Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-13
The Daily Short Story
Gilbert vane's Best Man.

81 suppose she might be considered
pretty. But. anyhow. she is very nice.
Well, what do you thinkT"
''She has a new hatY'
"oh. you are silly! And you know
Mr.. Gilbert Vane:"
81 do"
"WeIl, don't you see what mean?"
'They were both at the Salaman-
der's"
"Yes. but not that Oh, you men are
denser'
You don't mean to say that the
young buffers have fallen in love or
done anything so sillyT"
Everybody knew that ages ago.
However, at lunch Mr.. Vane appealed
he had been saying. and. in front of us
all. in front of the Salamander, he ac-
tually called her 'dear!"
| 1 whistled- \
what have you to say to that" she
asked in tremulous tones, which con-
/ cealed an infinite scorp for the less in
| telligent sex ga sE.sl
what happened?" I asked. r. ss
"Daisy blushed'-
Naturally"
There was absolute silence. Mr..
vane apologized. Then there was ST.
| Ience again. Then the Salamander,
coughed = twice and then some one
said that it was a lovely day." Z
'What did you do?"
81 felt extremely sorry for Daisy, and
1 watched Mrs. Marjoribanks. Her
eyes were like steel. and she scarcely
took them off Mr.. Vane while we re-
manned ut table" =
Every uncomfortable for him."
"You know that she has vowed that
she will never allow Daisylto marry
him"
$50 you have told me-"
"She said it again after lunch in the
tone of n prophet and with the look
| Of !
"a salamander."
"Daisy disappeared, and staid to
watch the case in her interests. The
Salamander said little more, but she
shifted and shifted and kept on shifting.
The ideav she said, and then again.
The idear She calculated the phrase
at intervals and adjusted her glasses
again and again TO survey the man who
had so greatly presumed. He, poor fell
low. was playing tennis"
THAT stare" 1 said, would scarcely
conduce to successful play"
"The best has still to come. Daisy
did not appear again until 4 o'clock,
when she Joined us. wearing n travel
ing dress. Where is GiIbertY she ask
ed. The Salamander was furious. How
dare you. child? she asked. Go to your
room and stay there till dinner time. 1
hope and trust that you will never al
low Mr.. Vane to speak to- you again.
oh. don't be silly. aunt said Daisy.
You would never talk like that If you
only knew Knew what? asked the
SaIamander. Knew that Gilbert and
T. The Salamander cut I'm here and
rose in her wrath. Leave me- she said.
Leave me Mt once. 1 would rather see
you dead than consent TO an engage
ment with that cad.'" ri
"And Daisy?" 1 asked.
"Daisy looked at her aunt, but she
managed TO keep her temper. Then we
went off together. and she told me that
she and Gilbert were married"
She waited to see the effect of this
tremendous announcement.
l whistled.
Aren't you awfully surprised?" she
asked.
Surprised isn't the word for It." 1
answered. cit takes my breath away"
Poor. dear Daisyr' said she. ct do
hope that she will be happy. but she
should certainly have trusted me and
told me before the event. / could have |
helped her so much. I cannot help
thinking that IL was rather mean OF |
her"
cit was. Tell me how the Salaman-
der bore the shock"
Yes, must certainly tell you that. |
Daisy went Off To find Mr.. Vane. and L |
went back TO the others. The two soon |
Joined us, and Mr.. Vane said that he |
particularly wished TO see the Sala- |
mander alone for few minutes. She |
said that whatever he had to say could |
be said there and then. l don't know /
whether or not he would have spoken |
in front of us all, but Daisy settled the |
matter in her own impetuous way. 1T |
is only right that you should know she,
said, that Gilbert and / are married.
We have been married for three weeks
The Salamander looked at her and them /
said calmly and deliberately. L never
wish to see you again. Poor Daisyi L
do hope she will be happy"
Gilbert is a very good fellow" I,
said. II
DO you think they did right?' she
asked n few minutes later. II
Absolutely" 1 said. 81 admire them.
both. We must call on them as soon
as they come back" II
felt the pressure of her hand on my,
arm.
You are dear. kind boy" she said.
But how did you know that they had
gone awayT'
IL inferred that fact. 1t seems the
right sort of thing to do"
Here the matter dropped, and to this
day L have never summoned up cour-
age to tell her that was Gilbert Vane's
best man.-King.