Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-19
The Daily Story
lem RIDDLES HoBBY-BY KATHARINE Ora
copyr.ghtea. 1918. by Associated Literary Bureau


But she's got grit, and she'll stick by
her promise"
"Is what they said true?" he demand
ed hotly.
Every word"
why do you stand it," he blurted
out.
II was quite fond of him, and prom
Used, you know, and he is always so
sorry. l was wondering if we could
signal TO him now. All, here comes
mother" She clasped her hands and
looked apprehensively at the little roly
poly gray haired woman Fastening to-
ward the apple tree
"Amabel Painer cried the lady in a
shocked tone Here on your wedding
afternoon entertaining company. oh.
how de do, Peter Lamb, did you say?
Little Peter Lamb. bless your heart!
The last time l saw you you were In
knee pants and calico blouses You'll
excuse Amabel, won't you? She's GO
ing to be married at 6:30, and it's after
now. Come. Amabel."
She tucked her hand under the girls .
arm and smiled. but Ut was plain that
behavior of the bride to be. Have.
you seen Hem?' she asked quickly.
Amabel pointed upward where the bal.
loon circled lazily against the blue sky.
Mrs. Paine's eyes narrowed, and her
face flushed. "Amabel"' she cried,
with tears in her eyes. IF he forgets
again l shall die of modification. l
can't stand it."
Amabels lips trembled in a smile
that was near to tears.
Peter Lamb suddenly brought one
fist into the palm of his open hand.
Mrs Paine, if Hem Biddle isn't on
hand at $50 the wedding can go on just
the same if you will listen to reason"
what do ysu meant" demanded the
puzzled lady.
Peter Lamb explained volubly, and
Amabel added timid words of consent.
IF Hem isn't here at $780," said
Mrs. Paine, Peter, you can take his
| place. Come, Amabel! And she bore
the blushing bride away down the
| path to the house.
1t was deliciously cool and pleasant
/ up there In the evening sky. Delicate
! tints of primrose and pale rose 1ecked
/ the blue and silver sunset sky. Hem
Biddle, sunburned and frowsy with
| disheveled hair, leaned against the side
! of the car and dreamily scanned the
/ green earth below.
Most of the afternoon had been spent
in lowering over the vicinity of the
Paine place. where a certain white
speck in the garden represented ANA
bel. An uneasiness had prevailed in
his mind the last hour. There was
some task unfulfilled. some promise he
had not kept. What was it? He
gazed dreamily at the sunset and COM
posed another poem.
The balloon drifted little lower in
the unstirred air. There came the tin
king sound of church bells from be-
low. 1t was Wednesday evening. He
glanced at the little calendar in the
cover of his notebook as he closed 1t,
and his eyes bulged with horror.
1t was Wednesday, the 18th, and he
was to be married this evening to
Amabel.
For the third time he had forgotten
it. Twice Amabel had forgiven him.
But now!
He looked at his watch. It was half
past 6, the hour for the ceremony.
He leaned over the car in an agony Of
fear There was much activity about
the Paine place. Little groups of peo-
Pile dotted the lawn, some In white.
Those were women, and the dark ones
were men. He guessed they were gaz-
| to-, Of h i'm,
Amabel! He snatched at the rope
that released the gas, and the balloon
dropped esrthward Again he looked
over, and now he saw that the people
had streamed into the house. There
was a carriage before the gate!
At exactly o'clock the balloon land
ed in the middle of Ebenezer Paine's
cornfield and destroyed about 100
stalks of priced corn.
Within the house Mr. and Mrs. Peter
Lamb were receiving congratulations
and answering the questions of dazed
wedding guests. Mrs. Paine was ex-
planning matters TO Hem Biddle's in
dignant relatives and friends.
Ebenezer Paine. stifiy CARRIED In his
Sunday clothes, creaked across the
lawn. through the orchard and into the
cornfield He frowned at the broken
corn. and a quiZzical look came into
his eyes when he saw Hem Biddle
crawling out from the folds of silk
that enveloped the basket OF the bal
loon. Hem was disgracefully untidy
Better late than never" he said
apologetically.
Ebenezer Paine smiled grimly.
you've said that three times. Hem
and l reckon the proverbs worn out
This time dts better never come at all
, than be late.'''
d. But Amabel." murmured the crest
fallen aeronaut, wiping his, grimy
hands or his coat
"Amabel." remarked the brides IA
ther thOughtfully-" Amabel wait
,, ed till 6:35, and then she married ar
old sweetheart who was interested
enough to be there on time"