Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
Filthy and Lastly.
Copyright. 1902 by the s. 8. Mcclure
Company

lne HrSI TINE i'll Paris. Colonel Dis
brow was fifty years of age, tall and
angular. The Widow Rogers was ten
years younger and rolly poly. With
her daughter of sixteen she was max
ing European trip under the chaper-
onage of her brother, Mr. Fitch.
colonel Disbrow had been lettering
around Paris for a month when the
other party arrived. He felt it his duty
TO make an early call and let them
know that Colonel John Disbrow
Montgomery. Ala, U. S. A." was in
town and glad TO see a fellow Ameri-
can. He had been in the presence of
the Widow Rogers just thirty-six rcin-
utes when he decided that she was the
woman who would do honor to his
name as n second wife.
Colonel Disbrow was q man of ac-
ton, but he was posted on the conven-
tionalities: He meant to offer Mrs.
Rogers his heart and cotton fields, but
as she had brother who was now her
natural protector he would go to the
brother first. He didn't waste five
minutes In beating about the bush, but
as soon as he could light a cigar and
get his feet up on the railing of the
veranda he began:
MIR. Fitch, / have fallen in love with
yo'r sister, and l want yo'r permission
to ask her hand in marriage"
''She will refuse you. colonel"
"She may, suh.'
But 80 ahead if you wish"
THANK yo', subj
Two hours later the colonel stood in
the presence of the widow in the hotel
parlor and said:
Mrs. Rogers, l have asked yo'r
brothers permission to address yo' on
the subject of marriage. The fact is,
l have fallen in love with yo' and
crave the honor of making yo' my
wife"
Mrs. Rogers was more than sur
prised, but she managed to refuse him
without decorating his feelings.
very well. ma'am, very WELL" re-
piled the colonel as he withdrew. 1T
is perhaps a little sudden. and l will
give yo' time to think it over"
At the end OF ten days he renewed
his offer and met with a like refusal.
Some men would have jumped their
hotel bill and started for America by
the next steamer, but the colonel was
not one of that sort. Although far
from intruding on the party, he kept
pace with them as they Travelled and
met them every day or two. In Swift
Zerland he came over to their hotel one
afternoon and proposed for the third
time.
There was no change in the answer.
But IL he was persistent in bringing
about embarrassing situations he was
also earnest and respectful. and as he
took his departure she reflected that q
woman might do worse than to say
yes to him.
A fortnight passed, and the Fitch
party moved on to Milan. Colonel
Disbrow moved on at the same time
to the same place. They had been in
Milan a week when he strolled into
the hotel one day and found Mr.. Fitch
on the veranda and sat down beside
him to say:
"Suh. my love for yo'r sister has not
decreased in the slightest. and 1 am
somewhat hopeful that her feelings to-
ward me may have undergone change
for the better. Have yo'r permission
to address her again on the subject
nearest my hearth
Don't you think that three times
ought to settle the matter, colonelT
Under ordinary circumstances-yes;
but this is an extra ordinary case. sub.
an extraordinary case"
Mr. Fitch couldn't see how or why,
but he gave his permission. and the
colonel assembled to the parlor to dis
cover that Widow Rogers hadn't
her mind. He retreated for
the fourth time in good order.
That night the party left for a week
in the shadow of the Alps. Colonel
Disbrow was not with them. They
had been in Novi three days when
they took drive toward the Bochetta |
pass. and within two hours their vehi- |
Gle was held up by five brigands of |
the dirtiest and most picturesque type. |
While Mr.. Fitch was searched, his |
arms tied behind him. the widow and |
daughter were robbed OF their jewelry |
and told that they would be held for |
ransom. Brigandage in that part of |
italy was supposed to be q lost art. |
but here was beautiful specimen of
4 holdup within few miles of n sum- |
mer hotel and company of soldiers.
All was ready to conduct the captives /
into the Businesses of the mounsRins /
when Colonel Disbrow appeared upon
the back of a mule. The hero of n
1ozen battles took in the situation with
military eye. and he moved down on
The enemy with commendable prompt
ness. There was no mistaking his pur-
pose as he rushed his mule into the
.hick of his enemies and opened fire
With six shooter. When he had killed
,ne and wounded two. victory was his.
The ladies were too overcome and
Mr.. Fitch was too mad to be agree
able companions on the way back to
Novi. AS for Colonel Disbrow, he fig
lred that his time for talking would
,ome later on. 1t did. On the after
noon of the third day he casually OBJ
49, u, cat K |