Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-16

IL know nothing about summer ho-
tells" he replied. "Tve never had oc-
casion to nse one Of them. You must
settle on the place"
He had arranged for his outing for
two weeks from the 18th of July. Just
before the time to go he was very busy
getting ready to be absent from busi-
ness. and didn't see him for a week.
Then he came around on the evening
of the 14th of July and asked where
we were going. 1 told him / didn't
know.
There was n fine March wind be
tween us. told him that / had en-
gagged myself to a strong character
that might have some one to rely on
in such matters. and he asked me what
matters 1 intended to take under my
own care. This made me very angry.
1 told him that 1 could make up my
mind quick enough if I wished to. and
/ settled on the place in twinkling.
he. asked me to name it, and 1 told
him 1 would drop him a line. The
next morning at 1 took a train for
the mountains. A few days after 1
reached my destination wrote him
where was and that I should be happy
to see him. He wrote that he had de-
cided to give up his vacation since he
was very busy and really should not
take the time.
This came pretty near making a per-
manent break between US. 1 was
miffed at having been called upon to
take the initiative. But our betrothal
survived it, and when returned to
the city all was made up between US.
It looked as IL we should have April
weather after this, but one evening an
other wind came up good deal fresh
er than anything we had yet expert
enced and ended in a tornado. A GER
tain performance at the theater was
to be given that 1 wished very much
to see. 1 bought two seats and tele-
phoned Wilbur that I wished him to
go with me to the play. He replied
that he had business engagement for
the evening and couldn't go. 1 asked
him what 1 should do, and he replied
through the telephone, mind you, so
that the whole world could hear-that
he was too busy to advise me and that
If intended to rely on him through
life for little things like that he would
carry a load.
time to get over my hun 1 had tele-
phoned to Ed Tucker and asked him to
be my attendant. He said he should
be delighted 1 had no sooner receiv-
ed his answer than was called up by
Wilbur to say that he had succeeded
in putting off his business engagement
and would be with me for the theater.
How could 1 be expected to know
what to say to him at once and over
a telephone? 1 didn't say anything
but "welI' or "All right" or some
ry, shut me off.
1 couldn't make up my mind what
to do In the matter, being rather weak
about such things, and half an hour
before 1t was time to go to the play Ed
drove up in a carriage and, carrying a
bouquet of beautiful flowers, ran up
the steps. l met him at the door and
took him into the drawing room.
was about to explain the position to
him when along came Wilbur When
he saw Ed his face looked like a thun-
uCIGlOhds lie Sdl0 lOlhihS " A<Nt bhL
he said a good deal to me. AS soon
as he paused 1 tried to explain to him
that 1 was engaged to go TO the the
alter with both of them. At that mo-
ment he caught sight of the flowers
lying on the table.
He looked from them to Ed, fright
full light shining in his eyes; then from
Ed to me. He was the maddest man
ever saw, and yet was not at fault
at all. / hadn't even had a chance to
accept or decline the gift.
You should have heard his talk He
told me that he had feared / was
me not even the consistency of mush.
1 stood it as long as 1 could, getting
madden every minute Suddenly 7
pointed to the door and, with flaming
eyes and cheeks, said:
Cor
He subsidized and started in to say
something pleasant, but repeated the
word Cor and said it again and
again till my voice was like n trumpet
sounding a charge. l became so in
furiated that he feared l would throw
something at him and went out say
ing he should call again when 1 had
cooled.
"By Jover' cried Ed give long
been looking for a woman to brace up
my easy going nature. I've found her
at last. Will you marry meF
Yes, / will"
And I did.
And so it was that my engagement
with Wilbur Ernst came in like a
lamb and went out like lion. My
husband. who has turned out to be
man who will fight for his own way
in everything. says 1 am the most OBJ
stinate woman he ever knew. But
one thing. to my surprise. he admits
he declares that no woman can make
up her mind quicker when she wishes
to than 1, aRd he only regrets that
won't give him time to come to his
own decisions before 1 spring mine
upon him.