Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-06
DAILY STORY
SPRING HATS.


l never see the firefiies glitter on the
lawn but | go back to that scene which
was 10 prove SO eventful to me, though
didn't know at the time that 1T was
of any Importance whatever. L had
put Dick off from one date to another
in the matter of our wedding. and he
was becoming importunate. He said
he couldn't settle down to anything
till we were married and once more in
the hGmdrum of life. The humdrum
of life, / was hound that if he pro-
posed Il humdrum married condition
for us / did not But I said nothing
to him of my intention. / did not APP
pear to notice the Objectionable word.
/ simply told him that trousseau was
essential 10 a bride and trousseau
would require months to procure. Then.
with malice prepense, j remarked that
the style of spring hats was not becom-
ing to me and I might decide on that
account to wait till autumn. l said this
with such naturalness that he believed
me and knit his brow When he left
my common sense told me that l had
gone too far with him. But l had no
fear He had tried so hard TO get me
that there seemed little chance of his
giving me up for q trifie.
One evening in June / was sitting on
the piazza steps. The air was delicious
~ balmy, and it was the season for
fireflieS The children on the lawn be-
meath me were fitting hither and thth-
er, laughing and shouting as they tried
to catch the lightning bugs" grasping
at a flash, then turning on seeing an
other in a new direction. l heard the
gate, which was behind clump of low
trees where l couldn't see it, shut with
click and quick step coming up the
winding walk. l recognized Dick q
step and knew by it that he had some
thing of Importance for me.
Alas, that he came at such time.
When children are naughty we tell
them that a bad spirit has got into
them. \ bad spirit had certainly got
into me. The sweet scene before me,
instead of making me plastic. hardened
me. We are unconscious of the causes
of our moods. but causes are always
there. Perhaps in my case the hum
drum of life" grated upon this first
Dick reached me l was steeled against
persuasion.
Beatrice he said, 1--WE must be mar
ried at once"
THAT with me is impossible" l re-
piled.
Impossible? There is no such word"
How would L will not suit you?"
Much better. There is something in |
that; i'll the other there is nothing"
His tone was one of irritation, and |
it had the same effect on me. I'm
glad I've found words to suit you" / |
coldly.
See here, Beatrice'-with Dick "See |
here" always preceded something dis
agreeable-"if you intend to marry me
there are reasons-very good reasons
why you should do SO at once-that is,
within Il week. The world treats us
seriously and will not always wait for
us. At least l can't make a success Of
it and indulge your whins. What do
you say to-
IF you are in such a hurry for the
humdrum of life L am not. And as
for whims, marriage is too serious
an affair for us to mingle whimS
with our decisions. l will not marry
now because l have not made up my
mind"
"Oh, you have not made up your
,11in1f oil |
If you make it up before
Saturday next, write me. After that it
will be too late"
In another moment l heard the gate
click and his footsteps rapidly growing
eSS distinct
The gate doesn't click now; I per
;uaded father to take it off it's hinges.
couldn't endure to hear 1t. l spent
| week struggling with my pride, for
Dicks reSolute manner had told me
hat he was in earnest. But L could
lot conquer it. The week expired.
wrote him as though nothing had hap
'ened between us, addressing him at
lis lodgings in the city as usual.
That's two years ago, and since that
ime l have never had letter from
Dick. 1 have known that about the
late of olS- break he went to Mexico
o establish some agency or other.
'hree months after his departure my
etter to him came back to me from
he dead letter Office. 1 didn't write
mother. Dick had not given me his
ddress. Besides, he had told me aft
r that it will be too late" For two
0ng years L wished the dead heart
flee" would send me back mine.
And now, the second June after
,ick's departure. we are sitting on the
teps watching the children chase the
relies. 1 heard a step on the walk
nd knew 1t was his The first thing
e said he had to say something -
1as:
whats become of the gate?"
Father took it away because it was
uch a noisy one" God forgive the lie!
- A-Ir \ L