Rock Island Argus., 1913-10-15

him to have a companion. He was
much pleased at his guests appearance
and thought that IL Elsie had given
her heart to such a man the pill would
not have been so hard to swallow.
Mr.. Witridse regretted deeply that
Elsie had not thought proper to listen
to his suit.
did she encourage you:' he asked.
Encourage me? That is not the
way to put it. Had she not made this
trip abroad all would have been diffen
ent'
~ don't doubt It, I was opposed to
her going. It's mistake to expose
girls to those broken down foreign for.
tune hunters and American globe trot.
ters. If l had my way Elsie would
have remained at home. But IL you're
ever married. young man, you'll find
that your wife knows everything and
you know nothing"
Il only ask to see your daughter
once to win her away from this Eel
low. She loves me and me only.
Doubtless sightseeing together abroad
dawdling in picture galleries, boating
on the Italian lakes with him, have
made ber think that she has found
new love. As soon as she gets away
from his influence she may very easily
be brought under mine"
You don't mean itr'
81 do. l am perfectly confident that
in the bottom of my heart she loves
me and me only"
Ill
lutely, ''if you wish to renew your ad-
dresses to my daughter when she
comes home all l have to say is that
you can coupt on all the influence I
have in this family-it's not much. !
admit-to help you. You're a gentle.
man. every inch of you. I'd much
rather have Elsie marry a man I've
seen and like-yes. like you first rate
than one I've never heard of before
The guest reached across the table
and fervently pressed the speakers
hand
What are you going to do in the
matter;" asked Mr.. Witridge presently.
II will meet your daughter at the
dock when she lands and be guided by
circumstances
But likely you'll find the other fel
low there too, He's in America Elsie
wrote he was to come over before her
I've been expecting him every day to
come and ask me for her"
Leave all that to me. He won't in.
terfere with my meeting Elsie. Any
! one has right to do that"
But are you sure you can manage
it allT
Perfectly"
"You were not engaged when Elsie
went away, were you?"
"No."
''Then why are you so sure~
''Simply because Elsie loves me. and
no man on earth can take her away
from me unless temporarily. AS have
said, she has been under other infu.
: ences: then. too, she is very young"
Young. should think so. She
should be in the nursery instead OF
traipsing around Europe. exposed to
every impoverished scamp who comes
along"
Before the evening was over the
! guest promised that IL he should win
Elsie he would make bis home In the
same street-next door, II possible. TO
her former homeland Mr.. Witridge,
dinner, assured him that be would
rather have him for a son-in-law than
any man living. The guest was press.
ed to stay all night: but. realizing that
his host might in the morning be less
genial. he declined and returned to the
city.
In due time Mrs. Witridge and her
daughter arrived. and her fathers
dinner companion met them Mt the
pier. It having been arranged between
him and the old gentleman that the
latter should keep out OF the way.
I've met your father. and he Is
mine" said the young man.
"You don't mean that he has con-
sented"-
j do"
How did you ever do it?"
The lover told the story on the way
to the lady's home and how he bad
made a friend of Mr.. Witridge and se-
cured his consent that he should cut
the other Fellow ont with the fnther
promised assistance.
Soon after her arrival Elsie Wit
ridge Informed her father that as u
dutiful daughter she would marry the
man OF his choice. Mr.. Farnsworth
the accepted suitor. called and was re
ceived by all the family with open
arms. For some time Mr. Witridge
made frequent illusions TO that char
his daughter met abroad. wondering
why be had not called to ask fs he,
and iDtimating that IL he had done s.
he would have been peremptorily re
fused. Mrs. Witridge and her daugh
ter at suck times maintained a discreet
silence. declining to discuss the mat
ter, The Farnsworths have been mar
ried two years, and Mr.. Wi1fdge Il
still ignorant OF the way his consen
1 oainad IN hts ia chit arfe a r