Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-07
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
In Spite of Aunt Merriva1e." BY Ethel Douglas.
Copyrighted Cunningham

tent and Ramsay Sturgis were both
equally keen, and so radiant party
of four clambered down the slippery.
sand strewn steps of Mrs. Pennins-
tons boarding house into the crisp
wintry starlit night.
Through the hardening process OF
unevcntful years Miss Eustis had
reached Il dreary apathy concerning
clothes, but as it dawned on her that
the theater party was only the first Of
long series of occasions when she
would be forced to play the chapcron
her wardrobe began to receive partic-
ular and minute attention.
Her hair was loosened from its Sc
we're little knob at the back of her
neck and curled softly around her
temples as it had not done since she
was girl \ stiff, uncOmpromising
walking hat was replaced by toque
mysteriously composed of vioets and
tulle.
Nor was the professor to be left be-
hind in his sudden orgy of fashion.
His rusty overcoat gave way TO hand
somely tailored garment of black. His
loose, uncertain colored neckties were
removed and succeeded by the crisp
est, most up to date adOrnments the
haberdashers window displayed
eve owe it to OIL: young people," he
declared as he and Miss EuStis strolled
through the park one February after
noon. a little way ahead of them
walked Helena Brent and Ramsay
Sturgis.
Every now and then Helena's laugh
ter drifted back to them. minglinc with
Ramsay's happy tones. The young
mans salary had been doubled within
the month, and Helena had begun to
embroider initials on certain filmy mus
lin with 4 furious zeal.
The professor looked questioningiy at
Miss Eustis. What do you think?'' he
Queried.
81 don't think | know she answer
ed and then added in evident trepida-
| ton: But perhaps l Oughtn't to have
told you. l fancy the dear Dung
things want to keep their secret a lit
| tie while longer. and Helena hasn't
spoken to me about it. But last night
u
diamond ring on her bureau in a little
! white satin case"
/ The professor bcamed.
"And of course they'll go to house
! keeping. Ramsay has always said that
! if he were married he'd have an apart
ment"
There will be furniture to see to,
| and china and kitchen ware, but the
J dear children are so engrossed with
their love affair that they haven't time
for anything practical"
I'VE might look up the things before
hand, and then when the young people
are ready give them the benefit of our
superior wisdom the professor sug-
gested.
After that. on Saturday afternoons.
he and Miss Eustis roamed to Far parts
of the city to furniture, china and pic
ture stores and to brass shops down
Oh the east side.
There were bookstores. too. where
the professor reveled. What. he ques-
toned. could give more cheerful as
poets to a room than volumes of limp
red leather and andirons of hammered
brass. They even found an apartment,
which combined the amazing trilogy
of cheapness, beauty and light.
1t was when they We're secretly re
joicing over this discovery that the
bomb fell. Miss Brent accosted Miss
Eustis at the hour of kimonos and
candlesticks.
'I'ye come to tell YOU" she. said sim
ply. .ahat I'm going to be married"