Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-05
The Argus Daily Story
Tripartite Agreement-By F. A. Mitchell.
copyrighted. 1919 Dy Associated Literary Bureau

north face of the fort, the windmill and
the Hudson river. There she sat watch
ing those who approached the house.
1t was about II o'clock that Cornell
ius Van Kortlandt appeared. Van Kort-
landt's height measured exactly Eve
feet four inches and his girth four feet
ave inches, as in the case of Governor
Van Twiller. BE came up the roadway
that is now a street between the Gus
tom house and the Bowling Green,
looking like a humming top standing
upright on its peg. and hammered with
the huge brass knocker on the Van
Buskirks' front door. A rosy red in
duced by Holland gin decorated his
nose and cheeks, and he was very gar
rulous. He said that he had been call
ing at the Onderdonks'. where he had
met Van Buskirk. who was drinking
with Van Zandt. whom 1t was evident
he was trying to put under the table.
This information brought q scowl to
the brow Of Frau Van Buskirk, and
Lena gave evidence of being interested
| Van Kortlandt passed on 10 other calls
| and young Peter Van Corlear took his
| place at the refreshment table. where
he and the lady Of the house were alone
| together. Frau Van BuSkirk said to
him In a low voice:
peter, If you win go 10 the onder-
donks' and bring winant Van Zandt
here I will throw all my influence to
you that you may have our daughter
| 10 wife"
Peter put the forennger Of his right
hand against his nose to indicate that
it was bargain and left the house.
| At the time of this agreement Lena
was receiving the call Of Carolus VAN
deEgrieft, and she, too, made q bar
gain. She agreed that II he would find
wouter Ten Eyck and keep him away
from the house till set OF sun she
would marry Carolus, provided her
parents would give their consent
- Thus 1t fell out that Van Buskirk by
trying to delay his wife's favorite for
their daughters hand started 4 contest
between himself and his wife and their
daughter, each in behalf of the sutton
favored. While the father and mother
were playing, the one to delay, the
other to hasten Van Zant's coming. the
daughter was schenfng to delay Ten
Eyck Lena knew that so long as her
father would continue to put schnspps
before Van Zant the young man would
yield to no other persuasion. If, there
fore, she could delay Ten Eyck quite
likely her own choice, Jacobus Harden
brock, might come along In COED time
and win her
Unfortunately for the success of her
plan Jacobus took 1t into his head to
have a game of bowls on the bowling
green. There was an inn directly OPP
posite, and after every game either
beer or schnapps was served. and,
though Jacobus was temperate man,
he was exceedingly fond of bowls, and
since 1t was New Years day was not
averse to a small celebration. 1t was
4 o'clock in the afternoon when Lena,
looking out through window, saw
the man of her choice just about to
roll a ball on the bowling green.
Throwing up the sash, she cried out to
him:
"Jacobus, are you not making calls
today?"
YES" replied Jacobus. 81 am going
to begin when l have finished this
game of bowls"
"You had better hurry. Our last bot
tie is on the refreshment table, and
there is no more in the cellar"
Il don't care for schnapps," he re-
piled, polishing another ball to roll 1t.
81 prefer bowls"
Lena shut down the window, much
put out with her lover, whom she did
not wish to tell openly of the tTipsrtite
, agreement between herself and her
; parents.
1t was soon after this that Peter Van
} Corlear returned and admitted that
Van Zant was not to be withdrawn
from the Onderdonks, and Carolus
HANDKERCHIEF sent word by a negro
slave that while he was doing mis- best
} to keep Ten Eyck away he feared ev-
/ cry moment that he would resume
the list of calls he was making ana
might reach the Van Buskirks at any
moment.
From 4 o'clock, when the message
, came, till sunset the poor girl was
doomed to see the man she wanted
: and who wanted her wasting precious
time on the bowling green. When =
o'clock came she went up to her room
3 and to bed At half past JacObus
arrived, and in time to win the prize,
for neither OF the other suitors had
appeared. Finding that Lena had
: gone to bed, he was much disappointed
! and went away. LEAVING word that he
/ would make his New Years call the
: next evening.
i When the next evening came round
and he called at the Van Busklrks he
: was received by Frau Van Buskirk,
: who told him of the agreement for the
> previous day and that he had won
Lena. But Lena was SO angry with
= him for keeping her in a state Of dis
! quietude that she would not have him
Jacobus pleaded in vain to be forgiv-
. en- for not leaving the game or bowls
: when Lena called for him, but 1t was
d no use. Dutch girl is slow to anger
but when aroused is not easily placat-
!, ed few years later she married
u Tar-foLy Van Gchpmmerhorn