Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-18
The Argus Daily Story
What Became of Alvaretta-By Clarissa Maclde.
copyrighted. 1917. by Associated Litera-y

you've told. why. we'll tell our story
Dave Bemis hcsitated. looked arounu
at the interested faces flushed rely
and then plunged into his story.
"Alvaretta was to meet me in Mill
ton at Ia. We were going TO get mar
RED
''Married?" shriekcd Mrs. winton
aghast.
Married." growled young Alva. dou-
bling a fist. You mean you was run
ming away with my sister,
''She said her mother gave her per
misSion 10 marry ME this afternoon
My uncle in England is very sick. and
I've been sent for. I've got to sail to
morrow morning, and l may be gone
a year. for promised to take care of
his business and wind 1t up II anything
happens 10 him. | telephoned all this
10 Alvaretta this morning as soon as I
heard OF il. and | asked her If she
wouldn't marry me before | went.
told her she could take the l:I5 train
from here. and would meet her in
Milton. and we could get married In
time for her to take the $50 back here
again. ! was ut the station and wait
ed three trains. but haven't seen her,
and that's why I'm here now"
For the land sake. l never heard OF
such Il thing Shrieked Mrs Wintop
when Dave had concluded his recital
WHY. that child must have been ask
ing me if she could marry Dave when
l wasn't placing any account on what
she was asking was that interested
in my doughuuts. | says TO her, Yes.
yes: run along, dor and she took me
ut my word
But where is she now?" demanded
Alva impatiently.
Yes; where is she now?" repeated
Dave
Nobody knows. Listen while l tell
you what we know about it"
So Dave listened while they told him
about the mysterious disappearance
of Alvaretta and how Irving Denby's
statement that he had seen her on the
way to the station was the only proof
they had that Alvaretta had really
( started TO meet her lover aud be mar
! ried
What shall we do now?" Dave was
asking when the door was pushed
I slowly open and girls slender form
/ stepped within the room. She wore Il
/ pretty blue dress showing traces OF
dust around the bottom and white
hat very much askew atop of her gold
en- hair.
/ 1t was Alvaretta Winton.
"Alvaretta" they all screamed at
once
Has any one seen Irving DenbyT"
she asked, slowly looking from one to
another. is he here now?"
No Why" Alva was holding one
hand and Dave BcmiS the other hand.
and her mother had both arms arounI
her neck. 1t was difficult for Alvaretta
| to answer until they freed her
Il was going TO say If he Is here one
/ of you must take him out and thrash
him." said Alvaretta calmly. and
thereupon she proceeded To give most
excellent reasons why young Denly
| should be chastised
He sent word up to the house that
was wanted at the long distance
I telephone said Alvaretta calmly,
and as mother was busy | just ran
/
/ not knowing that Irving was in the
! back Of the store listening at Mr.
| Peters private phone. Dave wanted
me to come down to Milton and marry
! him at once, so | told him I'd go home
| and ask mother and if she consented
Id meet him there on the arrival of
the 4 40.
Mother was frying doughnuts, and
. | could scarcely see her through the
| blue smoke. and the kissing of the hot
fat was noisy too. | went up TO her
and spoke into her good ear said.
Ma, Dave has telephoned that he's got
/ to go to England and may be gone a
year and | can go to Milton and
marry him now. I'll come right home
again
IL didn't believe she'd consent, and
so | was never more surprised in my
life than when she said. Yes, yes; run
along. do SO hurried and got ready.
| and as | passed the drug store | hap.
/ pened to notice that the door Of our
/ church was wide open. ! was going
to he married. and felt kind Of sol
emn and as II | wanted to be alone
side there where ii was dark and cool,
ana when | tried to get out | declare
if the door wasn't locked | cried and
screamed. and nobody heard me until
half hour ago somebody crcpt up the
steps and unlocked the door | was
right there and pulled the door open
before he could get very far away. 1t
was Irving DENLY. Wasn't he the
mean. jealous thingE'
Alyaretta glanced Indignantly around.
Before any one could answer there
came knock at the door. When II
was opened it revealed the mild coun.
tenance Of the minister.
They tell me Alvaretta is lost" ne
was beginning when he saw the girls
blooming face.
Dave Bemis pressed forward. AIva
re;ta's hand in his
You're Just in time. Mr. Evans" he
said suggestively.
and that was how Alyaretta's elopG.
nent ended up In n wedding ut home.