Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-11
The Argus Daily Story
Her Assignment-By F. A. Mitchell.
copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

SUPERINTENDENT
missed the young clergyman who had
been my guide and leading me through
hole In the WALL would not call 1t
door-presented me to his wife. a
motherly old lady. who greeted me
kindly. and for the first time since my
arrival felt possibility of my eudur-
ing residence on the island-that is,
If the cannibals would kindly eat each
successive husband to whom the
bishop might assign me-
One thought. | admit. stood forth as
n compromise between the sacrifice of
these noble lives and my being permit
ted to remain single. If / might be
assigned to the young clergyman who
had met me on the dock and had been
my conductor l thought 1 would be
willing that the good work should 60
on without any more missionaries find
ing their way into the stomachs of the
heathens.
And here, having come to the first
lull in my agony. will say a word as
to this young man. He was about
twenty-Seven years old, of medium
height, with fair skin and fsxeu hair.
noticed at times a twinkle in his eye
that Is not usual in persons whose
minds are fixed upon serious work.
His smile was very winning and his
face, being clean shaven. displayed
mouth that might have been cut after
a cameo. While l was waiting to be
disposed Of by the bishop this young
man, Henry Stockbridge, was very
kind to me. making my miserable life
as little miserable as possible. Indeed,
1 came to contemplate a life with him.
even with such barbarous surround
| ings, as quite endurable. and by the
| time my new assignment was expected
/ I had come to the conclusion that If I
were allotted to him should not per-
NIT him to serve the Lord in any field
| where there were cannibals-
One day a ship was sighted making
/ for the island and was soon recognized
! as the one that would bear the bishops
message. Oh, that might see her
strike q rock and go to the bottom!
Henry Stockbrldge was with me while
was looking at her. and 1 expressed
my thought to him. Instead OF receiv-
ing my wish with horror he asked:
why are you SO averse to matri-
mony2"
I'm not averse to it with the man OF
my choice"
Have you choiceT
was so desperate that had lost all
maidenly shame. 1 was ready to go
down on my knees to him and beg him
to save me by marrying me himself.
yes" 1 said doggedly, 81 have"
He knew we'll enough what would be
the result of further questioning and
spared me.
Heaven knows" he said after
brief silence, that il l were the man
OF your choice how gladly would save
you from being assigned to husband
In this unromantic fashion"
Brutal fashion, you mean"
UNFORTUNATELY in my case" he went
on, there is barrier in the way"
l had the decency to let him tell it
without asking MIN.
You know" he continued. that I
am very high church"
l remained silent, but my bosom was
heaving.
II am resolved to celibacy."
An inspiration came to me, an inspi-
IA ton to act at once and to the point
threw up my arms with a wall and
fell against his bosom. He clasped me.
and | remained passive till thought
heard a chuckle. Then j looked up
into his face and saw the most wicked.
merry, tantalizing spark ever saw In
the eye of man. l was about to dis
engage myself when he frightened his
arms about me and covered my face
with kisses.
You wretchH I exclaimed. You
can remain In celibacy, and I will
marry the man TO whom | am as
signed, il he is first cousin to Satan"
"Then | will wait for you till the
cannibals get him, as they did your
first betrothed. By the bye, this as
slgnment business has been a put up
Job. / was informed that a young
woman was coming out for husband
and told by the superintendent that l
might meet her and, II I liked her,
WOO her in my own fashion. Adoni-
ram Nudge Is a myth. Ii was at my
suggestion that the superintendent
spoke to you of sending to the bishop
for another assignment That ship
never took message to him, and there
is no reply from him on her. | have
given you time to learn to love me.
As for me. my mind was made up the
moment saw you"
stood looking out at the coming ship
through tears. this time happy tears.
Are you weeping for MudgeT ask.
ed my tOrmentor
! turned and saw that same taunt-
ing look In his eye and sympathetic
smile on his face.
threw my arms about him and
buried my face on his breast
As the wife Of Henry Stockbridge l
remained on the island two years and
was contented. Then he was called
TO a church in America. where my po-
sition az the wife OF the rector was
by no means unpleasant I was and
am thankful that ! escaped what |
most dreaded. a life OF solitary labor
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