Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-26
The Argus Daily Short Story
CUPID In THE BLIZZARD BY CECILY ALLEN
Copyrighted. 1903, by Associated Literary Press.

The Silver Hess wedding, the absent. ;
mindedness of Mrs. Graves ard the IN.
precedented November blizzard work.
ed together fer the coed IF Roland
Baxter
The Silver-Hess wedding was sched-
uled for Denver. The absentminded
Mrs. Graves and the relentless biz
zard met In Chicago.
Polly Hess had recently moved to
Chicago, and when her brothers fan
Gee wrote that the wedding would &C.
cur directly before Thanksgiving day
and would she please have a ducky
frock of leaf green chiffon cloth to
wear as maid of honor Polly instantly
decided that Chicago was q very big
city and one in which new dress
maker must be sought with discretion
Upon her musings entered Mrs.
Graves, whose faculty for switching
from one topic of conversation to an
other with lightning rapidity was rs
amusing to her friends as 1t was be-
wildering to new acQuaiIitances.' Said
Mrs Graves:
"Of course l can help you out. Ny
| friend, Mrs. BaXtcr-you never did see
| such clothes. BY the way. didn't Mrs
DAILY lock like q trump ut tho club
meeting Thursday: Now, Mrs. Baxter
| my dear--did you ever hear worse
violin music than we had on that pro
| gram! Her address-oh. yes-GI2 BOu-
| levard. Dear child, however did you
! train your lashes to curl like that
An hour later Roland Baxter. look
| ing into the wonderful violet eyes be-
meath those same curling lashes, i'm
mediately decided that eyes, lasheG
and the owner thereof had dropped
| straight from heaven.
| The Baxter maid was standing in
( the private hallway of the Baxter
| apartment explaining to Polly Hess
that Mrs. Baxter was not yet up.
| Would Miss Hess call later in the
day? Mrs. Baxter expected to be home
Ill afternoon.
And at this instant the eldest scion
of the house of Baxter added earnest
ly: You'll surely find her here about l.
Do come back. She would be sorry
to miss YOU"
Then by eXerting all his will power
he managed to stand perfectly still
and watch the violet eyed angel take
her departure.
Polly Hess walked through the
sharp November air, feeling oddly be-
wildered
1T must have been the place. and
her name is Baxter, but I'm afraid
| hnr rSrir "a,
must be dieadfully smart. and | sup
pose she has to go out late to thea
ters and things TO see the styles, but
she ought to be up by 10 o'clock
Maybe she has good forewoman.
Anyhow. l am coming back. Dear
me, it must be lovely to be able to
buy froclls without figuring on the
rent the dressmaker makes you help
to pay"
At $3.50 Roland Baxter strolled into
his mothers drawing room. The tea
things were arranged on a convenient
table, but the afternoon lowered, and
guests would probably be few. Mrs
Baxter closed her magazine
Anything wrong at the office, Ro
: land?" she inquired.
NO. Just thought I'd knock off
It's hideoHS afternoon downtown
and pretty women around tea table
can make you forget the worst wealth
eC."
His astute mother was for once non
plused. Roland a. willing sacrifice Oh
. the altar of her afternoon tea table
And then the maid announced Miss
Hess.
"Oh, dearw mourned Mrs. Baxter as
she laid down her magazine. Il won
der what charity she represents"
Polly Hess paused, bewildered, il
, the doorway Then, with a laugl
, tinged with dismay and just a LITTLE
hysteria. she cried:
"Oh. now know there is some
thing wrong. Please, please forgiv,
, me. I've made such a dreadful mis-
, take" -
] Mrs. Baxter stood midway between
her chair and her flushed guest !
perhaps If you would explain
"Yes, do let me explain. / wa
, looking for a dressmaker, and Mrs
> Graves
"Mrs. Graves! Do not say anothe
word. l can say it for you. Mrs
, Graves admired a new frock l wa
Ishowing her yesterday. She asked N
flor the address Of my dressmakel
y