Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-07-20
DAILY STOR Y
SETTLED OUT OF COURT.


GOriginaLl
Marry him. madam" said the attor-
ney. There's no other way out of the
difficulty"
Marry that old rascal? Never. But
Supposing | should consent to yoru'
plan, how could marry man with
whom | have had legal qr2yTels for
yearsT'
ANY woman is more than Il matcu
for man. especially for Il superannu-
ateG man. Let me see. You are forty
five. Bless me, you don't look il! H
is thirty years your senior. He'll not
live long"
Mrs. Peabody promised to think of
the matter and was not long in taking
the attorneys advice. She wrote Old
Goldman letter. which she showed tC
her niece, Elizabeth Ward, who lived
with her. but the girl told her that It
was too cold. matter of fact and gen
orally unromantic. wheTeupOn the cid
or woman charged her niece to write
such n letter as she would herself send
to a man she admired. The result was
an epiStle that warmed Old Ephraim
Goldman from the tips of his toes to the
crown of his hairless head. There was
no business in it. but it tended to
bring about a conclusion of the law
suit. The letter was handed with the
mornings mail TO Mr.. Goldman by his
grandson and heir, Louis, who acted
as his secretary. Louis opened all let
tiers before submitting them. Indeed,
he read Mrs PeabOdy'S to his grand
father. whose sight was inadequate to
decipher Il woman's handwriting. The
old man, fearing that Il matrimonial
alliance might not please his heir. I'M
dertOok to make the reply himself. but
Louis intercepted the reply and sent
one that he had written himself. For
reasons of his own he poured out just
such words rs he would write to his
| own iadylove.
Then followed Il correspondence that
would warm hearts frozen for centu-
ries Miss Ward would write Mrs
Peabody's letters. read them TO hel
| auIit for approval and mail them.
"The old fool" the lady would cX-
claim. ito be caught by such chaff
It's lucky, Betty, l have you to write
| these letters. | never could do it il
| the world" Then when the replies ar
| rived it would he: How siCkening!
wonder IL he will expect me to lister
| to that rubbish when we are married
| However, he will pay we'll for the
| privilege. He is sure to win his cas-,
| in the end. and that will bankrupt us
| whereas this marriage will make II:
rich You'll be well paid for your let
ter writing. Betty. l shall settle $lOj
q year on you for dress"
"IIow generous you are auntie! You
are always thinking of others; never o
yourself"
And so the correspondence went on
growing warmer the while, till at las
there came a proposition of marriage
In it was nothing of the business prop
| oSitiOn Mrs. Peabody had intended t
call forth, but an ardent love such as
young man would pour out to yOun;
girl Il shall love YOU" the old maj
said, lin your youth and cherish yo,
in your old age" The lady threw
down the letters, mutterlng: MOI L
my old age. you old fool, You'll i
under ground twenty years before II
an old womanr
When Miss Ward handed her aun
the reply she had written Mrs. Peabod
commented on it. IF he were a youn
man, Bett. it would be lovely. There
some excuse for him, after all. consid
ering how sweetly you write"
Then came the arrangements for tn
first meeting between the principals
who had never met except in cour
where they had glared at each othe
Mr.. Goldman wrote that he would ca
ut IL in the morning of certain da!
and since he was subject to Il tempo
rary indisposition his grandson woul
accompany him.
Temporary indisposition" e!
claimed Mrs. Peabody, He'll brin