Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-26
DAILY SHORT STORY
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

IF EmademolSeiie wishes - DeSaL1tIe
clerk.
Pardon, monsieur, 1 am Mme-J Mon
tresor,' interrupted the young woman
IF madame wishes" cOrrected the
clerk, Il am sure'that NJ. Grgowwould
Lallow the buckle TO be sent 10 the hO-
f,4l. Certainly, Yes"
but 1 do not wish him TO send it to
the, hotel,' replied Nine. Montresor. Il
VIII call again tomorrow, andtthen per-
haps NJ Grigon:may be in
I'VE thank yo1,'' said the clerk.
Mime. Montrescr left the jewehy'shop
in the Rue Scribe and walked slowly
until she met at the next corner a man
who bowed, gravely to her and fell east
" into step at her side
HE was not there" remarked ma
dame briefly.
Too bad,"' said the man. Another
day lost
Yes said madame, "and it is ex-
pensive, this staying at the Hotel tRitz.
How much is left now?'
About 1000 francs"
"W'ell, that's enough for another
week. unused madame as She and her
companion walked toward the hotel.
The following day Nine. Moutresor
and thesman walked into Grigonss shop
again. yThe clerk who had waited
upon herr came forward. an. tGrigon
is within,F' he said.
NJ. Grigon stepped forward. What
!,
CFpired..
Then, he Hooked atsthe young woman.
The man who had accompanied. her
strolled, toward the door and stood
swinging his waIkingistick.
MY f9rther," began msiame, Herr
Rudolph, Richter, wishes me to select
lthe gift which he proposes for my
birthday Yesterday your assistantw9s
good enough to show'to me a diamond
buckle which wouldsplease me-"
Grigon stared at her again. Her
eyes dropped. and a faint flushicame
into her cheeks under the steady gaze.
Would it be the Burma buckle?"
asked Grigon finally.
Perhaps. The man did not say"
replied madame.
Grigon turned to u huge safe and
took from it Il tray containing gems
which, AN expert would have valued at
more than one fortune.
"Thatt is the ONE said madame
pointingAto a most beautiful piece in
the tray
THAT is the Burma buckle said
Grigon.
And its ,price?" tnquired'madame.
eighty thousand frances said Girl
gon.
Madame picked up the buckle and
held it to her throat. 'Is it'well there?"
she asked, and her glance fell straight
into the eyes of GEigOn.
"Adorable"' said'the Frenchman-
Tomorrow" continued madame, 'is
my birthday. the first since the death
of my husband, and my father desires
to give me what l like best. Now,
if monsieur would be good enough 10
| bring the buckle to the hotel tonight
have no doubt but that Herr Richter
will purchase from him"
That evening Grigon went to the Ho-
| tel Ritz. Herr Richter appeared, say
| ing that his daughter was in the gar
den. With Grigon he went in search
of her.
| They found her in the balcony. Girl
gon seated himself beside her. and
Herr Richter walked away.
Grigon took the wonderful gems from
the case. Il do not know" he began,
''if madame understands love at first
! sight She has had the goodness 10
tell me that she has been but recently
made a widow through the unfortu-
nate death of her husband. 1 have
| seen madame driving in the Bots these
many years, but until yesterday when
she came to my shop l had not known
how much I loved her. If madame
will deign to show me the favor of
! hoping that L may ask her TO be my
wife. then she will accept from me
the Burma buckle in token of her ia
vor."
Madame looked at him wonderingly.
| Monsieur is good.' she said.
Grigon laid the buckle in her hand.
ut shall be as madame wishes" he
said. He bowed and babe her good
! night On the veranda he met Herr
Richter Il have asked your daughter
to be my wife, he said, land 1 have
! left with her the Burma buckle for
her birthday gift"
Richter went back to the balcony.
Madame held up the buckle for him to
see.
That was easier than stealing It,"
he said briefly.
Then he continued: "What will you
do? Shall we take the midnight train
for Berlinr'
NO she replied. st shall marry
him. Then 1 shall give the gems to