Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-09
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Would Be ceIibate.
lOriginal.l

lions and whose hobby was to eStab-
fish family. He resolved that his
only son should marry or be disinherit-
ed. But being a polite man he enlist
ed the services of Mrs. Cushing,
shrewd woman Of the world. Mrs.
Cushing proposed TO entice the son
with her niece, Miss Sherwood.
''She's but u child" said Mr.. Broom
head senior.
Seventeen. Your son is getting to
an age when he prefers youth"
shes simpleton."
"Men are not attracted by attributes
similar TO those they themselves pos
sess."
Il admit she is pretty. She looks at
one out of her soft eyes with all the in
nocence of a babe"
'All except the innocence"
Every well. 1 leave the whole matter
to you. What neXt?"
Tell your son that you wish him to
marry Miss Sherwood. If Miss Sher-
wood declines the alliance. you will not
insist on his marriage. If she consents,
then he must complete his part or lose
his inheritance"
Paul BrOomhead, when informed OF
what was expected of him, was per-
picked. He was resolved on celibacy.
had told everybody that he would new
er marry, but he wanted his fathers
fortune to carry out some gigantic de-
signs he had in view for the church.
He resolved to win Miss Sherwood TO
an interest in his work; thus she, by
refusing to marry him, could save to
him his fathers millions. He asked
permission to call on the young lady,
and an evening was appointed. Miss
Sherwood lived with her aunt, and
that lady superintendent the costume
her niece wore on the occasion. No
ticing that tiny pimple marred the
pink and white skin just beneath the
girls lips, she covered it with a bit of
court plaster.
When the rector called, he found
Miss Sherwood sitting demurely in the
corner of a sofa in the drawing room.
AS he advanced she rose and stood
with her eyes bent on the floor, a pic
ture of maidenly mOdesty. Then the
two sat down on the sofa side by side.
Mr.. Broomhead was accustomed to
putting delicate eases, and he acquit-
ted himself we'll in this instance. He
began by mentioning his fathers wish
with regard to their marriage. Mar
riage was Il highly honorable institu-
ton indeed, a part of the church it
self. The young lady was attractive.
He must admit that she was beautiful.
lie thought he could love her devoted
ly Indeed, the possession of the deli
cate flower would in way make his
life a paradise. He could conceive of
no greater blessing of Providence than
TO secure such a wife.
Miss Sherwood listened to this pre-
lude with downcast eyes, absently
smoothing out the folds of her dress,
till he came to the last sentence, the
last word. wife" Then she looked up
at him out of pair of eyes that eX-
pressed the most ineffable tenderness.
The clergyman proceeded. but the re-
mainder of his discourse did not run
quite so smoothly as his firstly"
He pictured a higher life-higher even
than holy matrimony-a life devoted to
the cause of their Master. Think OF
the great good to be achieved with his
fathers fortune in leading countless
millions to the church, the splendid
edifices that might be built. the homes
for the church orders, both men and
women. Think of that nobler friend
ship that would exist between the two,
he working day and night in the chan
Gel, in the mission house, in the slums;
she devoted to the same cause as
member of Il Sisterhood. Il ask you,
beloved" he concluded, would you
not prefer this nobler life preparatory
to the higher existence to-
He stopped short. Miss Sherwood
had burst into flood of tears and was
weeping on his shoulder.
Dear little girl, calm yourself. Per
haps l have asked too much of you.
We will think it over. There, try and
cease this convulsive sobbing."
His arm was around her waist, his
hand was smoothing the beautiful
whirlpooIs of hair that had been set
vVhirling under Mrs. Cushing's especial
guidance. Then there was silence.
During the evening several people,
members of young Broomhead's flock,
called on Mrs. Gushing. Evidence is
not Forthcoming whether they came by
invitation or merely happened in.
ting in a room directly opposite the
drawing room when Mr.. Broomhead
emerged, looking very much hustered,
followed by Miss Sherwood, as COM
posed and innocent looking as a blue
violet. All were surprised TO see their
rector in the house, inasmuch as his
presence there had not been mentioned.
Mr.. Broomhead advanced with embar
rassment to meet them. and there was
a bit of small talk. Then one of the
ladies began TO litter. She whispered
something to one of the others, who
began to litter also. AT last the whole
party were laughing, and laughing at
the clergyman.
MIR. BrOOmhead," remarked Mrs.
Gushing seriously, Il was not aware
that men wore beauty spots"
The rector put his hand to his chin,
pulled off piece of court plaster, look
ed at it on the tip of his finger and