Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-04

dwight Il young mldSn1pm2n from the
Naval academy home on leave, TO tea.
Polly colored at the mention of such
thing.
''Oh. grandma" she exclaimed.
"Well, what is it. Polly?''
do you really think we'd better in
wife him TO tea?'
Certainly. Why not. child:"
"Oh, don't know. I'll think about
it."
John" said grandma that evening
to her husband. Il never in my life
saw girl so timid about meeting one
of the opposite sex as Polly. I've told
her To invite the midshipman TO tea,
but I'm afraid she'll never have the
courage to do So
Don't force her. Sarah"
However. the invitation was given
and accepted. Young Dwight appeared
on the evening in question and sat talk
ing with grandpa while supper was
being prepared. He was somewhat in
coherent in his remarks and replies,
and the old man thought him as easily
embarrassed as Polly. Then they all
went in to supper, and under the in
fiuence of the hot biscuit, cream pOta-
REINFORCED by the grandparents efforts
to make the young people feel easy in
each others company, all was going
well. when grandma made a bad slip
of TIE tongue. She was dreaming OF
the time when her dear little Polly
might be the wife of an admiral, and
in the midst of her reverie. having occa-
sion TO speak TO Polly, called her Mrs.
Dwight.
Had Il 1000 pound prOjectile been eX-
ploded OH the deck of Il man-of-war it
could not have created as much con-
sternation as this blunder produced
upon the young people. The midShip
man turned white. the girl red, while
grandpa and grandma may be said to
have looked blue. Grandpa saw the
midshipman dart a glance at Polly,
half angry. half surprised. What it
meant the old man could not explain,
but lie took il 10 mean that Dwight had
no fancy for matrimOny, which. conSid-
ering his youth and condition, was not
surprising
There was no comfort at table after
the fatal Dlunder, and grandma. who
had caused il all. had the adroitnesS TO
leave out the cake and preserves, which
had been intended for a last course,
and. rising from the table, led the way
10 the drawing room. But grandpa
found something To take him out to the
barn. and grandma found it necessary
to interview the servants. The young
couple were left sitting OH opposite
sides of the room. and grandma could
have bitten off her tongue ut having
spoiled an incipient affair between
boy and Il girl. She wished she could
have left them not so far apart, but
did not dare risk any more plumbers by
trying to bring them together. She
was busy for some time about house
hold matters, and grandpa was talking
TO a neighbor. Then grandpa came in,
ana the old couple went upstairs.
The young fellow don't seem TO be
in hurry to 60 remarked grandpa
at o O'Clock.
Hasn't he gomez" replied grandma.
II thought l heard the gate click some
time ago
Il don't know. Perhaps we'd better
so down and see"
They went together softly down
stairs All was still in the drawing
room The door was shut but if there
had been an ordinary conversation be-
tween two people il could have been
heard in the hall The old couple lis
tened for a moment; then grandpa re-
marked that he reckOned the room was
empty. He opened the door.
Wonder of wonders, There sat Polly
on the midshipman's lap and in the |
midshipman's arms.
Polly sprang up, and Dwight. rising, |
stood looking with mingling of sheep !
iShneSs, assurance. conscious pride and |
happiness. Then he spoke out like the |
little man he was:
This can go on no longer. Polly |
and 1 have been married for a month. !
If it is known. III be shipped from the |
academy. for no undergraduate is al !
lowed TO be married If you good peo-
pie will keep our secret all will come
out right I graduate in the coming
June and viii then be an officer in the !
United States navy. If you object to f,
me as Il husband for Polly. l shall |
blame myself; if not, l shall be glad
for what I've done"
BY this time the old people had some !
what recovered from their surprise. /
grandpa seized the boys hand and |
Polly few into grandma's arms.
John" said the old lady before they |
went to bed. "how do you suppose |
they found the times and places to |
meet"
Don't know, Sarah. Reckon it runs /
in the blood Do you remember how |
you met me every few days for two /
months without your parents knowing 1
anything about itE''
do tell-' replied grandma medita- (
lively. Its astonishing how things J
keep succeeding one another the same /
way" F. A. mitchell.