Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Double Appointment.
TOriginal.l

suchQlreSOme work, anp THIS gallery Is
interninable Now we can talk more
comfortably"
When is your husband cCsning:'
This, morning, but he Is ,obliged TO
golon Immediately TO Paris. He wrote
me to meet him here close TO the sta
ton. liam expecting him. now"
You've no idea how surprised L was
at your being married after all our
talks on matrimOny. The last word
you said "a me the ebay we left college
was newell l had told you that you
would taketa husband within a year"
And you1were CRIfte ready to take
one as soonIas youI should meet your
ideal
Yes; Ithad more >confdence in men
than you. l trust men more than'wom-
ell"
And l am stiE ofImy former opin-
ion that men are not TO be trusted at
all. But | don't bhme them. 1t isn't
their nat1Ire to be tied down to one
woman"
How about your .huSbamiE
81 don't expect too muchsof him.
ANA you sdlCSuGu WIN SuSh
want OF confidence"
What can L do
You could have adhered to your
resolution never to marry.
And been IL sour old maid. No.
thank you. That was a. college girls
talk. | didn' t,mean il"
But what prospect OF happiness
have you with man YOU can't trustE'
Il give him free rein. BY and by he
will tire of every body but me and our
children-when we get them. Then
he'll want 10 spend his evenings toast
ing his shins before Il fire at home.
Compa nionship is better than blight
ed romance
"Oh. Mabel, Why did you not take
Il professorship of philosophy at col
Iegc? 1t would have suited you better
than marriage.
But | am content with marriage. l
don't expect what | have no right to
expect and shall not he disappointed.
But you, Edith-have you found your
ideal:"
Yes"
"Engaged?'
Not yet. 1 only met him a week
ago"
"Where?"
ION the steamer coming over"
And you expect him
ITO propose | am sure OF it. He is
10 meet me here this morning and has
said that he shall have something very.
important TO say 10 me-.
But l should think you would pre-
fer To hear it in n less public place"
"Oh. no. There is n spice about this
affair nothing cut and dried. We met
as travellers and will he engaged as
sightseers."
Look out. my dear. lest you are di-
vOrced homeward bound.
II shall not be disappointed. nor will
YOU when you see his frank. open face
and his honest smile. But why can't
introduce him TO you hereT
You can unless he happens 10 come
at the same time as my husband. In
that case | shall he occupied
What time do you expect him.
AT IL. His train arrives few min
utes before Il. and he leaves ut II 30.
MY appointment is for quarter
past IL | fear we should clash.
Il would not for the world interfere
with your expected happiness
Think. dear, what a prospect is be
fore us, We are TO spend week in
London and shall make up party for
the continent TO go to the south or
France and from there to Italy
Are you going To keep him by you
with chain and cOllarE'
You are incorrigible.'
We'll. Mabel. I'm delighted at your
prospect Of happiness. l hope for your
sake it will he fulfilled"
The clock is striking II. You will
soon see your hushand-that is. dear,
if the train is on time. 1t may be
little late. you know"
"Or my II owed may spend some time
putting fair travelling companion into
cab. chatting with her and holding
her hand before sending her away"
"DOubter'"
You say 11:3O is the time for your
meeting:''
Eleven fifteen"
Il hope for your sake he'll be on
time. You're all in fiutter."
Nonsense. I'm perfectly cool
There he comes"
The gentleman with the umbrella?
No: the one with the suit case"
Heavens
"Oh. Theodore. I'm 50 glad you've
come in time, / want to introduce
you
No occasion. my dear. l met your
friend on the steamer and appointed
this meeting with her and you that
You should know each other. But how !
did you come together
Theodore. you're a villain, Your /
companion du voyage and l are college |
classmates
Good I'm OF for Paris and will re |
turn next week. Then I will make up |
a party to visit the continent"
Mabel, you see
Edith, what brain you haveP'
MARY g WILLIAMS