Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-23

| when Informed OF the facts directed
that the chauffeur come inside, at any
rate temporarily. So the man walked
In, refusing support, and was placed
in an easy chair and given stimu-
! liant. He declined to have physician
called.
A week later Mr.. Denton said to his
! daughter: PUSSY, | think it's time
that your chauffeur go back to his
! garage He's all right and by hang
! ing around here is losing money every
/ day. l had his auto sent for, and it
has been put in order. The bill will
/ come to me-"
! Miss Denton told the chauffeur what
her father had said, softening the in
vitation to depart as well as she could.
The young man babe her goodby, look
/ ing Iongingly into her eyes, while her
/ hand fingered in his, and said:
eff 1 weren't only a chauffeur
/ He stopped and, turning away, left
! the house.
/ The father of Miss Flora Denton, be-
/ ing a shrewd observer of what was
/ going on about him, saw very plainly
that his daughter was in danger of
complication that would wreck the
!
gave her orders that when she wished
an auto she should call him up on the
/ telephone and he would send her one.
The girl must either obey or admit
/ that she was DESTROYS Of riding with
an especial chauffeur, which would be
giving away her case. She longed for
a spin with the driver of her choice
and since she could not ride with him
would not ride at all. But she went
often to the business portion of the
city and kept a sharp eye open for a
familiar face belonging to her own
especial chauffeur.
Then came the first important social
function since Congressman Denton
had taken his seat in the house Of rep
resentatives. The president was TO
give a reception, and the Denton fami-
ly were to attend. Mrs. Denton, who
was greatly worried about the chauf-
feur episode, was anxious that her
daughter should go about, hoping that
the impression made by common cab
driver might be eradicated by some
young man of prominence. Washing
ton was full of officials, some of whom
were quite young enough for her
daughter to marry, and the place liter
ally swarmed with army and navy Off
GERS. Mrs. Denton, therefore, got out
Miss Flora's most becoming costume
and endeavored to excite an interest
on the part Of her daughter in this her
first appearance in Washington public
social life.
But the girl was languid and listless
In vain her mother told her Of the
-, oaF-
men some of whom were already po-
litical leaders, the generals, the admi-
rails and the junior officers near her
own age. Flora made no objection TO
going among all these people, but there
was none of that enthusiasm to be ex-
pected in a young girl on whom for
tune had bestowed such advantages.
Finally the mother, losing patience, ex-
ploded:
81 do believe you're gone on that cab
driverP'
This was the feather that broke the
cancels back. Flora burst into tears
and, going to her room, locked herself
In.
However. when the time came to
dress for the presidents reception she
permitted her maid, her mother super
vising, to arrange her costume, and it
must be confessed that she looked
ravishing. Even the tinge Of melan-
choly in her eyes was becoming.
A throng of people in evening dress
were at the White House waiting the
entrance of the president. There were
members of the cabinet, senators, gen
erals and admirals-indeed, the govern
mental magnates of the nation. Their
wives and daughters, dressed in silks
and satins, in laces and feathers, stood
with them, forming lines on either side
Of a passageway along which the
president was to proceed to the posi-
ton in which he would receive his
guests. Congressman Denton, his wife
and daughter stood among the rest.
Presently there was a flourish of mu-
steal instruments, and two young army
officers marching abreast led the pro
cession escorting the chief magistrate.
PUSSY" said Mr.. Denton, that Of
fcer on the right looks for all the
world like your chauffeur"
Feeling his daughters hand clutch
ing his arm he turned and saw her in
a fever of excitement When she
could catch her breath and articulate
she whispered:
ooh, papa. he is my chauffeur
"He isn't" protested Mrs. Denton
who had noticed the young man and
overheard what her husband and
daughter had said.
But when the young man passed
within a few feet Of them and gave
them a smile in which was expressed |
his satisfaction at having duped them
there was no further doubt as to his |
identity. When a few minutes later
he Joined them and Flora asked re- |
proachfully, "Why did you do it," he |
replied, 81 didn't; you took me for |
cabman, and didn't tell you wasn't |
one"
Mrs. Lieutenant Drake Of the ar
fiery is now stationed at one of the |
southern forts.