirer," ventured Burnett, bowling low
to hide tie blush his bold words forced to
his face
"Oh, how nicer' cushed the young lady.
You are not at all what I expected YOU
would be"
'Indeec!' was all the collegian could
gasp. Then he wondered if he was dream
ing after all, and this picture in blue was
only vision OF sleep.
''Oh, II like you. Papa didn't make a
mistake after all. haven't n word to say
against the engagement, now I've met
you"
"But-Fm not yet engaged. He"-
stammercd Burnett.
'Oh, yes you are" she interrupted, with
unsurpassed enthusiasm. He told me
all about the preliminaries which were
arranged by correspondence"
with Mr.. Carter presume?"
II really don't know. But shall he so
happy with you. Why, you don't look one
bit like your picture"
Burnet S confusion grew, partly because
the bundle of human lovelness had edged
within reaching distance, so that the at
mosphere of her enchanting presence was
becoming Intoxicating, and partly because
he remen bered horrible newspaper pic
ture of himself, published the previous
summer after one of his great pitching
feats for he college nine That cut" had
been sore spot in his life, and was the
source of much chatting by his friends. OF
course he thought his lovely tete-a-tete re-
ferred to that newspaper portrait, and he
hastily replied:
We'll, hope not. That picture made me
look like a guy"
THAT i what | thought and hated it
made up my mind I'd hate you, too, but
I DON'T
Then you like me?" he ventured, grow
ing bolder by infection
"Oh, so much-more, a million times
than l thought l should.
But / may not suit your father"
"Oh, yes, you will He wouldn't have
any one else. Why, it was all arranged
when you were ten years old"
She's crazy as a loon, and yet beautiful
as an angel" he thought. Still he must
humor her
Maybe we will not agree upon terms"
he added.
"Terms?''
''Why, yes? He can't expect me to enter
into an engagement without recompense."
'RecOmpense?" she gasped.
TO be sure. am poor man and'-
Il care not if You are penniless. But
papa said you were rich"
''He is mistaken
all the more. But you do not love me as
you shou q Or
Love YOU" he fairly shouted. II do,
l do! l swear it. love you better than
my life"
"Then kiss me-
He forgot it was lunatic who con-
fronted lin, and issued that maddening
challenge with words and defiant up
turned face. In moment she was clasped
in his arms, and their souls met upon their
lips in loves first embrace
Crazy she Undou btedly was, but harm
less as a babe and with method in her mad
ness which was wholly irresistible. At that
moment he was willing to join her for life
in any asylum to which she might he as
signed
In shorr, the young collegian was a help
less victim of the sweetest and most unex-
pected, overwhelming influence which ever
assailed mortal man. He was in that reck-
less state of mind and soul which made
him ready to do any act of madness in
which she would lead. Therefore he did
not recoil when she took advantage of a
lull in the kissing and squeezing to hold
her head away long enough to say:
And, now, suppose we surprise papa
when he comes home? Let's go right off
and get married. Will your"
Would he? There was another ''tackle'
more becoming to q member of football
team than to baseball pitcher.
Surprise papap' he thought as he ac-
companied her hastily down the street.
Papa will be paralyzed from astonish-
ment"
What troubled him most was fear that
marriage with lunatic would not hold in
law, and maybe, after all, they could take
her from him and lock her up in private
retreat
80 you are William Burnett" beamed
the minister to whose residence Annie con-