Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-14
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
IA Rose by Any Other Name."-ByJ. Ludlum Lee.
(Cepyrghted. Associated Literary Pressl

She was comfortably seated on one
of the upper branches when she again
caught distinctly those familiar strains
of Huge McCue." this time whistled.
'If that impudent boy has come
back again up But Norah got no
further in her one sided conversation.
Instead of messenger boy appeared
tall, strapping youth. pipe in mouth. a
stiff walking stick in hand. followed
by q sprightiy little Irish terrier. He
had stopped and was talking to his
companion.
mick. you old boy" said the man.
you see that ladder over there. Well.
I'm going to smash it in forty pieces.
If there is anything hate it is silent
reminuer of things that might have
been and happy days gone by"
Mick gave assent by sharp bark
as the man strobe up and gave the
ladder q vigorous kick.
How dare you?" came from behind
the screen of soft green leaves and
pale pink bloom.
The dog pricked up his ears. and the
| man simulated amazement.
Mick he proceeded. you and
| have discovered a wonderful thing-a
talking tree"
Mick wagged his tail.
| "Brute." came from the skies above.
| "The tree is now addressing you. my
dear Mick"
Mick. gave several delighted yelps.
ran up and down the yard and started
around the corner.
| "Here. Mick. you." cried his master.
| SCENE back here. want TO talk to
you" Then he whistled. and the tune
Twas that Of
| Huge McCue. you. mick, you:
You mick. you"
| "I did not choose my name. and I
!, wouldn't take advantage of a wo~an
voice in the tree.
| The man curled UP at the foot Of the
tree and leisurely shook the ashes from
his pipe and proceeded to refill it.
What do you think Of that, Mick?'
he went on. Here we have fo:nd a
wonderfully beautiful tree-it must be
q lady tree cause it can talk-you
|
times they can say. oh, such nasty
things. Well. this tree doesn't care for
her name. ! don't see that a name
matters much. Poets have been fight
ing that out for years-.Whats in a
Eame' and a rose by any other name
and all that sort of rot"
Mick's little eyes seemed to search
those of his master.
"Now, my name is very good one,
l think-Josian Frelinghuysen. Rather
long and a bit formidable, admit, but
withal a good name; yet, Mick, I give
lyou my word that it was scorned last
night. I offered it to certain young
woman along with all my worldly
Igoods and-well, to put 1t mildly. Mick.
to spare your feelings as mine were
Ispared not, guess you and I can
any interruption from a third party"
Mick seemed to have tired of this
Isoliloquy and had dozed off. Freling-
huysen lighted his pipe and puffed
away with an air Of satisfaction. The
lleaves rustled n sigh. and some pink
petals were waited down with the
next breeze. Another breeze and then
ia slipper hit Frelinghuysen on the
head. He surveyed it rather critically
Rather neat little foot that. Mick
We will take the slipper home and put
it on the mantelpiece. and some day
maybe-who can tell?-Cinderella. my
Cinderella. you understand. not the
one in the fairy book, will come along
land claim it."
Frelinghuysen rose and pulled at his
Ipipe. He glanced up in the branches
of de tree with his head on one side
"A shower of pink petals almost blind
ed him.
i "Eh, little Cinderella" he said gooi
Inaturedly. 'What say your
What say II" she mimicked. II sas