Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-23
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Donkey Engine-By Emily Sewen
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Press

Why is it that the most important
step in life. marriage, is often decided
at haphazard? Perhaps it is because
every one considers marriage a lottery.
At any rate, an impatient word. a
flower given in the nick Of time. a
misunderstood sentence. a smile, will
often determine whether Molly is to
marry Tom, with a happy life before
her, OF John with misery and final di-
vorce.
Margaret Lee. though still young and
comparatively inexperienced. was born
TO 4 natural insight into such matters.
Where most young ladies would give
their hearts in return for a compli
ment. she looked for something more
enduring. She was wiser even than
this. She knew that she could not
forecast what her fate would be with
any man. Tom might be one of ma
lures noblemen. but he might also be
a poor provider. John might be mar
row minded and selfish, but might
bestow upon her wealth and honors.
Margaret realized that she must take
her chances.
Miss Lees choice gradually narrow
ed down to one of two men. Her
Tom and John were Pope Armstrong
and lie Baron Brown. Armstrong rep
resented what has been said of Tom;
he was especially interested in his
own career. Brown was, in some
respects, typifed by John. He was
a noble fellow, but was regarded by
his friends as full OF fine impracticable
gambler in the narrow, but the broad
sense. Both wanted Margaret, and
Margaret wanted one or the other Of
them. Her judgment said Armstrong,
her inclination favored Brown.
One evening Armstrong went to see
her and used very excellent arguments
why she should marry him. He was
getting a good salary, with prospects
of a better. He was putting aside 80
per cent of his income and already had
a nest egg laid up that was paying
him good interest. 81 am going for
houses and lands" he said. and you
know that this is no vain boast for l
have already done the hardest part of
the work. 1 have got the first thou
sand dollars"
Margarets head. If not her heart,
was won She remembered that Brown
had recently loaned a friend $500.
that he never expected to see again.
Would she not better settle the matter
between them now, and in favor Of
Armstrong? She would if she could,
but she could not.
Come tomorrow evening" she said
land I'll try to give you an answer"
I'll tell what I'll do. Margaret"
said the wooer. ''I'H come tomorrow
evening and we'll Flip coin to decide
whether you marry me or not"
Very WE'LL said Margaret, in
tired way.
The next day she met Brown on the
street, and he walked home with her
They had so much TO say to each
other that they couldn't say it all be
fore reaching her house, SO Brown
went in.
Margaret" he said, 81 have no
doubt that you can do better by mar
rying some one else than me. But my
argument is this: You must take the
risk any way Why not take it with /
a man you love? Besides. some men /
are capable OF being made by a wife. |
time with me, but you're a level head /
ed girl. and that's the kind l need I
I'm a donkey engine. and. you know, !
an engine can't run itself; it must .
have an engineer
Margaret was 50 Influenced by this .
especially since her heart .
was enlisted. that she promised the .
young man that IL somethiDg-she
wouldn't tell wbat-turned out the
next evening n certain way she would
marry him Brown showed that when
in a subject he had lot OF
hang on In him, for he never gave up
I'LL he drew the information out Of her
that she was to decide his rivals fate
by the spinning OF q coin. Then he
refused TO let go until she bad agreed
10 give him an equal chance She con-
sented that he should be present the
next evening and the coin should de-
tide between him and Armstrong. The
coin would be spun as BIT Of pleas