Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-22

NO
Then how will you reply?"
NY reply is already decided on"
Mrs. Spencer looked at her niece.
surprised and asked what the reply
was. To her astoniShment, Ethel de
clined to answer her question.
What's the matter with the childT'
remarked Mrs. Spencer TO herself as
she turned away.
The message was to be sent the next
morning, since the lecture had not in
cluded night signals Shortly after the
Spencers had breakfasted word was
sent to Ethel that she had been called
by signal from the Esperance. She
went on deck. and the Esperance was
informed that she was ready 10 re-
Ceive what was to be said to her. The
message was then sent. and Miss Dig
by instead of making a reply by the
code went to her cabin and wrote one
on dainty bit Of note paper.
Mr.. Elliot did not look for a reply
at once. He waited for it patiently.
Presently he saw n boat approaching
from the Alpha. and when 1t reached
him he was handed Miss Digby's note.
He opened and read it with an ex-
preston or aStoniShment-
All love stories must necessarily he
imperfect. The old fashioned tale of
love purported to be a photograph Of
the feelings OF the respective lovers
This was and is impossible. Whether
or no there was any covert lovemak-
ing between FarnSworth Elliot and
Ethel Digby too subtle to he perceived
by others or perhaps to be matter of
consciousness by either one or both of
the parties concerned Is an open ques-
ton. Elliot's message indicates that
he at least was gallant 1t read:
1 sail tomorrow. Kindly inform me OF
your address when you reach home.
There was certainly no lovemakinS
on the face of this message. and 1t
meant nothing to Ethel, for she under
stood not n word of ii.
Elliot took the reply to his message
TO his cabin and locked himself in
After an hours meditation he ordered
his gig to be manned at 1 o'clock At
the appointed hour he was pulled to
the Alpha and asked for Mr.. Spencer
That gentleman invited him to a seat
under the awning on the afterdeck.
and when the two were seated Elliot
informed his host that he had come
to ask for the hand of his niece.
Smothering his surprise, Mr.. Spencer
reminded the applicant that Ethel was
his wife's niece and referred him To
her. The lady was called, and, her
husband having given place to her,
Mr.. Elliot repeated his request The
lady, also mastering her establishment.
said TO Mr.. Elliot that II her niece was
pleased to accept him she had no OBJ
jections. Then the sutton drew from
his pocket Miss Digby'S reply 10 his
message and handed it to Mrs. Spencer.
1t read:
I am highly honored by your proposal.
Following the dictates of my heart. my
reply is Yes"
Mrs. Spencer was not the woman to
stand in the way OF a consummation
SO devoutly to be wished. That her
niece had achieved a coup d'etat was
evident to her, and, being a woman
OF quick perception. at least a glim-
mering of how this golden fish had
been landed broke in upon her brain.
~ assure you, Mr.. Elliot" she said,
extending her hand, you will be cor
daily welcomed into our family. And
now II you will go to the cabin | will
go to my niece and send her TO you"
Ethel" she said, embracing her
niece, you demure little thing, how
did you ever dare do it?'
II don't know" was the only reply,
and it is quite probable that it was a
true one.
There was no diminution Of Miss
Digby's occurrences as she Joined her
sutton. She approached him with
downcast eyes.
II am pleased" he said CALAMITY,
that you interpreted my message cor
rectly | feared you would not
II think its meaning came 10 me
through the heart" she said, with her
eyes still on the floor. II am ever so
happy that ! was right Had ! been
wrong | would never have been able
to look you in the face again"
such n reply could not possibly be
wrong. You have made me the happi-
est Of men"
The Spencers and Miss Digby We're
taken on board the Esperance and the
Alpha sent north under command Of
her captain.
your courtship." said Mrs. Spencer
to her niece, begins after the engage
ment You have got the cart before
the horse
How do you know, my dear/aunt,
when it began
Il don't"
Mrs. Elliot is now one Of the leaders
Of fashion in New York and Newport.
She is still very young, but 1t Is ad-
mitted that she has an old head on her
shoulders Her aunt, whom she has
surpassed in social leadership, looks
upon her as wonder.
What is not to be expected says
Mrs. Spencer. from girl who at sew
anteen could land Il couple Of million
,y purposeiy misunderstanding mes
sage"