Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-07-25
DAILY STORY
A MATTER OF DISPOSITION.
[Original.l

mate chance in the game of whist and
give Il comparison of pure skill. This
story eliminates the physical person
atty in the game Of love and leaves all
to disposition.
When the engagement OF Harriet
Hartwcll and Sam Thatcher was an
nounced everybody said that it was
good match Harriet was Il high prin-
cipled girl, steady, dignified, full of
noble aspirations which she made a
good show i'll carrying out. She was
wealthy, ard her surplus income went
where it would do the most good. |
Thatcher was also steady going fell
low, with no evil or weak traits about
him, his life purpose being to achieve
success and do his duty by his fellows.
Notwithstanding the opinion of the
world the engaged couple failed to
grow together. Harriet studied when
with her fiance to be interested In what
he was interested in, to accord with
him IN his views-in short, to make her
self part of him.
There came Il period when Thatcher
noticed that his tiancee was different at
different times. At one evening when
he called she would manifest her usual
interest in what interested him or what
he was supposed 10 prefer to talk
about, and the next she would chatter
lightly. principally about what ehe was
herself interested in. Thatcher was
rested by this semifrivOlity and per
mittcd her to chatter to her hearts
content. Then, too, she manifested a
disposition to have her own way about
| little things and occasionally would fly
into u sudden burst of passion, so i'm
potent SO unreasonable. that he was
| quite amused. Instead of flaring up
himself he would sit and laugh at her.
| Then when he had had enough of this
summer tempest on a millpond he
would take her to his arms and cover
| her face with kisses.
The next time he called he would
probably find her former Self-ready
with her sympathy and practical ad-
vice as to his affairs. her expression of
those strong wOmanly principles for
which she was so valued by the world
at large - indeed, all that she had
| thrown off. nothing that she had as
sumed. during their last meeting.
| One evening when he called-he had
| witnessed the evening before one of
| her April storms, with bit of thunder
and lightning thrown inland found her
her own steady self he deliberately set
about to make her angry. She looked
| ut him with a -diguitCd establishment.
| He kept on with his prodding till final
| ly she arose and with Il panied sur
prise. mingled with contempt, walked
| out Of the room. He sent Il maid for
her. but she declined to return, and he
went away without seeing her.
He did not sleep that night, for he
| was much troubled. Her treatment of
him had repealed him. If she was TO
be always this serious self he was
| quite willing to release her from her
engagement. But he could not give up
that lighter Harriet who rested him,
amused him and of whom all he asked
was to he loved. However, the matter
was settled the next evening when he
called by Il greeting far more demon
strative than she had ever shown him
before. Indeed, it seemed that the bond
between the two which even when she
| was her lighter self had been fimsy
had suddenly become unbreakable;
that they were now the letters of 4
real mutual ecStatic love.
Sweetheart" he said. 'what has
brought about this change"
I'm pledged not to tell
+ He could get nothing from her, but
l she showed no disposition to relapse
From that time till shortly before the
wedding he saw no more of her other
serious self. She was the same light
whimsical, irrational. emotional. Iowa
BILE creature. When the lover tired OF
his daily labors, left them at his office
/. he could be sure that during his even
ing call upon his fiancec he could laugh
r and chat without being reminded o.
4 them. Occasionally if he felt like
: throwing the burden upon her it woulC
be received not with advice and ;
e dissertation on the better part for 4;
e man to choose, but with a kiss. On,
I thing above all pleased him-she hat
t sympathetic heart for every one
I Though impulsive. her impulses wer
e good. And Notwithstanding occasional
e April storms she was in the main
: model of amiability. When Thatche
would speak to her about her forme
self and his delight that 1t seemed t
have faded away from her she woul'
hide her face on his breast and sa
n nothing.
i At last the marriage was set for
: month In advance. The next tim
$ Thatcher called on his fiancee he wa
c astoniShed that as she had been for
: time a double disposition, so she wa
L now double in the flesh. One of tn
y two advanced to meet him.
: Il am Harriet Hartwell," she sale
Il land this is Florence Kirk. We me
y accidentally and were astonished at on
i similarity. Suspecting that my di:
T. position was not suited to your require
o ments. persuaded her to personate IN
alternately with myself, she wearin
my costumes while doing SO. She ha
proved conclusively that she is cap;
II BILE of making you happy. I am no
Il We alternated in receiving you INT
81 b.