Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-11
The Argus Daily Story
Asking for Ellen-By Clarissa Mache.
Copyrighted, 1912, by Associated Literary Bureau

Where will you leave me, SteveT
quavered Ellen. a vision of her angry
father arising before her mental VI
sion.
You can wait close by in the buggy
here. ready to receive his blessing. for
I'll get 1t If have TO knock him down
and sit on his chist till he gives it,
declared Steve valiantly. But they
were both very quiet as they drove
back toward the village. The roof OF
the smithy came into view all too soon,
and the little building seemed to as
sumo alarming proportions as they
drew nearer. Steve turned the horse
into a narrow wood road that ran
parallel with the highway. a few trees
separating the two thoroughfares.
From this wood road Ellen might
watch all that transpired at the smthy.
which stood with an open front to the
road.
Wish me good luck. Nellie" whis-
pered Steve as he took a kiss from her
trembling lips.
1t happened that Harold Spen-
Ger had Jagged on his errand of love
until the same moment that marked
his arrival at the smithy Of Ellen's
father also witnessed the approach OF
Steve Morris. A sudden flame of jeal-
ousy scorched Harold into instant ac-
ton. He dashed breathlessly up to the
giant blacksmith who paused in his
forging OF redhot iron to stare curious
~ at him, half expectant OF some i'll
news. From the corner OF his keen
eyes Michael Dugane also saw the
more leisurely approach of Steve Morris
and all at once he understood the sit
uation.
! Good afternoon. Mr.. Dugane," shout
ed Harold shrilly above the creak of
the bellows and the ring of iron.
"Well?" roared Michael fercely.
"Who calls me Du-gane? Dim plain
! Dugan. no less and no more! What
! do We be wantin'"
II want to- want to- Harold
thrust nervous fingers inside his col
lar and eased his CONSTRUCTED throat.
ELLEN told me to ask you"
Steve Morris. standing near. heard
and paled to the lips. He understood
now what Ellen had meant by fair
show" Did she care so little for him
that she let her father decide whom
she should marry or was it that she
was trying the mettle Of the two suit
ors? Old Michael Dugane was known
as an irritable. hot Drained Irishman.
whose sense of humor cropped out in
the most unexpected places and who
loved to torment the unwary by mani
festations of ferocity. At heart he
was warm hearted enough and devot-
eddy fond of pretty Ellen, the eldest Of
five girls.
Now Michael tossed his sledge to
the earth packed floor and rolled his
grimy sleeves higher above his brawny
arms He wagged his gray beard omi-
nously as he walked around the anvil
and stood over the dapper form OF
Harold Spencer.
ELLEN told you to ask me-what"
he beloved.
, Under the conclusion of that voice
Harold Spencer almost swayed where
he stood He had a heeting mental
vision of Ellen Dugane. the desirable;
then the gigantic form of her parent
; blotted out the hope of Ellen forever.
} Michael as a father-in-law was impos-
l sible. Angry rage took possession of
) Harold. and he shook his white fingers
4 fairly in the face of the astonished
blacksmith.
2 ELLEN told me she'd marry me IL
i you'd say Yes but decline the honor
r of being your ,son-in-law, Mr. Dugane.
}. You're not /e kind of father-in-law
|, | want" A->I so. like a small, splitting.
: spiteful kitten, Harold Spencer turned
] Of
t the blacksmith and marched out OF the
smithy and straight back to Krietz-
= mans clothing store.
Michael Dugane looked amazedly aft
: er the little strutting form of the clerk.
Then he lifted one black, hairy fist and
y shook ii. THE little divil. the little
dlvilr' he muttered slowly. while a
, humorous smile trickled around his
bearded lips
}. In this humor Steve Morris approach
2 ed him. white faced and resOlute.
e Good afternoon. Mr. Dugane," be
l said simply. You know who l am
t and who my father was. and you know
! it amt right to harbor a grudge against
: me for some little good for nothing
5 quarrel you had with my father. I've
l come to say that Nellie and me love
l each other and I'm going to marry her
i If you've got any objections well fight
It out nowr' And Michaers prospec
tive son-ln-iaw tossed aside his coat
: and hat and faced the elder man
$ whist. Go easy now" warned Mi
chael Dugane. holding out his hand L
Steve. "Ye're the very one I'd picked
out for me Nelie"' And Steve never
O knew whether this was surrender t
u the inevitable or an outcropping of Mi
chaels concealed sense Of humor.
J. A little later Steve went back to III,
= buggy.
: Nellie" ne said decisiyely. "I tolC
your pa that you loved me- Is i
e trueT'
$ of course" whispered the Thankful
u Nellie.
% july IL in American