Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-03
The Daily Story
Where There's Wildly Blanche I. Goeu
Copyrighted. 1914. by Associated Literary Bureau.

can do exactly as you please. especial
ly when your own think-best Is a great
deal better than anybody eise's think
/ best.
Now. I'd been thinking secretlike
and saying open that twas high time
my grandniece Luella was married.
1t wasn't likely that could live on
indefinitely, and it might be some
amusement to me in the hereafter to
recollect the features of Luella's hus-
band.
And it would be pleasant to have a
little child about, boy or a girl, for me
to pet during the few remaining years
TO me on earth, when one naturally in
clines to the young.
I didn't know where an eligible
young man was coming from in these
parts. But from the minute / was
| born I always had an opinion on every
subject. and knew I'd find the young
man somehow.
So when young Dudley Holbrook's
auto turned turtle in front of my yard,
and young Dudley Holbrook draped
himself around my stone post and gar
broken collar bone had the hired man
carry him straight up to the spare
| room.
After the doctor had set bis bones
and bandaged his head 1 sat awhile by
| his bed and listened to his blabbing.
| Then 1 made up my mind he'd do to
marry Luella.
Nothings so good an index Of char
acter and past actions as delirium talk.
and, after 1 listened hard for ffty-6ve
| minutes and heard no mention of cho-
rus girls, jack pots or other metropoli-
tan poisons. decided he'd do.
So, going out from the sickroom. I
addressed my grandniece:
It's a special dispensation for you.
Luella, an act of Providence This
young mans name, according to cards
and other memoranda in his pockets, is
Dudley Holbrook. The newspapers
had a deal to say last year about the
fortune old Holbrook left his sons
when he died. consider this a most
suitable marriage for you"
Luella's brown eyes opened wide.
It's a way they have when Luella is
angry. But l won't tolerate anger In
young person and. prepared to say SO.
But all that Luella uttered was:
What about the young man. and
what about Freddie?"
Ny grandniece has a most annoying
habit of bringing up topics. wholly tr-
relevant to the subject under discus
sion, What had my grandnephew
Freddie to do with the question:
"Freddiev' 1 stormed- Don't you
dare think of marrying Freddie! IL
ever l had such an idea in my head
for you twas when he was in kits and
not in college. Freddie indeed! There
is too much society about Freddie. It's
all frat and varsity and varsity and
frat. Too much society, 1 say. I
won't have you marry Freddie!"
1 went back to the sickreom and took
another look at the injured young man.
He had a strong body. a clear, fresh
skin and look about the part Of him
that wasn't bandaged that told me he
hadn't abused the money his father
had left him.
So. having made up my mind that If
the young man didn't die he should
marry Luella, felt quite comfortable
to have her future settled
often in the days when he was getting
well in my front spare room. Every
thing 1 learned was to my satisfac-
ton.
He wasn't entangled with any other
girl, had no family connections nearer
than China. was sound physically and
nothing extraordinary mentally. Luel-
Ia had often been unruly in her child
hood. but didn't care to punish her to
the extent of tying her for life to any
man of genius.
So the third week that the young
man lay in my front spare room, UP
one flight, 1 came to the point very
plainly.
'What do you think of my grand
niece Luella: 2" demanded bluntly.
The boy flushed and turned uneasily
in bed.
She's ripping. isn't she? So straight
and strong. Sometimes hear her sing
ing when she runs of down the gar
den. She does all sorts of things.
doesn't she? Once. when I was prop |
ped up in bed staring out at the apple
trees, l saw her run down the slope
and leap the little brook. Took it |
splendidly. Gee. l wish | was up and |
could go walking with herr"
''She's a good. sensible girl. is Luel- |
Ia" l looked him squarely in the eye. |
Young man. you'll go a long way be- |
fore you'll see another such girl as |
Luella."
II believe your he cried fervently.
So In my mind twas as good as set |
tied.
Things went on just as meant they |
should. But because ] made no more !
mention of my plans Luella seemed |
to think I'd forgotten them. and she |
didn't once demur when l sent her in
every afternoon TO read to the invalid
The young man got well. Of course,
but he. didn't so away. He declared
my old country place was the most de-
lightful spot in New England add that
be felt more, at home there than else
where. or course i wasn't FOOL enough
TO think my old farm was enchanting