Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-23

lever in indications. As child and
young man he had never failed to see
the new moon over his right shoulder
without feeling sure that he would
meet with some misfortune during the
month. He would never start on a
journey on Friday or sit at a table
about which there were thirteen per-
sons. These are but a few signs that
he regarded, but they serve to show
his character.
When eighteen years OF age he had
engaged himself TO a young lady sew
eraI years his senior. For an engage
ment ring he had given her one with
an opal setting. He was not aware at
the time that the opal invariably
brings bad luck. The girl was equally
ignorant. She had not been engaged a
month when she was taken i'll and died
1t was not remarkable that Adonf-
ram. who was naturally inclined to
make much Of such matters. should
have been deeply impressed with the
fearful penalty he had paid for run
ming counter to the opal blight. When
he recovered from the shock of his
iancee's death he was not only disin-
clined to enter again upon an engage
ment without duly considering all the
signs involved in the way of warning.
but had reached q condition where he
was looking for one to indicate that
the lady Of his choice was the right
woman for him to marry.
Before he had passed middle age he
had noted a number of indications
that such or such a person would
make him happy, but either the girl
who seemed to be pointed out was too
homely or had a bad temper or some
other defect which led him to disre-
gard the sign. With mans natural
perverSity he formed a purpose OF
marrying a young woman who had as
much contempt for these petty super
stitions as he had respect. Miss Octa-
via Sparks had a mind superior 10
that of Mr.. Doyle, but she liked him.
Women are supposed to confine their
love and admiration to men who are
above them in intellectual strength,
but this is not an fnvariable rule. Mr..
Doyle was a gentle, simple minded
man. free of guile, and he appealed to
Miss Sparks stronger intellect. Per
haps it was a considerable muscular
strength he possessed OF which he was
himself unconscious that impressed
her weaker physical organization.
Be this as it may, the two were
drawn together and 1t only needed
some indication that fate intended
their meeting to induce Mr.. Doyle to
propose. He waited a long while for
such an augury; but, none appearing,
he made up his mind to propose, any
way. He started out one crisp au-
tumnal evening, but no sooner had he
opened his door than there, up in the
southwest, was a crescent. He paused.
His first glimpse of the new moon was
over his left shoulder.
He went back into the house, took
off his hat and overcoat and sat down
disappointed. He was not sure that
the incident portended a refusal on the
part of Miss Sparks or that a mar
riage with her would result disastrous-
Iy. Nevertheless he dare not, in the face
of so marked warning, persist in his
intention of asking her to be his wife.
But he continued his friendly rela-
lions with her and longed to settle
down with her in the bonds of matri-
mony. He lived alone in his home
with an old woman who was both
cook and housekeeper. and there was
no reason why he should not bring
Miss Sparks into the house as his wife.
Should he do SO be felt confident that
she would make ii a very different
home for him, rendering what was
desolate. cheerful. But of this he was
not certain. How did he know that
she might not turn out to be a virago?
However, a constant companiOnship
gave him confidence in her, and the
following summer he came again to n
resolution to propose marriage TO her
This time, in passing between his
house and hers, n snake crossed the
road directly before him.
He stopped short and watched the
viper slowly dragging itself along in
the dust, to lose itself in the long
grass and make a final momentary APP
pearance as it crawled under a fence
He stood for a few minutes thinking,
then turned reluctantly and went back
TO his home. This second warning
was so pronounced that he resolved
never again to set out with an inten-
ton 10 propose to Miss Sparks.
From this time he began TO con-
slider the different unmarried women
in the place other than the one on
whom he had set his heart, with a
view to acquiring a helpmeet A wild
ow. Mrs. Perkins, lived some distance
down the road, and Mr.. Doyle, after
much deliberation, followed by a num-
Der of attentions, resolved TO substi-
tute her for Miss Sparks. He would
have liked to receive some indication
that the fates would look favorably
upon the match, but had come to the
conclusion that the only signs he
would receive would be negative.
Twice he had been warned against
Miss Sparks. If IL was not intended
that he should marry Mrs. Perkins
perhaps IL would be indicated to him.
1t Yves winter day that he came TO
the conclusion 70 ask the widow to be
his wife. Before supper be put on his
Sunday suit, brushed his hair. combed
MS WHISPERS ana after the meal made
his third start In quest Of matrimony