Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-30
DEBATING THE
. TELEGRAPH


tCopyright, 1902, by the S. S. Mcclure
Company.1
Lazily Linyard watched the blue
coated figure toiling slowly up the hill
from the station. Who, he wondered,
had sent town messenger out to
Woodcrest? He was half tempted to
rise and meet the lad, but the June day
had an enervating breath, and, besides,
the note might be for Clifford.
Clifford owned Woodcrest, and Lin
yard had only run down for the week
end. Presently the boys slows feet
crunehed upon the gravel walk. Cliff
ford stepped out through the library
window.
Bet the cigars it's for you, Walt" he
suggested, ''or, better still, from Jane
Burton"
Linyard flushed, though he tried to
speak carelessly as he said, It'll take
you, for there's no such luck"
The boy was at the step now, and
both men reached out their hands.
For Mr.. Walter Linyard,'' the
youngster said as he reached out a
square envelope addressed in a hand
that caused Linyard's heart to beat
fast
OIluOrQ cluckleu. 4 VIII, ne Qe-
clared. And Linyard, deep in perusal
of his letter, could only nod assent.
The eager face turned to blank aston
ishment, however. as he read. When
he reached the familiar signature, he
began and read it all over again and
then burst out:
This is quite beyond me!'
"Any way can help, old man"
Linyard thrust the letter in his hand,
and this is what Clifford read:
Town. June 5.
My Dear Mr.. Lfnyard-Forgive me for
my refusal to answer you when you did
me the honor a week ago OF asking me to
marry you. 1 will have to explain the Pc
culiar position in which am placed.
When 1 made my debut In society last
fall, my aunt, who. as you know, has been
both father and mother to me. made me
promise that would accept no proposal
until the end of my first season, and now
that the season is ended find myself in
dilemma. There are seven men among
whom 1 really cannot decide You are
one of the seven.
I have therefore decided to leave the
decision in the hands of fate and the en-
terprise of those who seek my hand.
am leaving on the American liner today.
and 1 will accept the first proposal to
reach me from one of the seven.
Letters similar to this will be delivered
half an hour after the steamer sails to
the other six, SO that you may all have
an even chance. 1t rests with you. Faith
fully yours. JEANETTE BURTON.
Clifford handed back the letter, with
a low whistle. Cant say blame her
much, though" he remarked. "She was
by far the prettiest debutante of the
season, and the chaps of our set are so
much alike it's hard to choose between
them. Going in to VIM"
10
shoulders reassuringly as he said, ''I'm
. going to cable Queenstown to catch
the steamer in the channel"
''That will be nice" returned Clifford
comfortingIy. "By that time she will
have had time to write letters to four
out of the other five telling them the
lucky man got his wireless telegram
aboard at Nantucket
Linyard gritted his teeth. Then he
turned to his friend desperately. "See
here; I've simply got to get my proposal
in first. How can 1 do it?''
But Clifford sat there in a brown
study. Suddenly his friends face
frightened Lets go bluefishing on
the Ariel" he said quickly. And Cliff
ford, with the light of sudden under
standing on his face, nodded an assent.
Late that afternoon there was a COM
motion on the bridge Of the New York
Not far ahead a schooner yacht acted
as though bent on self destruction by
persistently getting in the steamers
way. The first officer reached for the
whistle cord.
As the hoarse notes doomed out
across the water the yacht displayed
the signal flags for II want to speak to
you," and a minute later, with engines
stopped, the huge steamer lay to.
New York, ahOy~ hailed the yachts
man through the megaphone. 'Is Miss
Burton on board?"
There was a wild scramble among
the passengers lining the rail- Present
ly slender girlish figure mounted the
bridge.
This. is Miss Burton" shouted the
first officer, indicating her with his
trumpet
Clear and sharp came back the reply:
''This is Mr.. Linyard. 1 want to know
if she will marry me?"
A cheer went up from the crowded
deck. Then the answer rang back as
clearly, "She says she WILL
Tell her 1 leave on Saturdays
steamer. Thanks and goodby."
A very much disguised officer reached
for the indicator and pulled it viciously
to full speed ahead"
On deck the Ariel, Linyard turned
joyfully to his friend. "Jim," he said
fervently, ''there are times when a
schooner yacht beats even wireless te-
Biography. Let's go below and offer up
, nbation to my engagement"
EPES w. SARGENT.
|