Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-26
DAILY STORY
A REALISTIC INTRO
SPECUVE TALE.

curtains looking out on the falling
that evening to propose TO her. He
bad not said this in so many words,
but he had been attentive to her for
a long while and had said, This even
ing | shall call to ask you very i'm
portant question" There was but one
of two explanations to the announce
ment-cither he intended to propose
marriage or he was fool
Was he a fool? 1t had never before
occurred to her TO ask such question.
but Miriam was a girl who followed
things out to a logical conclusion.
Were her premises correctly laid? She
doubted if they were. Might he not
call, ask very important question
other than the one she supposed and
vet not be a fool? What would con-
stitute fool in his case? That he
was honorable she did not doubt.
Could an honorable man be attentive
to q girl and make such n statement
as he had made. leading her to suppose
that he intended to propose to her. yet
HOl any dtllhS VI NV
without being fool!
After all. what is a fool?
Meanwhile Donald Forsythe was put
ting his sleeve buttons in cuffs fresh
from the laundry. They had been pol
ished. not washed. Either the dirt had
been driven in or vanished over. for it
did not appear. The cuffs were as
white as SnOwfiakes.
He. like Miriam. was thinking.
He had been graduated at two uni
versities in America and three in Eu-
rope He had delivered a lecture be-
fore the ladies of the Woman'S club. of
which Miriam Swift was secretary, on
the influence of Egyptian inscriptions
on certain Greek roots. His thoughts
were therefore on Il plane with hers.
What view would she take Of his an
nounCement that he would call to ask
very important question: He was
putting on a sock when the proposition
occurred to him and, seeing hole in
the heel, was diverted for Il moment to
different train of thOught-an unholy
train. But ForSythe was Il man to fin
ish one subject before entering tiXedly
on another. His brain saw things as
through an inverted telescope. in
groups rather than as parts of groups.
Would Miriam expect from the con
dtiOns under which his announcement
was made that his question would en-
body a proposition of marriage: Was
it not possible that man, even if he
had been attentive TO girl. might
make such an announcement and not
mean that he intended to ask her to be
his wife? He thought of many ques-
lions that would not in any way refer
| to love or marriage. Therefore. if
Miriam expected that he would call for
the purpose of making Il proposal,
would she not be a fool?
His meditatiOuS We're again diverted
temporarily at the discovery that there
was an ink stain on the bosom of his
| shirt He was obliged to change the
shirt. after which he resumed his train
of thought-this while he was putting
Il bit of polish on his boots.
Would the question as to Miriam
| should she assume that he intended t.
| ask her to be his wife-bc affected 10y
| his intention? That is, if she assumed
it and he did not so intend. would she
be any more of fool than she would
| be if he did so intend? He divided the
! SuppOSition into five heads and was
dispOsing of them consecutivcly when
he didn't hear the clock strike in the
neighboring church tower, for there
was neither clock nor tower near-he
| looked at his watch and saw that il
was twenty-five minutes past s. He
hastily finished his toilet and. boarding
trolley car, soon found himself al
| MiramS home
Miriam as soon as she heard the ring
of the doorbell snatChed Il book on
psychology from the library and. hur
riedly seating herself by Il table. under
a light with a rose cOlored shade. had
only time to open the book when heI
lover entered. She could not look III
from it. for she had not had time tC
look down at it. She looked at Don
aid, a sweet smile lowering about hel
lips.
Don't rise" said Donald as she
made move to do so. He seated him
self in blue damask and gold chair
Miriam, who had Il pronounced taste
for contrasting colors, had placed it il
position for him. since he was blond
Then he opened the conversation.
This new theory from Germany
he said. has upset all our psycholOg
zeal platforms"
Miriam. who was expecting the nj
important question, had cast down he
eyes and seen that the book in her lal
was upside down.
His words. under the circumstances
were unfortunate. Were they satirical
He saw color rising in her face an,
fastened to correct the contretemps.
Il told you" he said, when l saw
you last that I would call tonight t
ask Il very important question:
She bent her head over the book. Sh
did not turn the volume right side VI
Was she distract. or did she hope tina
he might not have seen that it was In
= verted?