Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-02
DAILY STORY.
a PRACTICAL WOOER.
-Original.1

niggardly. In his business he was very
| systematic and had remarkable knack
| of saving labor. which is the result OF
| system, though some people have a
| special gift in getting things done with
| the least trouble. Truesdale sat at his
| desk at the head of his department
| idly twirling Il pencil. and yet his pred
| ecessor had never had time enough to
| do his work. Moreover. it was admit
| ted that Truesdale was the better man
| ager of the two.
Mr.. Truesdale went into matrimony
| in the same practical fashion as he adj
| ministered his department. He re-
garded every girl in his circle as he
would regard SO many applicants for q
position of confidential typewriter and
stenOgrapher. He examined the Gre
dentials and qualifications of all and
sifted the applicants down to two,
Martha Haynes and Gwendolen, White
head Neither possessed means in her
own right. but Mr.. TrueSdaie had none
himself and was too good business
man to propose a partnership TO capt.
tai without capital himself.
Having thus selected the most prom
Using candidates, he proceeded to carry
his attentions into the homes of both
in order to observe them without the
limelight of society. One rainy Sat
urday night-called tub night before
the day of modern plumbing-he re-
solved to begin operations by visiting
Miss Haynes. Il shall be likely to take
her off her guard and can the better
judge of her." he said.
Now it happened that it being Satur
day night and rainy at that, Miss
Haynes, who was her fathers house
keeper. concluded to examine for her
self the range on which the cook had
recently been spelling dinners. The
servant had gone out. and Miss Haynes
removed the ashes. including clinkers,
not neglecting the chimney, which was
ch0ked with SCOT. While she was thus
enga ged tia doorbell rang, and as Miss
Haynes was the only person in the
house she was obliged to answer the
bell. When she saw Mr.. Truesdale in
evening dress she stood up under the
trying ordeal as best she could. invited
him in. excused herself while she made
a hasty toilet. then came down and
Joined him ia the drawing room.
The result, while it was not what
practical man, was in perfect accord
with Mr.. Truesdale's bent Miss
Haynes in taking upon herself to do
what the servant could not do showed
energy, but it seemed to Mr.. Trues-
dale that there must be a lack of sys-
tenn in a house where such a surprise
could happen. However. he passed a
very pleasant evening and went home
resolving to make a similar visit to the
other candidate. Miss Whitehead, the
next rainy Saturday night.
He found Miss Whitehead sitting be
fore Il cheerful fire. reading a maya
zine, a pair of dainty slippers protrud-
ing from under her skirts. her costume
in perfect taste. Indeed he would new
or have known from her appearance
that it was Saturday night. He sat
down and began to chat with her. all |
the while wondering at the harmony
of the different articles of her costume, |
the dainty appearance of the ROOM |
and, having an analytical eye, he dis |
covered that there was not Il costly |
thing in either. The pictures on the |
walls were works of art, but not eX- |
pensive; the furniture was the same |
and as TO the ladys dress it was an |
attractive combination of scraps.
though it required an experienced eye
to discover this.
I'm getting awfully down Oh the
messenger service" said Mr. Trues-
dale. Il had an invitation to dine with |
friend tonight. and. having made up
my mind that l wished to spend the
evening with you, l DECLINED l sent
a reply by messenger and, though the |
distance was not over half Il mile, the
charge was 40 cents
"A note with a special delivery
stamp would only have cost you To-
singular" observed Mr.. Truesdale.
II never thought of that
1--WE girls whose fathers haven't for
tunes and who must keep up our posi-
tons in society are obliged to think of
such things, Mr.. Truesdale We can't
help ourselves. Mamma has no head
for economy, and l am obliged to
think for myself or give up society"
The next time / send Il note TO a
girl will use your plan. But couldn't
very well send note with delivery
stamp on it to q girl. could 70
1T Would smack 100 much of econ
omy in Il society man. But I'll give
you way of employing a little more
capital and making n bargain at the
same time. Add 10 cents to the 40
cents, step around to Il florist. buy 80
cents worth of vielets, and the florist
will send them with your note right UP
to the girl. You will have your note
sent for nothing and make the girl /;
happy with the violets"
dol 10 ~, l..
poser of this beautiful financial trans I
action with mingled surprise and adj
miration. But he was accustomed to j.,
restrain his approval of the acts or ;
of his subordnates in bust
ness for fear they would expect an Ia
crease of salary, and from force of ,
habit he made no comment on Miss
Whitehead's plan. Soon after he left :
Ter. The next morning she received
written proposition of Narriage. &C