Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-16

of a pleasure to Mrs. General Ollapod.
In the twenty-four ensuing hours the
colonel encountered the pretty child half a
score of times, and the child invariably re-
coiled from him, until he marveled at her
conduct. Was she one of those unfortu-
nate bundles of nerves that would be
thrown into commissions by a mouse?
But thoroughly schooled as the colonel
deemed himself, he had something to learn
yet. By one of those rare chances one sell
dom is cognizant of outside novel or play,
the colonel overheard brief dialogue be-
tween Mrs. General Ollapod and an uii-
known companion that gave him novel
sensation. Mrs. General Ollapod was
pleading earnestly; her tone was imploring,
while her words shaped themselves into ex-
postulations, which were suddenly cut
short by the unknown companion
please don't say anything more, Mrs
Ollapod. | beg of you to let the matter
drop. have the best reason for the pro-
found dislike | have expressed repeat, |
deteSt that odious man, Colonel Maxwell"
The colonePs complexion, judging from
his sensations, must have been mixture
of saffron and coppery tints He thought
he would choke On the contrary, he flung
his cigar away as he turned TO retrace his
steps, when, horror of horrors! his foot
caught in an overturned chair; he made a
desperate, gallant effort to regain his
equilibrium, but the treacherous screen
that the strong shoulder relied upon for
an instant's aid gave way, and with a crash
that caused innumerable unsatisfactory
surnises in ,neighboring groups, the frail
structure fell to the ground, exposing to
full view the proportions of Colonel Max
well to Mrs. General Ollapod and the bril-
liant brunettel
The colonel's complexion was altogether
coppery now. The gaslight's rays for the
time being spoke" for the trio. The colo
mel, more by force of habit than through
exercise of the wonderful tact he was cred
tied with, bowed to the ladies' turned and
strobe away.
Mrs. General Ollapod told her husband
lit was all over now" and the general,
unsympathiZing as husbands often are,
laughed boisterously on hearing the story.
''GadH' he exclaimed as he made her re-
peat 1t, I'D give months pay to see the
picture you made"
1t often happens that when mortals re-
tire from a contest chance or fate inter
poses in a mysterious manner that sets
things to rights speedily.
The following day, as the colonel strolled
out leisurely on the crowded steamboat
pier that juts out into the Chesapeake a
commotion near at hand attracted his at
tention. Women shrieked and men shouted
The brilliant beauty he desired to avoid
was pressing toward the edge franticallv.
The colonel thought of the beautiful child
as he glanced at the water below them
Certainly something CLEANED on the top
of the huge billow that looked like the
golden tresses of a child. Whether she had
fallen or was pushed off accidentally he
did not stop TO inquire. His attention for
the moment was given to the beauty to
whom he was so repugnant. His voice was
as calm, his manner as self possessed as
though he was discharging an every day
duty, as he turned to his friend
General, will you see to herr
While the general, with equal presence
! of mind, took charge of the lady. the colo
mel tossed his hat, cane and cigar from him,
and without pausing to doff his light coat,
took header from the pier that was the
talk of Old Point the remainder of the sea
son.
The little speck on the wave disappeared
simultaneously with the faint streak of
gray that the colonel's descent resolved it
self into as the multitude looked on with
bated breath. 1t all happened so quickly
that none seemed to comprehend the truth
There was a pressure on the landing heads
looked down upon the sea, awaiting the re-
| appearance of the colonel.
Meantime General Ollapod, with the
forethought and decision that marked his
Indian campaigns, hurried the widow to-
ward the hotel. As they passed the crowd
men and women turned to look at her in
commiseration, until head appeared
| above the wave, when a shout arose and
! the people parted and made way for the
| widow and her escort. The widow gave
! but one glance-she looked long enough to
see that the colonel held something in his
! arm-then she pressed eagerly to the shore
The colonel was a superb swimmer The
| guests on the shore, seeing the crowd on
the pier looking into the sea, and hearing
| their shouts, took off their hats and bon
nets and waved them as they cheered the
colonel. Women cried and men blew their
! noses and affected to look with indiffer-
| ence upon the scene as the colonel swan
| to the beach and was met by the widow
| and the general
But not until the colonel, with the state
| ly manner which characterized him when
| he was at his best, leaned forward and gen
| thy deposited in Mrs. Osborne's arms her
| dog Fido, did that charming woman betrav
| the weakness of her sex. Not until poor
| F1do, limp and bedraggled in n manner
bearing a marked resemblance to a worn
| out dishclout or a frayed doormat, looked
up at her piteously and shivered did she
shed tears. Then she said brokenly:
Dear colonel, how can repay you?'
Needless to add that the gossips had a
nine days topic in the relations established
between the widow and the colonel after
he saved her dog. It was when the gossip
| was at flood tide that Mrs. General Ola
pod, sitting beside her friend, crochet
needle in hand, one afternoon in Lent, said
suddenly:
by the way, Grace, you never told me
why you called the colonel an odious
| MANI"
| Didn't I?' said the charming, changea-
| BILE widow.
Let me explain" said the colonel, who
approached them ulawares "Grace some
how conceived that l was-in fact, enter
tanned an aversion for her dog Whimsi-
| cal, isn't it?"
=