Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-30
The Daily Short Story
A Fortunate Mistake.

E~NN~~NS~->SOSN~>A r>N>r>~"S~~~>S
MY dear Miss Marden, how are you
have been wanting to see you al
day"
I'm perfectly well, thank you." said
Dulcie.
Naturally. 1 simply wanted to give
you my warm. my very warm, congrat
ulations OH your-what shall I call it?'
"Betrothal?. DIR. Truscott, am not
engaged to any one"
"Not engaged? But
please tell me at once. doctor, who
told you"
\ little persuasion. and Dulcie Won
her point.
well. Miss Marden, don't be toe
hard ON him. 1t was Mr.. Archibald
Tracy"
Every pleased to see you. Miss Mar
| den" said Archie soon after. Moth
| er's out but
He stopped. His visitor had risen,
frigidly bowed and stood confronting
him with an expression of deep scorn.
How dare you tell DIR. Truscott that
| you We're engaged To me-"
Arches mouth opened wide in as
| constituent.
gagged, and it's perfectly true. The
young lady has a name singularly like
yours. and that COMPOUNDED doctor
must have confused the two. She is
called Marding-I<itty harding"
Slowly. very slowly, Dulcie's face re-
Taxed into a smile. \ moment later
her lips parted, and that smile devel-
oped into a laugh, in which Archie
joined.
MIR. Tracy. apologize. Let me con-
graduate you"
AS Dulcie Mardsn walked home she
kept laughing TO herself over that
ridiculous confusion Of names. DIR.
Truscott would probably write letter
four pages long. humbling himself to
the ground. The incident, now hap
ply closed. had lent a wonderful
amount of spice TO life.
But has any one ever yet staid the
course OF n bit OF gossip?
Dulcie was nearly home when she
spied a figure she knew on the other
side OF the road coming in her direc-
ton. 1t was Oswald Northcote, one OF
the few young men she unreservedly
liked and had admitted within the
inner pale. He possessed n frank. boy
ish disposition that endeared him to
everybody. His nature was generous.
his mental powers distinctly above the
average.
When he got parallel with her. North
cote raised his hat and then, on n sud
den impulse, crossed over the road.
Dulcie noted that his checks had gone
red and that his general looks indicat-
4.
He shook hands with her. and she felt
through her glove that his hand was as
hot as fire.
Good afternoon, Miss Marden. 1
felt l must stop and speak 10 you-to
offer you my best wishes on your en-
gagement to Mr.. Tracy"
Dulcie wondered afterward why she
did not at once utter the denial which
her lips had ready. Perhaps something
In Northcote's face and manner de-
TERED her. for she only said:
why. who told you about it?''
DIR. Truscott-this morning" replied
the young man, speaking slowly and
with difficulty. Il hope you may be
very-happy. oh. Miss Marden, what
n fortunate fellow Tracy is"'
The earnestness and pathetic appeal
I'm the tones strangely affected Dulcie.
Only a man laboring under n strong
emotion could speak like that. She
tried to look into his eyes. but her
glance fell before their compassion, and
her tongue felt tied.
'If it isn't treason to mention it, I
should just like to say what a warm
feeling I've recently had for you. Miss
~ In
and lastly it has misunderstanding
else. But l mustn't say more-only
that from the bottom Of my heart 1
wish great joy for you. Goodby."
"Oh, please stop, How can L tell you,
Mr.. Northcote: It's all mistake
about my engagement. Mr.. Tracy is
engaged TO a Miss harding. and DR..
Truscott mixed up the names"
Oswald put his hand to his head. 1t
was swimming with the sudden revul-
sion of feeling.
"A mistake! Then you are freeF
Yes" whispered Dulcie, Overwhelm-
ed by the passion in his voice. For the
first time i'm her life the divine emotion
of love thrilled her soul. Tears blind
ed her eyes. She could not see single |
object in the street.
Il have opened my heart to you.
DuIcie. You know what my whole de- |
sire is. What do you answer"
Il can't think now. l am stupefied- |
the suddenness. oh. please give me |
time. I'll meet you here tonight at 0 |
and tell you
Next day the following note was de- |
lvered at DR.. Truscott's house:
Dear DR.. Truscott-You were quite right after /
~. though YOU gave me the news hours before /
Knew il myself and appended the name Of the
wrong man l have put dear Oswald Northcote /