Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Advantage of a
Concentrated Vision
IOriginal.1

IilucS use Ohc eye, SOlHellLneS the
other.
Ruth had three sultors - Mr.. San
ders, IL well to do merchant; Mr.. At
water. an attorney in good practice,
and George Carter, Il young fellow
with nothing in his pocket and no
prospects. The first two We're elderly
and unattractive. Atwater was ia
vored by Ruth's father, Sanders by
her mother and Carter by Ruth her
self.
81 tell you, ma said Mr.. Inwood
to his wife while lie was shaving one
morning. Ruth is going to take At
water. Did you notice last evening
that she paid attention to everything
he said, scarcely glancing at San
ders?''
''Pshaw, pa!' replied the lady. Ruth
was using her left eye. That kept
her face turned toward Atwater. She
was really looking at Sanders"
Then followed the usual wrangle
whenever the parents got on this sub
ject.
1t so happened that Mr.. Atwater and
Mr.. Sanders made up their minds to
settle the matter between them on
that Ruth had that day received n
long admonition from her father as
to the folly OF letting slip so desirable
a sutton as his favorite and Il SIMILAR
admonition from her mother as TO the
object of her own choice. The poor
girl was In state of mind bordering
on insanity when the maid announced
Mr.. Sanders. Ruth went into the par
Tor intending TO accept him and thus
put an end to the matter. Sanders,
who was Il plain business man, had
barely seated himself before he began
his proposal with statement of his
affairs. He was coming to the point
when Mr.. Atwater stepped into the
room. Sanders, who suspected At
waters intention, set his jaws firmly
and was going right on when he dis
covered that the young lady was look
ing at his rival. Atwatcr, who had
caught the direction of Ruth's other
eye, supposed she was looking ut San
ders. The latter stopped speaking,
and the former maintained silence.
Ruth" said Sanders presently. ''if
you will give me your attention for
few moments longer l will leave you
with Mr.. Atwater."
I'm listening" said Ruth.
"As 1 was saying" Mr.. Sanders
went on, there is enough for COM
fort, nothing for display"
Meanwhile Atwater had caught the
eye that was turned in his direction
and. supposing that Ruth was not ut
tending to his rivals words, began to
speak.
Pardon me for intruding." he said.
ST understood from the maid that you
were alone"
"AIr. Atwater," said Sanders sharp
ly, when 1 am speaking to Miss In-
wood it is an ungentlemanly act for
you to address her"
when Miss Inwood gives her atten-
ton to me, 1 feel warranted in adj
dressing her"
''AIiss Inwood was looking at me-"
81 beg your pardon. She was look
ing Mt me-"
you are very
Ruth made a dash for the door,
rushed upstairs and locked herself in
her room. The gentlemen left the
house together. but on reaching the
door started off in opposite directions.
People who have n physical defect
are very sensitive about il, and, al
though the men were not to blame for
the blunder and unconscious of hurt
ing her feelings, Ruth never fOrgave
either of them. A few weeks later
each received note inviting him to
call Mt o O'Clock precisely the next
evening and he would receive every
attention. with n decided reply to any
4, 10
they arrived, Mr. Atwater was invited
to take a seat on the right of por-
there, Mr.. Sanders on the left.
"Since you arrived first on that
memorable evening, Mr.. Sanders"
said Ruth, az will give you an oppor-
tunity to finish what you were saying
when Mr.. Atwater came in"
Mr.. Sanders, scowling at his rival,
boldly asked her to he his wife.
Now, Mr.. Atwater, l shall be
pleased to hear what you were intend
ing to say"
Mr. Atwater, without mincing mat
tiers, also scowlIng at his rival, made
similar proposition.
Gentlemen" said Ruth, when you
We're addressing me before deformi-
ty which came to me ut my birth
caused n scene which was ineXpressi-
bly, painful to me. When l was look
ing at Mr.. Sanders, Mr.. Atwater sup
posed 1 was looking at him, and vice
versa. l have heard a proposition
from each of you which is the highest
compliment a man can pay woman,
and 1 assure you 1 am sensible of the
honor you have done me. l will now
civ Won n t-anIv hu lnol<inp with hOth
eyes at the man l intend tomarry."
AS she spoke the last word the por-
there was drawn aside and the lady
turned her undivided gaze on the
figure of George Carter.
Miss Inwood after the painful cpl
sode of few weeks before had been
to an oculist and had her eyes straight
ened. George Carter had made his