Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-05

ella ArmOdeO. and the young lady. hav-
ing made up her mind what course to
pursue, opened the door and stepped
into the apartment where the gentle
man awaited her. Ten minutes later
he left the house. and Signorina Armo
dec Joined her mother in the library.
Il think said the daughter indecis-
lively, that 1 shall decline TO fulfill the
contract. He is either very wise or
very stupid. for he opened his eyes
| upon me-they are his only redeeming
! feature - but scarcely opened his
mouth
The front door creaked and her IA
Their entered.
| Its all Gtf,' he said
| What do you mean?" asked the
| daughter, starting.
Il met Signor Conci on the doorstep.
| He declines to complete the contract.
He chose rather to pay all expenses.
However, since You are only seventeen.
/ there is vet time"
Indeed there is replied the daugb-
| ter under her breath and with a dan
gerous glitter in her eye.
One evening soon after this episode
Vittori and Lucia met at Il ball.
Good evening. Signor," she said. Il
am glad TO meet you again. Because
we do no. marry there is no reason why
we may not be friends and, slipping
her hand within his arm. she walked
away with him. The orchestra was
playing one of Straus delightful
waltzes, and what could the young
man do but propose that they should
dance? Then, when they had finished.
the girl proposed that they should sit
awhile in q recess and chat. He seem
ed embarrassed at first. but his COM
panion put him at his ease. Indeed, be-
fore they parted he felt bold enough TO
apologize for having refused to marry
her. but his courage forsOok him and
he stammered incoherently
Don't speak of that she said. ut
was presumptuous in me even to think
of such a thing You are so much
brighter than l. so prominent socially;
a marriage between us was not to be
considered. Besides. there is too great
difference in our ages"
II am thirty" he remarked. some
what chopfallen.
And | am only seventeen. Thirteen
years is a great difference. | respect
elderly men. but Il chit like myself
should not aspire to marry one OF
them
Nittori went home feeling very I'M
comfortable. Lucia in her ban dress |
had appeared far more TO advantage |
than i'll home costume. He regretted |
his decision. But what troubled him |
most was 10 have been informed that |
he was passing into an age which |
young girls consider old.
One day NIttoTi met the broker who |
had made the contract for him. The |
man chihed him for withdrawing. Wit |
tori admitted that he had made a mis-
take.
III fix up a new contract" said the |
broker
III pay You another commission"
Done
a few days later the broker notified |
Nittori that a new contract had been
made with Signor Armodeo for his
hand. Nittori was much
pleased. He did not know how Lucia
felt in the matter, hut Italian girls
were used to obeying their fathers.
There would be no trouble.
One day the broker informed Wit
tori that all had been arranged and
he might call upon Lucia as soon as he
liked. He found Lucia arrayed in
her most dainty visiting costume, with
hat and gloves.
Il am pleased to see you, Signor
Conci, but fear there has been Il mis-
take. My father has informed me that
he had made n new contract for us.
This he has done without my consent.
Yesterday | was eighteen and OF age,
roming into my fortune. 1 am sorry
4 you are disappointed. As / have
Iold you, your gray hairs stand he
tween us
my gray hairs," said the astonish-
I'd Vittori. Il was not aware that 1
lad one"
You must not be put to expense in
his matter Here is my check for the
Good evening. I am sor-
Y that you have been put to unneces-
'ary trouble. You must excuse me. 1
I'm going OUT
The su:tor tOttered to the door and
mt into the air. which he sadly needed,
hough it did not revive him. For a
week lie was on the verge OF suicide,
hen settled down to a miserable eX
stencc. The next time he met Lucia
he treated him so cordially-almost
ffectionately-that lie plunged into Il
urnace OF hope but on a second meet
ng he WAS transferred to an icy pool
f despair. After keeping him swing
ne between the two extremes for sew
raj years she cut him dead one day
n the street.
A man who has refused a woman
ad better afterward keep out of her
Eay. MARK ANDERSON.