Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-12

LAUGHING.
since for years he and his wife had
been spending time and money TO
make their boy presentable, so that
any young woman would be willing to
marry him. A large protrusion had
grown on the end of his nose, and
they had not found a surgeon who
would undertake its removal.
NJ Marier was a bit staggered by
this letter, but his heart was set on
carrying out the agreement, and he
considered himself bound to do so.
This sense of honor did not regard
the infection of a d!shgured husband
upon his daughter. He was the dis
poser of her hand, and it did not oc-
cur to him that her likes or dislikes
had anything to do with the matter.
So he wrote his friend to that effect.
Now, NJ. Marier was ignorant of the
fact that half a dozen years before
CIochette had formed childish at
tachment for a schoolmate-Joseph
Trouvere. The children kept their af-
fair to themselves, and when Joseph,
having finished his education, went on
a voyage with his father, who was
sea captain, to be absent a couple of
years, the young lovers agreed that
they would marry each other despite
any plans their parents might form for
them to the contrary. Joseph was a
fine young fellow, two years Clochette's
senior, and had decided on his return
to Marseilles to choose the profession
of notary, or, as we call it, lawyer.
When Marier told his daughter that
the contract he had made for her
the day she was born was about TO be
consummated she listened to him with
downcast eyes. The information he
gave her that she was to marry man
with a lump on the end of his nose
did not draw forth from her any pro-
test The reason for this was that II
she couldn't marry Joe Trouvere 1t
made no difference to her whether she
married a handsome man or a scare
crow. Her father, mistaking her mo.
tives, was much relieved, and when
he dismissed her he kissed her affec-
tionately in token of his appreciation
of her obedience
After the passage of a number of
notes between the parents of the in
tended bride and groom, in which
Marier expressed himself highly hon
ored and Rubadoux wrote admiringly
| of that high sense of honor which had
| led his very dear friend to accept an al
lance, the groom being blighted by q
physical deformity, the preliminsries
were arranged. Antoine, who was 9
( recluse, partly on account of the ex
cresence he was obliged to wear, had
q strong repulsion to marriage with
any one. All he asked was to be per
mitted to spend his time with books
| As an obedient son. he yielded to his
| father in the matter. but unwillingIy.
1t had been arranged that he was Dr.
go down to Marseilles during tn.
month Of March, when the summel
had opened on the Mediterranean, Il
make the acquaintance of his bride
The wedding day was to be set later
NJ. Marier. aware that he might b.
blamed for forcing on his daughter {
bridegroom with a hump on his nose
was anxious not to appear to be usin.
his parental authority.
Clochette made no objection to any
thing she knew to be her fathers will
There was no doubt m her mind tina
he would require her to marry tn
husband ne had provided for her. AM
it would avail nothing to protest al
French girls were required to MARI,
In this way. Why should she be al
exception?
One day when N. Marier was read
! ing his paper there was Q knock .