Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-06

serves Wn6u Ne Calls on tue pea Oh III
disposition and the bottom of his uni
verse drops out Immediately. Molly
played these little games on me so Of
ten that was discouraged. I thought
that II l could only reach point
where l could ring in my long adora-
ton of her photograph her heart would
warm toward me at once.
Meanwhile another little romance
that 1 cannot develop here was going
on between my sister Ruth and Molly's
brother Molly had noticed 1t and
spoke to me about it, but was so IN
terested in my own affair that had no
thought for any others. 1 didn't hap
pen to meet Molly's brother, but was
not slow in making up my mind that
he was the person to whom she had
given the photograph. A brother would
not be likely TO write "a peach on
the back OF sisters picture. but the
brother in this case might have had
friend who admired the sister.
One thing noticed in Molly's treat
ment Of me that construed favorably.
Whenever she would give me the cold
shoulder she would follow up her act
by being especially gracious. After one
of these fits of graciousness I resolved
to bring matters to a crisis. did not
begin with so unromantic matter as
an exchange OF overcoats. led up to
the subject by telling her that I had
been familiar with her Hneameuts be-
fore l had ever seen her. She evidently
saw what was coming, not from my
words, but my manner. When man
has a proposal on his mind and trying
to find words in which to make 1t there
are few girls who do not know the tn
evitable result. / might just as well
have said nothing after making the
start, and what did say was not what
l had intended to say. At any rate.
forgot to tell her that her likeness had
been on my dresser for long while
before had met her. Her reply to my
proposition was startling.
"Why haven't you returned Bob's
overcoat?"
l drew aside to get better view of
her expression. She was toying with
some ornamental work on her skirt,
her eyes cast down. Nevertheless
detected slight quirk to the corner of
her mouth.
"Wh- q at do you meanr' asked.
Come; don't pretend what's not
true" she replied. you know you
have had a picture Of mine that didn't
belong to you"
My establishment, my curiosity, went
down before the desire of my life.
told her that fate had thrown into my
possession a picture which from the
day / first saw 1t had grown upon me-
had enthralled me, had been the be-
ginning of my first and only love-
! Fate had thrown it In my way
You mean fate threw Bob's over
coat in your way, the overcoat happen
! ing to contain my photograph"
This matter of fact reception of my
outburst somewhat cooled me.
How did you know about the ex-
| change of coats?" l asked
Bob had his coat taken the day !
sent him my likeness. l knew the pat
tern of the cloth well and have been
looking for it ever since. The moment
l saw you at the breaking up of the
bridge party, standing in the hail with
Bobs coat on, recognized 1t at once"
And Bob?"
81 saw by the way you were looking
at me that you had recognized me and
had done so by my photograph. In
ferred that you would seek me and
kept my own counsel. / haven't yet
told Bob or any one else that you have
been wearing his coat"
/ looked at her steadily for a few
moments, then broke out again, but in
a different vein:
1--WE been nursing this matter for
months, intending a pleasant surprise.
and now you've taken the wind out of
my sails. Ever since met you you've
known that l had benin possession of
| your picture. There's no use In a man
trying to impress woman by chilean
cry or concealment- She'll beat him
every time. When l saw you look at
me the evening you first saw me |
fancied that some telepathic process
had Informed you that l and you were
destined'-
1T did. saw admiration in your
! glance"
"Oh, that was It! Anyway, the game
has all been in your hands. count
for nothing. l am only beggar"
She was touched by my disappoint-
ment, the abject position In which |
found myself. She felt for my hand
and drew closer to me. My victory
came through defeat. but since | had
achieved all / had set out 10 achieve /
did not repine.
What was my gain was another's
loss. The mana chum Of Bob's-who
had written "a peach" on the back of
Molly's photo was an aspirant for her
hand when 1 appeared on the scene
and was obliged TO withdraw in my
favor. Bob and Ruth are married, and
Molly and 1 are engaged. It's all out
now, and Bob and have re-exchanged
coats. as Molly's likeness grew on me
before I had seen her and as she grew
on me before we were engaged, she is
now growing on me in our betrothal.
wonder If she VIII continue to grow
on me after we have been married.
believe she will.