Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
AS Suggested by NorahBY Matilda Henderson WheeIOck
Copyrighted 1908, Literary

Ordinarily the merry clatter of pans
and kettles and the cheerful swish of
soapsuds as Norah's deXterous hands
manipulated the dishcloth formed an
enlivening accompaniment to the ten
der strains OF kathleen Mavournecn"
or the rollicking melody of Rory
O'More."
But this morning no fresh young
| Irish voice caroled forth through the
open window above her kitchen table,
and the corners of Norah's wide red
mouth had pathetic droop, wholly
out OF keeping with n nativity which
| unequivocally proclaimed itself in ev-
cry feature.
| Even the clatter and swish had a
subdued sound, as though the pots and
kettles and the soapsuds, realizing that
sorrow had invaded their domain, We're
! thus rendering a seemly acknowledge
ment.
This explains how IT came about that
another sound, also subdued and like
wise Indicative of acquaintance with
sorrow, came floating in through the
window and fell suddenly on Norah's
ears.
This was nothing more nor less than
a muffied sob, and single glance
through the window sufficed to show
that It had proceeded from the ham
mock swung in the shade of the big
crab apple tree In the back yard.
This hammock, supposed to be Nor
abs own particular retreat in her
hours Of leisure, was now, occupied by
a tumbled heap of pink bingham
which lay with face forlornly buried in
a weather beaten pillow.
Norah watched for a wondering mo-
ment the ebullitlon of childish woe
then dried her hands, wiped her eyes
with corner Of her apron and has
tened down the kitchen steps in the
direction of the hammock.
A deeper burrowing of the head into
the pillow, a louder and more soulful
sob and more vicious output of the
long, black leg rewarded her initial in
quiry as to the cause of anguish 81
acute.
But presently the story came out
Aunt Beth had broken her promise.
Norah knew of the picnic this after
noon at Watson's grove.
Norah did and furtively wiped ava,
. | two fresh tears as she made q sad lit
tie sound in her throat indicative o
assent. For was there not to be /:
dance in the evening, and wasn't sh,
herself to have gone?
; And now-well, now she wasn't GO
ing, and something that she knew II
her heart would have been said to
night would never be said now!
Well, after promising positively NOR
than a week ago that she, the aggrieve,
one, should go to this picnic In Uncl
Larry's machine along with Uncle Lar
. ~ and Aunt Beth herself she, tn
aforementioned untrustworthy Aun
Beth, had calmly announced not hal
an hour ago that, so far as she an,
the aggrieved one were concerned
there was to be not only no picnic, bu
} no Uncle Larry!
Now, the aggrieved one knew tina
''uncle" had been up to date merel
an honorary title and that not 70
{ some months yet was Uncle Larry
have come into full possession Of til
aggrieved one as a really and trul
D niece.
0 This had been matter of minor in
4 port, since 1t hardly seemed possibl
4 that the emoluments ensuing from tt
D possession of truly uncle could /
greater than were those of one so pri'
ileged as to own an Uncle Larry
o prospectu.
k Supplies of candy and motor rid
3 could scarcely in any case be mo-
steady There hadn't as yet been al
pichics, for this was the first Of IL
y season. And now there wasn't ev,
o going to be any picnic and no tru
Uncle Larry!
As this-edict Of Aunt Beth withss