Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-10

Sept. Is.
Marian has today encouraged me to
be friendly. Her inclinations are de
cidedly with the army, and we chatted
all the morning about army people.
She said that she would like to make
me her confidant In order that she
might ask my advice as to a point OF
honor as it would be considered among
army people. 1 urged her to do so,
promising that 1 would advise her to
the best OF my ability, but she said
the matter was a very delicate one
and she couldn't bring herself to speak
Of 1t except to a very intimate friend
Sept. IA
The ak has fallen. and my head ha
rolled into the basket This afternoon
Marian made me her conhdant and
asked my advice. She told me of her
affair with me when was a cadet;
said that she had met no one since
that she liked so well till she met Mer-
ton. She confessed that she was going
out to marry me, but she had changed
her mind and would like TO accept
Merton and go around the world with
him on a wedding trip. The point of
honor referred to was whether this
change of front would be considered
dishonorable In the army. If it would
she preferred to stand by her old love.
I told her that 1t would be incumbent
upon her to state the case to her flance
frankly and that no officer Of the
army could fail to release her without
being condemned by his fellows. When
she asked me whether she would be
blamed for such a course by her army
friends and acquaintance I told her
that If she proceeded as had indi
Gated her fiance would exonerate her
and that would render her blameless.
Sept. 15
/ wish 1 had taken Hawkins advice
and let this matter alone. Marian and
I could have been married in ST.
Francisco, and then Marian would not
have met this baldheaded old coot
that she has fallen in love with. He's
fully ten years her senior and nothing
but "cit" I've intended to win her
from a boy, and this old duffer has
won her from me, a man just entering
on his prime. If the fool killer is
aboard he'll surely take me. Besides
losing my girl, I'll be the laughing.
stock Of the whole army. Hawkins,
nota bene. If you give me away I'll
murder you. No one but you knows
my part in this affair, and unless you
tell III be considered by some an
injured man. If you do tell I'll be
regarded a fool by all.)
Sept IT,
Had a talk with Marian today as to
what course she had better pursue on
arrival. She gave up her fiance's name
at Iast-my name. told her that it
was quite possible that on arrival Cap
tain Morris might not be able to meet
her. 1 also advised her to go to
Colonel BIS, as she has arranged,
and meet Morris there, telling him
the whole story at once without keep
ing him waiting.
IN Port.
Colonel and Mrs B. came aboard to
meet Marian. 1 was obliged 10 confine
myself to my stateroom to prevent Civ
ing the whole thing away. l saw them
through the portfolio coming and going.
Marian went ashore with them. She
looked as happy as if she hadn't chang
ed lovers between shores. 1 should
think she would dread the meeting
that's to come off with me, at which
she is to tell me that must make way
for another. and that after her making
a long voyage to marry me. Merton
didn't go ashore with the party. 1
suppose she feared she might meet me
unawares and preferred to have him
out of the way till the scene with me
is all over with.
/ wonder how she'll look when she
learns that the man she has Travelled
with, whom she has made her conf
dant and who has advised her as to
the standard of army honor is the man
she has gone back or. BY Jove,
what a climax for play! Only I'd
rather take the part of the other fell
low. I shall be as magnanimous as
possible-not blame her in the least
but, of course, 1 may let it be known
how deeply 1 am wounded.
In Quarters.
Nothing has happened as intended or
expected. have been nerving myself
for one climax, and there has been an
other. l waited till all the army peo-
pie had gone ashore, then sneaked
ashore myself, feeling ashamed of the
part 1 had been playing and dreading
the meeting at which l was to get the
grand bounce. During the afternoon
a note came from Marian saying that
she was at Colonel BIS and would be
ready to receive me at 6. Mrs. B
invited me TO dine at 4
/ deferred my visit till 6.30 and
wished 1 could omit it entirely. Marian
received me standing and as soon as
she saw me rushed forward and threw
herself into my arms.
Stupid" she exclaimed, Ito attempt
to impose on a woman by so thin an
arfificei I knew YOU the moment I