Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-29
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
THE = = =
EAVESDROPPER


ter and myself. and nothing remained
except for him TO ask papa. i did not
expect that any opposition would be
raised TO our marriage, because Tom
and papa We're the best of friends. III
Tom was about To- engage in any bust
ness venture, he would not do so until
papa had expressed his opinion. If
Tom proposed TO buy an automobile,
papa must recommend the carriage be-
fore the bargain was closed. And. as
fer horses, neither would put one into
his stable without consulting the other.
Therefore i felt no concern as to the
result of an interview with respect to
an alliance which would draw the two
only the closer. One thing troubled me
Tom was 50 prone To consult my fa-
Their about everything that ii occurred
To me he would scarcely scruple to ask
him whether l would make good
wife. OF course this was silly notion
that had got into my head, but once
there could not get it out.
On-the morning appointed for the
momentOus conference l espied papa
and Tom Oh the piazza engaged doubt
less in discussing the matter so near
my heart. 1 would have been content
10 watch and hear the result from Tom
had IL not been for the ridiculous
dread that he would talk me over as
he would any article which he was
about to purchase and upon which lie
wanted his friends opinion. My pride
told me To keep out of earshot. My
woman's (call it curiosity desire to be
sure drove me into the parlor. where,
through window. only the blinds of
which were closed, l could overhear
every word spoken. The first sentence
uttered hy my lover convinced me that
his habit had led him to act as l fear
ed. He and papa were both smoking.
Tom, taking his cigar from his mouth
deliberately, asked, with provoking
coolness:
"Do you consider her pretty:'
Not exactly" was the reply. but
YOU know that for what you want her
she doesn't need to be snowy"
Never sick, is she?"
"NeVer-at least not to my knowl-
edge. You know l have been abroad
great deal during the past ten years
and ut such times have not kept in
formed about her"
Tom Baxter l muttered, shaking
my fist at him. you may drop that
for all me. l will never
be the wife of a man with so little SEN
timent."
Doubtless more of his business meth
DDS would appear in this affair of the
heart. / must know the worst.
The most important matter of all"
Tom continued, lis her disposition.
knowing, as cou do, what l want her
for, | am quite sure you would never
advise me To take her unless she is
kind and gentle. I'm going to rely in
this entirely upon your testimony. If
she has any temper Whatever / don't
want her"
Upon my word, What impudence. If
[ have any temper whatever lie doesn't
want me. / should like To see him get
me. He is to- rave and swear and
smash the furniture, while l, poor girl,
am to be meek and lowly, / shall show
my temper whenever | choose, but not
10 him. To him l am supremacy indif-
rercnt. the impudent. self assuming.
Dverbearing creature!
"Oh. as TO that" said papa, you'll
have to drive with n tight rein. She
,rets occasionally, but she's very easily
Kept under"
oh, papa, TO think that you should
speak so about your own daughter, l
nave heard that men always stand to-
;ether against women, but l never be-
ieved my father and my lover would
ak like this.
ION the whole, you think she'll dO?"
"What do you think yourselff"
Il? Oh, there are several things |
bout her l don't like at ALL
"Such as
I'm the first place, her gait is very |
,ad." oh, you villain, "In the second, |
Ter ears are altogether too large to in |
icate good breeding" You scoundreli |
Then that large head at the end of Il
Ong neck
l threw open the shutter with n
ang and stood confronting Mr.. Thorn
s Baxter with flashing eyes. Papa's
ack was turned, or l should have an
Inflated him too.
''If you want to know, sir, whether l
ave a temper, you may apply to me
ersonally. l will show you my dispo-
ition at first hand"
He sat looking at me, stupefied. Pa
a turned and also surveyed me with
-oubled countenance.
Daughter, are you ill?'
Gil? NO-insulted, every feeling out
aged. Temper! Bad gait! Big head
the end of long neck! And you"
lrning to Tom, ARE the man to whom
ut for this revelation L might have
cen tied for life"
Happy escaper' muttered Tom.
Whats the matter, Elit?' asked
apa.
Matter? Matter enough! And you,
lpa"-my voice trembled-"how could
Oh describe your own Kate as you
ould a horse?'
81 have described a horse. TOM /
iSInd tn lrno,1- 1,.hnthnr. b., lnd I,nttnr. |