Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-22
The Daily Short Story
WHICH?
Aninee sent for me, and responded

1 Ut OuCc-
whats the matter?"
| "well," she said. with a rush. ST have.
| had four proposals this week.
THAT seems a good record. 1 don't
| see anything to complain OF. suppose
| you want my advice as to which to ac-
| cept?"
First, there's Jack Forde. We were
| brought up together. you know" A
telltale flush spread over her face.
"She cares for him really decided.
swell, when ones with Jack one does
like him dreadfully. He is so young
| and high spirited and devoted. think. I
Next. please" I
"Then there's Walter Fielding"
| Don't know him.
| 'Nor' She gave a little sigh. My
Eurmise about Jack must have been
| wrong. well. he paints the most love
" pictures in the world and / am so
| happy when L am in his studio. L
Think / should love to marry a painter.
| Painters are not conventional, you
know, ard he thinks 1 have got pretty
| feet. It's only the shoe, really. But
| do care for him. He's
| Proceed Miss Aninee." urged. "I,
| too. have remarked the feet"
1 'Ah, that's nice of you! Well. Julian
| Clifford
Hes fifty
81 know, but he loves me so! He
loves me more than all the others put
together. And he seems to consider 1t
such an honor that l should care for
him. and can't tell you how wonder
/ full that is TO a woman. He has such
Il f,,I Ax, az
takes one for granted. 1 think 1 love
him rather desperately"
| go on
| A dreamy look crept into her eyes.
She hesitated, then gave little, short,
| quick laugh.
This is the one, after ALL" thought L.
| Its Reginald Mason"
THAT prig.'
"Oh, how you're down upon him be-
cause he's much cleverer than most of
| you! There's something in him that
fasCinates me oddly. He's different
from any one else in the world and so
witty. Then at the most unexpected
moments one catches note of pathos
in hi5 tone. something of latent sad
ness which makes one feel one would
do anything in the world just to make
| him happier"
~ congratulate you. Miss Aninee."
said, rising. only, which is it TO be,
because 1 haven't in the least guessed.
as you say they are all so charming?"
That's the difficulty. L like them all
in so totally different Il way. You see,
there are three kinds OF men with re-
| gard to Interchangeable man one knows
at once one would marry and love for
II II .s--n-s
/ love and the man one simply couldn't
anyhow. Now, unfortunately, my four
fiances all come under the second head
ing
HAS no one ever come under the
first"
| She looked at me for several mo-
| ments. considering. Then she laughed.
why, yes. only they never liked me"
That's a great difficulty, of course.
though 1 should have thought Here
some afternoon callers sailed into the
room, and for some moments we were
| separated. She came back to me. how
ever, on the appearance OF her sister
and murmured:
do. do suggest somethingr'
Give me n week. 1 said.
$50 long,"
"a week" / repeated. and we said
| goOdby. / met Julian Clifford on the
stairs. He was certainly very good
| looking.
The week duly elapsed. and 1 heard
| again from Aninee. Things much
/ worse" she wrote; -four letters every
morning OF cntreaties for definite an
swer; four bouquets every evening. L
can't bear it any longer. Tell me, for
PHYS sake. what to do. Theyl are all
awfully kind"
Dear Miss AniDee." answered. 81
am extremely busy. but meet me to-
morrow at the corner OF NJ street Mt
u o'clock. L have thought OF a good
plan. only you must have courage;
otherwise 1 cannot help you"
She was there ten minutes late
How absurd of you to make me
come here" she said. "And h9w pale
you look. and so smart"
Miss Aninee,' said my voice was
slightly trembling-"you see that
| house:'
Yes said she. "but what
That's justice of the peasce's Of
fee"
"oh, dear! Is any OF them about?
Cause 1 really can't. It's awfualy good
OF you, but really can't-not even Wal
ter Fielding. And do care,
| None of them is about" 1 said. 4
"Well?"
| paused a moment. She Looked up.
a little frightened. 'Will you marry
| me?'
"Disonr'
"Win you marry me nowT
But, Olson
We crossed the road.
''Nowr'
Il think you are very unkinh. like
a proper wedding with bridesmaids
You shall have that after" We
/ were af the door Chn Anrnod aur,ddonl,r