Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-15
DAILY STORY
A NEW WAY TO PROPOSE.
Originally

lOrig1naf
Roland Mason prided himself on bs
ing original. Conventional methods
were irksome to him. When the time
came for him to go to Louise Allinson's
father to ask for her hand he disdain-
ed to put the case in the ordinary way
viz, II love your daughter and will
do my best to make her happy" He
had way of his own of making his
proposition.
Entering the library, he found Mr..
Atkinson with his evening paper, smok
ing. There was some of the trepida-
ton usual to such situations in the
young mans breast, but he did not
show it. On the contrary, he assumed
very careless manner. He was little
his application. though he had been for
some time devoted to his daughter.
This is not strange Even a couple
counting really know little Of each 9th
er, for they invariably assume to be
what they are not and seldom diSabuSe
each other till after they are married
and come down from acting parts to
life's real drama. Meanwhile their
parents, unless the two families have
been intimate. know less of their pro-
spective son and daughter in law than
the couple know of each other.
Without giving Mr.. Atkinson even an
opportunity to speak civil word by
of 10 40 IN.
his case.
Il have come, SIR he said, ''to tell
you that your daughter loves me and
has set her heart on me. 1t does not
matter that / may be unworthy of her
| or that I cannot, at least not now,
maintain her in the style to which sne
has been accustomed. know that Ile
has always been given what she has
wanted. She wants me, and l don't
doubt that you will not refuse her
! have the honor to ask that you will
give me to her"
Mr.. Atkinson when the young man
began laid down his paper, took his
cigar from between his lips and sat
with it between his first and second
| fingers. There was no readable express
| sion on his face. Indeed, it was inn
| penetrable. 1t was some time after
the request had been made before he
| moved; then he resumed his cigar,
gave few deliberate puffs and, again
lowering it, said:
| you are quite right in assuming
that my daughter has always been
| given what she has desired. No other
course has been possible. From her
earliest childhood she has dominated
| every one of her family by an iron will
which would get anything she wished
out of braZen image. 1t doesn't mat
ter that you can't afford to give her
luXuries. She will have them so long
| as you have cent left. Then after
she has exhausted your resources she
will doubtless come back upon me.
Her marriage with you. however, will
enable me to make an escape. The
day that you are married propose to
take her mother abroad. and we shall
| fix our residence in some corner of the
| globe where your wife will not be able
to find US. This is the happiest day
| have known since the little curmud-
geon was born. How soon can you ar
| range to be married?'
AS Mr.. Atkinson proceeded with his
catalogue of terrors young Mason look
ed for some indication that he. was
speaking in jest. But there was not
the slightest evidence of anything OF
the kind-no twinkle in the eye, nc
curve of the lips And, when he had
finished he breathed sigh, as if hav
ing shifted q great burden
do you really mean that Louise
is'-
II am not SO dishonorable as to per
NIT a young man just starting in life
to put his neck in a yoke without in
forming him of the facts. Louise is
capable, attractive, and there is moth