Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-06
DAILY. STOR Y.
HIS SELF CONFIDENCE.

| her home in America. he to finish his
studies at Oxford, her last injunctions
were to study hard, to beware of de-
| signing women and not make mis-
| alliance. He assured her that he was
| wide awake on the latter subject, and
she had nothing to fear for him. Half
Il year later he was graduated with
high honors and wrote his mother that
| he had followed the first of her re-
| quests, and man who could accom-
| plsh what he had accomplished at one
| of the Oldest universities in the world
certainly should be trusted not to make
Il fool of himself in becoming entan-
| gled with an unworthy woman.
| \ few weeks after that he took pas
| sage on an ocean liner for home. on
the voyage he became acquainted with
| Il lady who was registered as the Hon.
| Amelia Drysdale. She was of refined
appearance, and her manners We're
those Of the British aristOcracy, num-
| Der of whom Easton had met while
| spending vacations with his university
| friends. She knew several titled peo-
pie he had met and described them.
| One of his college mates she claimed
as Il relative. What, Cousin Dicll!'
she exclaimed We'll. upon my word,
to think that you should have been
| friends
There is nothing like discovering mu-
| tual friends TO draw travellers together,
| and Easton was delighted at finding
young and pretty woman with whom
| to pass time which was all leisure. The
Hon Miss DrysdaIe was travelling with
,l.,I Ia
| seasickness. kept her room during the
whole voyage. They were going to
| travel in America, first visiting friends
in Newport whom EastOn knew well
by reputation. The moon when the
ship left port was i'll the second quar-
ter, and since fine weather prevailed
he ana the Hon. Miss Drysdale passed
their evenings on deck under the sOOth-
ing influence of its light. Byron says,
The DEVILS in the moon for mischief.
Whether this be SO or not, EaSton
found that it was especially conducive
to drawing two people of opposite sex
together. Besides, the time spent in
England had given him fancy for its
ariStOcracy. Mother" he said to him
self. thought me silly enough to get
entangled with some actress or chorus
girl. What would she say if l could tell
her on my arrival that | was engaged
to Il daughter of an earl? | can't do
that. of course, especially in so short a
time. but l have friends at Newport,
and | shall take care to secure invita-
tons there"
Once just before reaching port he
vcntured TO hint at more than an
ocean acquaintance. more than any ac-
quaintance, but the lady gently took
occasion to say that all acquaintanceS
with any but those born to. the circles
to which she had been accustomed
could be only transitOry. But on the
morning of their arrival while they
stood Oh deck. the vessel Steamng up
New York bay, she turned from him
with Il sigh that gave him a faint hope.
Just before coming down the gang
plank the mother came up. and EaStOn
was presented. She was old and fat,
and her daughter in no way reSembled
her. EaStOn offered the mother his
arm, but the daughter would not per-
nit. Instead she asked him to carry a
bundle of umbrellas and parasOls strap
ped together. He did so and when they
had diSembarked called Il carriage for
them, putting the umbrellas in after
them.
AS he was closing the carriage door
lie thought he saw a slight pallor come
upon the face of the Hon Miss Drys-
dale. which he could not but attribute
to the parting. Quickly drawing one
of the umbrellas from the package. one
with large silver knob on the handle,
she gave it to him, saying:
Please accept this as 4 token of
my appreciation for your kindness dur
ing the voyage"
He bowed his acknowledgements and
turned away. Then the carriage and
all that made life a prospect of happi-
ness for him departed
Easton Joined his mother, who was
waiting for him on the dock. He con
cluded to have his baggage examined
and take it with him. While waiting
his turn he stood talking with his
mother. His heart was too full to
keep off the subject that engrossed it.
Mother" he said, Il haven't been
picked up by an adventures. On the |
contrary, | have met daughter of a |
British peer / can't tell you that have |
won her. but am sure she loves me-"
At that moment Il customs inspector |
stepped up to him and said:
''Ill trouble YOU for that umbrella"
Easton was indignant, but surrender |
ed the umbrella The official opened |
and shook it. Then, Selling the silver |
knob at the handle, he turned it. The |
knob unscrewed, and the official shook |
the hollow handle. Out came Il little |
ball of tissue paper. Unwrapped. it |
displayed a valuable diamond. The |
handle was full of diamonds.
Easton was thunderstruck.
mo blame to you,'' said the officials !
I'VE had cablegram warning us of q |
personating the Hon. Amelia |
whose maid she had once |