Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-28

nocent apparently accidental They
ali camc homo one day drinping wet
from ovPrturning their canoes and
swimming out. and another night they
walked home ten miles after the motor
broke downby arrangement. IT was
first one thing. then another. Finally
the parents compared notes. They de.
cidPd that there was only one thing 70
BE- dune-iDterview the four together
and Insist an less public devotion or an
announcement of engagements
The young people knew of this. and
the evening the council was 10 occur
~ S:Ilir'S home they promptly absent
ed themselves il.c meoling hogan.
and after riuch polite sI....rimgsit was
decided lO make the best of the Tom
and SaIlle and Rob-and- Mary arrange.
nents. The old folks showed "A touch
ing resignation. All they would insist
on was Il knowledge of the facts.
Al This iunctnre Tom and Sallie
strolIcd in. followed by the other two.
all showing delightful surprise at the
parental presence.
1T looks like n council Of war"
commented Tom. while his father glow
cred. and then began the attack. fol
lowed 10y Sallies father and the inter.
poIationS OF the others.
"If you are engaged" Mrs Trevor
finished I'VE insist on having it prop
YOU ought TO be. | hope you under
stand orr point Of view"
A silence followed. broken only by q
nervous little giggIe-the giggle Mrs
Martin would not like I'm a daughter.
in-law. Finally il was Bob who spoke
as the four stood under the chandelier
in The usual couples.
I'VE are Sorry-nOt for ourselves, but
for you-that we are not engaged. We
fully appreciate your assembled wishes |
But we don't see how we can be en-
gagged. 1t is, in fact. impossible" He
looked at Tom TO finish. and that |
young man rose TO the occasion. He |
was even Il bit dramatic as he faced |
the four fathers. the four mothers. sit |
ting in stern cOnclave. but visibly sof |
tened by the well bred. beautiful young |
quartet before them. young people |
charming and. after all. old enough to |
know their own minds. Thomas spoke |
~ HIS own
The fact is. we all hate nonsense |
We hate planned matches. and being
aged TO order with diamond rings
to advertise the fact. and the society |
pussies purring and fashionable we'd
din@s preceded by showers of stuff
that only a tire or some other special
of Providence can rid you
Of Aud then"-he took Il lawyer-like
tone betting the Junior partner of the
firm of Tracy * Tracy. I'VE cannot be
engaged becauSe"-he paused for eff
feet and got it. for Il sudden suspicion
sent the parents as one to their feet
because we are already married"
he finished leisurely, "a month ago at
he finished leisurely. "A month ago at
Baxter. 10y Roberts uncle John, who
also hates fuss and feathers" With a
quick movement Tom moved-past sal
leland took Mary by the hand. lead
ing her 10 his mother. and Bob had
Sallie by both hands. looking at her
)nly. forgetting the others.
And when it finally became evident
o the bewiIdered families that the
light children were together. that Sal
lie had married Robert. that Tom had |
married Mary, the relief went far on
he way to forgiveness for the eiope
nent
But why elope:" SaIlie's father final
V asked Il think l may say for my
friends that these marriages will make
is ultimately happy that they are. in
act. just what we desired. What was
he real trouble? We were all quite
But a chorus of laughter
erected him-happy young laughter.
That was just the trouble Nou
we're too willingw 1t was Sallie who
lad spoken from the shelter OF her
'oung husbands arm. Then every
'ody laughed.