Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE AMERICAN COUSIN.
IOriginaL.l

don't like the way things are drifting
at all This stranger, OF whom we
know nothing-this man with the COM
monpIace name John JOnes-is going
70 make 4 fool of you. You know
that by arrangement with your uncle
In America you are promised TO his
son, your cousin, who may be here any
day to claim you. What happened last
night at the gardenE"
We'll, father, couldn't help 1t. 1t
was this way: Mr.. Jones, l and the
others were sitting quietly listening TO
the music when one of a party of Off
GERS who were drinking heavily at the
next table ogled me and finally, rails
Ing his glass, drank to me. Mr.. Jones,
who saw him do it, tossed his card on
to the table before him, then paid no
further attention to him. Soon after
we left the garden"
''Yes. and there will be a meeting
you will be defended 10y this-this John
Jones, and what girl can have a man
fight for her protection and not fall
in love with him."
But. father, has not our cousin
sighted us? He has been at the uni
versity all this time and has never
been TO see us"
students at Bonn are not supposed
to go gadding. They are there to
study
Herr Fleischman stormed and cursed
the day when the Englishman came TO
town. and his daughter went to her
room in tears. She knew that Mr..
Jones would meet the man who had
insuIted her, and she had not heard
that the former was expert with any
weapon. She also realized the truth of
her fathers words. She had liked Mr..
Jones, but till his life was periled in
her defense she did not know that she
loved him.
Nothing was heard of Mr.. Jones till
the next afternoon, when Bertha was
Overjoyed to see him come sailing up
the street as though nothing had hap
pened. But it was evident that some
thing had happened, for he wore his
arm in sling.
'Thank heaven" exclaimed Bertha
as he Joined her, you are not killed.
hope you have not killed the other!'
mo, but he will he in bed long
enough to think over his mistake in in
sulting a lady"
''Oh, Mr.. Jones, how can 1 thank
you?"
"YOu don't need to thank me. l only
did what any gentleman would have
done under the circumstances"
DO tell me some way by which can
show my appreciation of your kind
ness-the risk you have taken for me"
There is but one way" he said, low
ering his voice, land that cannot be-"
Name it, she replied, knowing what
it was without his telling her.
Your father has told me of your
American cousin
Bertha knew that this was a declara
tion. She lowered her eyes. "Well?'
she said softly.
1.-Two persons cannot possess the
same gem"
81 wish my American cousin were at
the bottom of the sea-
And 1 were Mr.. Magnify Then we
could fight it out"
Bertha smiled. At the same time she
did not think Nr. Jones regarded the
matter in a serious enough manner. y
shall have to do as my father Wishes"
she said I'VE German maidcns are
trained 10 obey our parents in such
matters
rs il your father or you who are TO
he suited with d husbandI"
81"
Then see no reason for you to mar
ry TO suit him instead of yourself"
you talk like an American. ] won
der If my cousin has such remarkable
views"
AT this point HerR Fleischman en-
tered, scowling at the couple, who were
sitting quite close together on sofa.
Herr FIeischman," said Mr.. Jones,
I'VE have been discussing the German
and American methods of proposal for
wife Fraulein Bertha prefers the
German, l the American. 1 wouldn't
consider girl worth marrying who
would let her father choose a husband
for her.
Herr Fleischman turned red with an
ger, while Bertha looked at her woOer
astonished.
Il ask for the hand OF your daugh-
ter" continued Mr. Jones. Il leave
her TO choose between me on the one
hand and you and this American cousin
on the other"
Both men turned TO Bertha. She had
been captivated by this down treading
Of established rules and the defense
she had received-indeed, the sweeping
methods of this novel lover. 1t was a
hard struggle with her to decide be-
tween what she considered her duty
and lover who had no respect for
established forms, but love trlumphed,
and she threw her arms around the
lovers neck. Herr Fleischman was
boiling with rage.
Leave this houseP
why should / leave a house to
which 1 have been especially invitedf r
said Mr.. Jones, with imperturbable |
GOODNESS.
''Invited?' rOared Herr Fleischman. |
Yes, invited. I've got the invitation |