Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-23

led Mabel HannaS fancy and the
painter pleased her still more. For
mutual friend. who knew of her
great liking for the picture. took the
trouble to introduce him. That was
how their mountaineering began.
Next day the young artist received
an invitation to call at the Hanna
mansion. He called again, and a
third time. and Il fourth time. And
ere long he had come to know that
the society belle, apparently as far out
of his reach as the stars above, was
the one woman in the world to him.
She found in course of time that she
greatly liked the artist whose visits
she had come to look forward To.
Not long after that she discovered
that she loved him.
When Mabel Hanna let him find out
this important state of her feelings
he was the happiest man i'm Cleve-
land. But both young people knew
very well that the course of their
true love was not likely To run all
smooth. Papa Hanna doomed up in
the distance Is the rock on which
their hopes were in danger of being
dashed to pieces What could be
done about it? The young man
wasn't at all afraid. He would will
ingly have bearded the millionaire
in the latter's office and asked at
once for the girls hand. But would
this be the wisest way?
The girl herself insisted that it
would not. She would have her
lover appointed as her fathers priv
ate secretary. Then he could be al
ways near her and the senator would
have the opportunity TO become bet
ter acquainted with the youths
good qualities. Then. by and by, the
situation could be explained to the
family and perhaps things could be
more easily managed. That was the
girls ingenious idea and she worked
it out practically even as she had
planned it.
1t was after dinner that same
night when Mark Hanna was sitting
reading in his library that his daugh-
ter remarked, 20. papa. l want you
to do something for me, if YOU will?"
"Why. of course. dear" he replied.
strolling the fair head that was laid
upon his shoulder.
There's a young artist whom I
carelessly. Il believe he needs more
art studies At least. some one said !
so. and | was wondering if YOU
couldn't make him your private sec
rotary. I'm sure the salary would |
help him out
We'll. well. well, that's n philan- |
thropic little girl" the senator an
severed. Tell me his name and I'll
look him up and see what can he
done
What was done was that Harry |
Parsons received the very position |
which his sweetheart had schemed |
50 cleverly To give him.
And Mark Hanna up to his eyes in |
stocks and politics. was blind to the |
game that was being played on him.
Meanwhile the senator came to be |
very dependent on, the secretary, |
whom he found in every way a model |
and exemplary young man.
Things couldn't have been better |
arranged. 1t came about in the !
most natural way that the senator's |
secretary saw much of the senator's |
daughter. But the courtShip couldn't !
go on in this way for ever. 1t lasted |
for more than n year. and then one |
day il was decided that the final |
crisis must he met.
Senator Hanna, in his private office |
with its handsome furnishings. |
heard his secretary speak out with
frankness and conclude with a re-
quest for MabeIs hand.
Could he have heard Alright? Yes, |
e., n1,Tf
with the words which seemed To ring |
i'm his astonished ears.
Il love your daughter. sir" said
young Parsons. "She loves me. May |
have her for my wife,"
The senator only started in re-
Spouse. Was the boy mad? He |
might easily have asked for n mil
lion dollars. 1t would have been
more readily granted.
When Mark Hanna finally managed |
to recover his equilibrium he gave
voice to his emotions. All the walls |
of his wrath he poured forth on the |
devoted suppIiant's head. The sec
rotary had not been hired to make |
love to the employers daughter, he
was informed.
The thing was too preposterous
to be considered for an instant.
When at length this stormy inter
view was ended, the clerks saw
young Parsons walk out of the priv
ate office with flushed face and head |
erect.
That momentouS afternoon the |
senator went home early. His |
daughter was waiting for him. He
didn't have to summon her.
But his anger had been given time |
to cool a little. and when the girl |
flung her arms about his neck. as
she knew how to do, he couldn't be
as severe as he had meant to be.
She told him what il meant. That |
L. u ~ In n