Rock Island Argus., 1902-09-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
Loves Young Dream
Turns Out a Dream.
lOriginal.1

| Looking behind me, l saw a man
who appeared to be about fifty years
old. He was i'll at ease about some
thing, but Whether it was in finding
himself in q civilized land, for which
he was by no means fitted. or was ap-
preaching some crisis i'll his life l
could not tell. l encouraged him to
talk, and he did so.
Twenty-Five years before he had been
Tilted. He had gone TO the gold re-
gions and made Il fortune. Recently
learning that his former love was sim
gle, he had renewed his proposition of
quarter of a century before. The
woman had returped a prompt accept
ance, and he was going to his home 10
be made happy after so many years
of waiting. lie opened Il carpetbag
and took from Il soiled roll of papers
card photograph. 1t was the saucy
face of n girl of eighteen and pretty
enough to kiss.
THAR she air. stranger; thar'S Ma,
hubby 1 hev KEEP thet pictrr' by me
ever since 1 left her, an she wrote me
thet one of me, taken about the same
time, he'd been on the parlor mantel,
whar she could see it every day. In
her last letter she warmed up over it,
sayin' she was loOkin' anXiously fur
that black mustachc, thet roCn' cheek,
them raven locks she'd knowed years
afore"
The mans mustache was Il yellow
gray, his cheek furrowed leathern,
and on the top of his head stood few
scattered hairs like timber on noun
tot hot hoH Inv /
looked from him to the likeness of his
early love, and it occurred TO me that
the same changes had doubtless oc-
CURED in her. 1 said nothing, well
knowing that no word from me would
avail to prepare him for the change he
would find in the girl. However, it Oc-
Cured TO me that l might devise some
plan to soften the disappointment.
MY friend" l said, do you think
you will know the lady when you meet
her?''
''Sartin. Dye suppose 1 could ever
furgit that purity face?"
81 would like to bet you a tenner
that you won't know her"
He dived into his pocket, drew forth
fat roll of bills and, wetting his
thumb, selected n ten dollar bill, which
mated. Then arranged with him to
send for his fiancee to come to the ho-
tel we agreed to stop at, and he was
to see her among other women. He
gave me his name, Mark Spellbinder.
while his betrothed was Mahulda
Rails. After Mr.. Spellbindcr and 1
had reached the hotel l mailed Il note
to Miss Rails, saying that if she would
call at the hotel that evening n friend
of her lover would give her infOrma-
ton of him. Then L went out and
spent SO for n wedding gift.
About s o'clock l was informed that
a lady wished to see me in the parlOr.
1 found a very fat person. with griz-
zly gray hair-what there was of it
the front teeth decayed and look of
chronic dissatisfaction on her face.
Miss Rails, 1 believe"
''Yes, sir, Miss Rails. What We got TO
tell me bout Mark Spellbinder?"
He is here in this house. He wishes
to know if you will recognize him."
Recognize him? Why not?"
Hes older, you know"
$50 am 1, but 1 hope I'm not a
fright
L whispered to n waiter to tell Mr..
Spellbinder to come in. There were
several people in the room, including
a girl of twenty-five. Before Spell
binder arrived L purposely left Miss
Rails and walked to a fireplace. The
groom eXpectant came in and looked
inquiringly about him. If his eye
touched Miss Rails, il did not remain
upon her for more than Il moment.
Then, after taking in several women,
it rested on the young lady. 1t had
been arranged between him and me
that he was to leave the room without
giving any evidence of having made a
selection.
AS soon as he was gone 1 returned to
Miss Rails and after Il brief chat on
unimportant matters told her that her
lover had been in the room.
Been herein this room? l don't
b'lieve it. Only one man has come in
since I've been here, an he was an
old codger, bald as coot an with
cheeks like a new plowed field.'
THAT was he. feared you wouldn't
recognize him." And without waiting
for more words l excused myself and
joined Mr.. Spellbinder.
well, did you pick her out?'
asked.
"Yaas," he said, with sigh. "She
hain't near so purity as she war, but
she's kind O. nice anyway"
(which one was it,"
''The girl by the winder."
you're mistaken. Miss Rails sat in
the far corner"
''Wh-a-a-t! The fat ole cat with
snaggle teeth?"
fully of the woman you are to marry"
He looked bewildered. Several times
he started to say something, but failed
to get it out. At last he took out the
roll of bills had seen once before and
handed it to me.
Stranger" he said, 81 feel kin'er IS