Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-27

] should tell you of that feeling which
has gradually been rising in my breast
ever since have known you. | have
had ample opportunity TO observe your
beautiful character. your kindly dis
position and your native purity.
know that it is presumption in one so
unworthy as myself TO aspire to be
anything more than a friend. / feer'-
"Crackw
The sound was so near me that it
shook every nerve in my body. L
could not only hear it; could feel it.
But couldn't see it. for it was direct
ly behind me. Indeed. the explosion
occurred at the end of my coattail.
1t was followed by another and an
other in rapid succession. / turned.
but the explosions turned with me.
Some one had tied bunch of fire
crackers to my coattail.
/ could neither see nor reach them.
for as turned they turned with me.
1 endeavored 10 take hold of them. but
only turned faster and faster like a
dog running around after his tail
Then 1 backed up against Margaret
that she might relieve me of them. but
she gave a little shrek and retreated.
Take them off, I cried.
81 don't dare. They'll set my dress
afire."
True. dressed as she was in thin
white muslin. a spark from the pesky
things might ignite it and cause a
tragedy. An opportunity to stop the
horrid swapping occurred 10 me. There
was water under the bridge. | ran
down there feeling like one pursued
by cracking rifles. and. squatting in
the creek. had the satisfaction after n
few muffled snaps beneath the surface
OF being relieved of the annoyance.
My white trousers were wet nearly
to the knees. My coattail was drip
ping. l was in no condition to con
tinue declaration OF love. BY an
unexpressed consent we turned and
walked rapidly 10 the house. We had
not taken dozen steps when we
heard what l had heard before when
rising that very morning-an idiotic
te-hee~
Then l knew that we had been pre-
coded by joe: that she had taken po-
sition under the bridge and had tied
the crackers TO MY cOnttail.
On reaching the house Margaret
showed me a rear entrance where ]
could go up to my room without being
seen. There ] took or my trousers.
wrung them ont, sat on them in lieu
of ironing and when they were dry
enough TO put on went down and join
ed the others on the lawn. Joe was
there and when l approached looked
Of al
prise and asked if ] had been bath
ing with my clothes on. l turned my
back upon her without reply.
All waited till il grew dark enough
10 set off the fireworks. of which an
abundant supply had been provided. /
was determined TO have matters set
tied between Margaret and myself.
and as soon as the pyrOtechnic dis
play commenced led her away. Some
one saw us and asked where we were
going. Margaret, equal to the occa-
sion, replied:
ITO the cupola. We can there see
not only our own fireworks, but those
all about US"
Following the suggestion, to the Gu
poIa we assembled. But / paid no at
tention to what was passing below
This was my last opportunity to get
In my proposal. and l FASTENED TO
avail myself Of it.
Margaret" | began again. this time
taking her hand. which she did not
withdraw, "I was about TO say to you
this afternoon when interrupted that
from the first moment Of our meeting
1 have been impressed with your beau
tifuI character and. though 1 know it
is presumption in me to-
Whiz!
A rocket screached not half dozen |
feet above our heads.
1 looked down on the lawn and by |
the red light saw Joe. assisted 10y |
couple of her boy friends. aiming an
other rocket directly at the cupola. |
We had barely time TO get down on |
the floor before the fiery thing shot |
with its horrid noise above us. 1t was
followed by a discharge of roman can |
dies. the balls of which fell either on
the roof of or in the cfpola. There |
was nothing for us TO do but beat q
precipitate retreat. Margaret lost her |
head completely and ran down the |
steep staircase so fast that she fell |
Catching her up. her head fell upon
my shoulder
Sweetheart! Margaret. Dearest!
epeak TO mer
After all my proposition had come
not. as | had intended it. in formal
words. but from the heart
The n4st eventful Independence day
In my life was over-eventful not only
that had been accepted by the girl
I loved. but on account of the difficult
ties under which | had made my pro-
posal. I have now been married some
years. and. although must admit that
my sister-in-law has grown 10 he
sedate wor9an. I have never forgiven
her the levl~T that caused me SO much
trouble.
She has daughter who is as much
Of madcGp as her mother was wher
q girl.
Dreadful Wound