Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-26
DAILY SHORT STORY
A HONEYMOON.
[Original.l

"Why do you think So!
Because that life is something of
which you have no conception. Your
idea Nof a ranch is fine old colonial
residence. with splendid' barns and sta
bIes. in,the center of hundreds of acres
'.SpieSldidv'
what would you say to log catfln,
the intervals between the 'lOgs filed in
with hard mud, standingGOn an alkali
plain?'
Dreadful"
That's it, If this'mere descripFionJof
nv ranch draws from you such annex
preston, howl would the realityj affect
you?'
I'D die OF thetDlues."
Then 1 must relinquish you'Or my
undertaking.
Papa saysiwhen YOU have once put
your hand TO the pillow never look
back ......
THAT means l must give'you uptand
stick to my enterprise"
Yes. if consentsto be. given up,
"WenY'
II don t. consent. I've puttmy' hand to
the pillow. and l mustn't look back
either
Dear little girlr'he said, ,caressing
her.
That's what shes was, ~ deart little
girl, who had been 'beloved,by her par
ents, and every one else, for that, mat
ter, because she had loved every one.
Besides. she was but seventeen. and
since Elliott Burke lived so far away
the question was would they be mar
ried ut once and she go back with him
to his ranch.
A few weeks later the little bride
found herself il the log and mad edi-
flee described. The first sight of the
place quite took her breath away.
What do you think of it, sweet
hearth asked Elliott.
She gasped for strength 10 bear the
burden.
We'll, it is not so bad. At least it
wouldn't be if there Were a few trees"
Trees won't grow on this SOIL
Wont vines grow? If you'll make
some beds beside the house and give
me Il few seeds. l might help the looks
of the mis-I mean our cottage"
Wen try that. dear little chick.
You're brave as lioness." and he
kissed her Admiringly.
Elliott" said Evelyn that night,
where are dhe blankets:''
Blankets. darling? There are no
blankets"
Must we sleep under this thing"
referring to Il, cheap quilt.
I'm afraid we must. little girl.
There's nothingI else at h;End. Can you
stand it!'
"Oh, yes; L must"
In the morning she sail: why. FL
| lott, it's strange L didn't. notice it last
night / know there is no bathroom,
but where's the stationary wash
stand:"
The husband smiled. They don't
have such things in this'cOuntry, Evy."
"Oh, no; forgot. But the movable
washstand?'
''Or that kind either I'm afraid
well have To use the bowl of the cOun-
try, that tin basin on the table"
She looked at him piteOusly-
Are you sorry you came!' he asked.
mo: at least not yet"
This is sad place in which to
spend Il honeymoon. isn't it? Do you
think you can stand it for IL month? L
shall then have 10 90 for Il day to n
real ranch, such as you have fancied.
nat III Npu W ~ Al new
start TO live on here
Il can stand it," she said, with
gulp in her throat.
During the stated period of thirty
days Evelyn was constantly missing
| things 10 which she had been accus-
| toned. Her husband. who had been
used to rOughing it, showed her how to
cook and she became quite expert, but
it was hard for her when she set the
table to put on steel forks and tin cups
and such things. She found no use
whatever for her splendid rousseau.
One morning she came to her husband
and. with her eyes full of regret, said:
"Oh, Elliott, L forgot TO bring my
visiting cards.
Burke burst into laughter and folded
her, as he always did on such occa-
siOns, in his arms. He had thought he
loved her. Now he realized that he had
not known what love was.
When the end of the month came, a
team drove up to the cabin. By FL
liott's advice Evelyn took with her her
trousseau, though she could not see
how she would need more than one or
two dresses. They entered the wagon
and after riding all day stopped at a
ranch They were Informed that the
occupant had gone away. and no one
seemed to know when he would re-
turn. Burke told Evelyn that they
would, at any rate. spend the day
there, and he proceeded TO make him
self and her at home. The place filed
the young wife's idea of ranch exact
ly. even to the style. of the house.
which was old colonial. They rode over
the broad acres and dined sumptuous-
ly in the great dining room.
''Why should / bring my trousseau,
Elliott? There's no one here"
'Some one might happen to come"