Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02

III -.
which, utterly worthless for s.oa
keeps carefully out of the bnn..s3. s
range.
During sojourn at LAKE Conn IA,
Rathbone fell IN with a vido~s. = = =
win Dudley, who ~as not rn,es. .ef
senior and whose descent int :. =
Avernus Of bachelorhood bas ~
averted by marriage. He had 80
his only child, a boy, at schoa, !, =
neva and was taking holiday 4, -
ern Italy. where at the time tn, ~
mate was neither too hot nor .ao -. =
Mr.. Dudley was staying az fhs -
hotel as Miss Rathbone and 6r., -
her one morning at breakfast a, :
stone balcony against which d,....
the waters of the lake. The sltp,...
was propitious. Directly opposi.. -
a high mountain, looming up b1s~..'
the lake and the blue sky. ia -
right and to the left were elf. =,
battlements innumerable. some ns.. !.
hand, some mellowed by distance -.
a velvet green, some brown, soma -
Miss Rathfone felt moiety Of ~.
spirit " the beautiful that ana ~
experienced in her younger days 4.
for Mr.. Dudley, he looked at he, Win
manifest interest.
Americans abroad are very Ike /. ri,
Gle of intimate acquaintance ar hor.
with this difference-at home tb,r
are hedged about by innumerslIs cor
ventionalities; abroad they have mueh
of the bonhomie of the old stage
coach days. Mr.. Dudley had no din.
Guilty in securing an introduction !,
Miss Rathbone, and he had scarre,r
done so when he invited her to 20 out
on the lake with him in one Of fhoa
rowboats pulled by lusty Italians ths
stern seats OF which are supplied with
cushions and canopies.
During this boat ride Mr.. Dudlar
perhaps following that disposition !,
Americans abroad to feel on short A..
quaintance as IL they had known each
other for years, developed fsmillsr
ity which would be accorded only 10
an old acquaintance. He rallied Ii.
lady on not having mated, declaring
that it must certainly have been her
own fault and wondering why sos
should prefer maidenhood to m.tri
mony.
To this she replied evasively. bu.
with becoming modesty, throwing the
blame on the men. Mr.. Dudley treated
this for what it was worth, saying
that ne did not not doubt IL some wiz
ard could by incanta ton gather togeth.
er the men she had refused they would
prove to be more numerous than fish
In the lake on which they were riding
To this Miss Rathbone smilinely de-
INJURED and declared that she had ner-
er had an offer.
''Nonsensew exclaimed the gentle
man. do you suppose that am stu
pid enough to believe that a woman
of your attractive personality has nev-
er received proposal? I have no
doubt that you have received hundreds
of them"
well, how are you going to proys
your assertion? A man refused By 4
woman will not tell about it."
There is only one who viii do that
said Dudley after some moments Of
silence. "A man who has once been
refused and afterward accepted would
be proud of his final success and would
not be averse TO letting it be known
Il don't see how that helps the mat
ter so long as 1 remain as am
Right you are replied the Other
Nevertheless you may Some day yied
to one of your old flames. Ii you mar
~ 1 shall ask your husband IL be NS |
not refused by you before his final &c
ceptance."
You are quite welcome 10 do that
replied Miss Rathbone. but it seefs
to me rather improbable that fS
should have the opportunity since tas
companions of my youth who are w
ing are married
so be ii, but take care lest prove
my assertion"
In extreme youth the sexes mate
they know not why. In later LIE tns'
know very we'll why. They feel 'ss
need of companionship and non'
A man cannot make home witn2ut
woman. and an Old maids home IS
best cherries. Mr.. Dudley was iooA
ing for n wife just as eagerly as Ars
Rathbone was looking for a husoar,
He proposed to her, and she accep'e'
him.
And now he said, Il can prove
you that you maligned the men VIZ.
you said that it was their faul u.
you had not married. / have ioubo
man who is willing TO admit thas y
has been refused by you
Indeed. said the lady. surpf'ss
''And who may that be-"
Myself"
Miss Rathbone's eyes opened w.
wide. =.
Don't you remember scene On
terrace at B. when boy o, I'VE
told a lass of eighteen that ne WV
her"
Are you Ned Dudley:'
81 am"
There was silence, at the e''
which Miss Rathbone said:
'.what a little fool l was ID wv
lays
"A fool % refuse me?'
"Yes: yeu and legion OF otoe
March z IN Amefscsp