Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
A THOROUGHBRED.

Marriage is lottery" Duncan re-
marked to his friend Lee as they sat
over their cigars after dinner.
Sometimes" replied Lee senten-
tiously.
Sometimes? Why not always
well, there are cases where the luck
or the lottery parts are more pronounc-
ed than in others
"Um."
''In my case there was good deal OF
lottery" Lee added, then stopped. Il
don't mind giving you bit of conf
dence, old fellow
wait a bit. I'd like to telephone that
1 won't hurry home. You have phone,
haven't yOu:"
mo, l haven't" said Lee snappishly.
Excuse me. 1t doesn't matter" Dun
can replied, somewhat mystified at his
friends surliness. Go on with your
story"
you know L married late in life. I
was forty five. 1 met one evening at Il
social affair a Miss Sackett-May Sack
ett-about twenty-five years old. who
took to me very kindly. She seemed as
we'll content with my society as il |
had been a young man. Indeed. she re-
marked that she didn't want any boys
in her train. She preferred men. That
made me feel at home at once, and
didn't leave the young lady till she left
for home. l asked permission to call,
and it was granted cordially.
Miss Sackett lived with her mother,
Il widow. l found the mother very in
tclligent. and we talked together Il
great deal on philosophic subjects, but
the intellect doesn't satisfy the desires
of the heart, and often wished to cut
short our discussions in order to do Il
little chit chatting with the daughter. 1
don't mean that l made love to her. 1
was too old to plunge into that sort of
thing with girl so much younger than
myself, but l felt that all the while we
were getting nearer together.
ITO cut 1t short, / worked up to an
impression that Miss Sackett would
marry me. making my approaches as
soldiers approach Il fort, by zigzags,
and | was about TO propose when l was
suddenly ordered by the company to
South America on Il work which i was
not likely TO finish in several years. l
received my order at o o'clock in the
morning and was directed ut the same
time to be ready 10 sail ut noon. L
kicked myself that had not been more
expeditions with my love affair. for if
l had / might have taken bride with
me in my exile I felt that if l left
the matter open it would never come TO
anything. 1t was impossible TO see
Shn in. 1I.rr 2.
twenty miles away. There was but
one way by which / could speak to her
by telephone
Lee got W.. walked back and forth
for few minutes and then, again seat
ing himself resumed.
It's beastly thing to tell a girl by
telephone that you love her. but what
could l 90? l knew that If 1 didn't do
it then I'd never again, after cooling,
get my courage up to ask girl so
much younger than l to marry me. /
went into Il telephone box, shut the
door as tight as l could and began my
lovemaking by calling 1865 ID. A fine
way to make a proposal, wasn't it?
I'm not so deuced confidential as TO
tell you just what was said on both
sides. I'll only say that when l came
away from that telephone l had pro-
posed, been accepted, arranged for a
marriage by proxy and that my wife
should follow me on the next steamer
but one. This only gave her week to
make purchases. AS to Il trouSSeau, /
was SO anxious for my bride to join
me that l would not consent to her
waiting for 1t. Before 1 sailed L
had gone through the ceremony by
proxy, AMI the lady did the same the
next day. Instead of sailing out on to
the 'somber ocean | embarked on the
bright blue waters / was happy rs
king.
Il counted the days after arriving at
Rio till should be joined by my blush
ing bride. and each day seemed a
month. At last the ship / wanted to
see was reported in the harbor, and 4
went down TO the dock. The vessel
anchored and tender brought the pas
sengers ashore Suddenly / saw my
mother-in-law ascend the gang plank
and come toward me. smiling and
bIushing
Why, Mrs. Sackett" 1 exclaimed.
Il didn't know you we're
that 1 am Mrs. Lee?
'In twinkling it all flashed through
my brain. At the telephone lad mis-
taken the mothers for the daughters
voice. married my mother-in-law.'
Lee got up again and walked fever
ishly back and forth, the picture of dis
appointment.
You have known me for years, Dun
can" he continued presently, land /
think you will bear witness that there's
nothing mean about me- If my wife
had set a trap for me 1 would never
have forgiven her, but she didn't In
recalling our words through the phone
remembered great deal of misun-
Outstanding on both sides which at the
time attributed to imperfect electrical
connection. 1 saw at a glance that
should I let her know the truth it
would be crushing for her. l had only
q second to decide bIlt in that second