Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Little Love Comedy.
IOriginal.l

VI OOhh PoA~HSS
having died when he was an infant.
His grandmother, who had qunrreled
with her daughter on account OF her
marrying Herman Rikard, had never
seen the child, but had paid libeIHlly
for his support and education. Sheihad
died when Paul was in college andi had
left him some means. On being grad
uated he was to go to an aunt, whoawas
to take the place OF only relative.
When Paul appeared at his AunttCar-
oline's house singular looking little
old lady with pair of corkscrewfcurls
received him in II room so shaded from
the light that he did not see herItill she
advanced to meet him.
You are Paul Rikard, my sisters
son." she said, land l am your Aunt
Caroline. You are TO stay here till you
are twenty-three years old, at which
time am to pay over to you your in
heritance. Unfortunately l am called
away for a few weeks and must leave
you under the same roof with Claudia
Chace, a young girl whom have adopt
ed and whose home is here. My house
keeper will be chaperOn. You will meet
Claudia at dinner. / wish to admonish
you not on any account to fall In love
with her, since l shall not consent to
her marriage with any one. 1 must
have her to myself in my old age
After this address, which she gave in
a cracked voice, she hobbled out of the
room and left the young man to him
| self He was bitterly disappointed.
This, the only relative he had ever
seen. seemed to be not an especially
| lovabIe person. Well. there was the
young girl, but doubtless she was az I'M
attractive as his aunt, for such old peo-
pie are not likely to make companions
of girls that men would like.
Then came n summons to dinner.
A young girl, the very counterpart of
his aunt advanced to meet him, cor
daily welcoming him. From the mo-
ment he saw her and listened TO her
kindly words he knew he had met one
with whom he would be especially con-
| genial.
IT am Claudia" she said. 81 have
| heard n great deal about you from my
dear mother by adoption and l assure
you for years have felt an interest In
| one who has had no one to take the
| place OF father. mother. sister or broth
er. l hope you will now have one in
| your aunt to fill something of the gap.
| AS for newell. we must consider our
selves at least cousins"
"But Aunt Caroline showed no inter
| est In me whatever"
| "She will. Believe me. you can tell
nothing about her from what you have
seen. She has the kindest heart in the
world and is very unseltish.'
Paul wondered If the girl would call
the old woman unselfish had she heard
her declare that she intended keeping
| her from n husband to administer to
her own wants. However. his aunt
| and all the world were forgotten in the
delightful evening he spent with
Claudia Chace. Occasionally she would
refer to the aunt, and in one instance
as a very romantic person. Upon this
! Paul burst into a laugh, at which Miss
Claudia seemed n trihe offended, but
in another moment all was righted and
Paul saw that he must not mention his
aunt except with the greatest respect.
Paul lost his heart. The return of
the old lady and a declaration OF love
came about near the same time. Paul
proposed one evening and his aunt was
to return the next morning.
"Are you sure" asked Claudia Sc
riously, that in doing this you are act
ing honorablyT'
Paul started 'T had forgotten" he
said, that before my aunts departure
she gave me warning"
(Which was"
"Why, the fact is" said Paul. ''the
old curmudgeon told me she would
never consent to your marriage since
she intended to keep you single for her
self"
THAT being the case, 1 must decline
your proposal. 1 owe her too much
and love her too well to marry with
out her permission"
But
"But whatT'
II will beg her on my knees to give
you to me- We will both take care of
her-be her companions in her old
: age"
"what7 Could you live with cur
mudgeonT
''For you could live with wolf"
The girl burst into a laugh. Every
; WELL" she said, you may ask her, and
we shall see If she is as selfish as you
think"
The next morning Paul was in
formed that the old lady had returned
and wished to see him in the library.
He entered the same dimly lighted
room as before.
; "weIl, young man. said the crone,
you've been here for three weeks
/, with my daughter. 1 dare say you've
been trying to rob me of her"
"My dear aunt, 1 would not rob you
of her for the world. But beg of you
not to separate me from one 1 love.
Together we will'-
There was n rustic behind portiere
and a benevolent looking lady emerged.
At the same time sundry articles of
attire and make up" fell from the
aunt, revealing the face and figure of
Claudia.