Rock Island Argus., 1914-09-03
ed Literary Bureau.
the chief consideration"
do you really think soTv

81 do"
'The only romance see in this ma.
ter" said the poor girl thoughtfu1v
as the flowers"
Mrs. Ashurst, who could not ren,s,.
smile at this rueful remark, gave
| Mary kiss.
81 have known this young man fran
boyhood and have always had rras.
| faith in him. I can heartily reco-n
mend you to him"
| "If go out to him of course I nry.
marry him. But suppose he doesn,
! like mer"
"Oh, you can't tell about that I'm
| after you have been married for sim,
time. If you find out after awhile thu.
you don't like each other you can ess,lv
get a divorce. Divorces are az com.
mon as marriages nowadays, and since
the chief consideration In life Is keen.
ing up a show Of respectability II isa
wonder there are not more of them"
The lady spoke this contemDtuouslT
Cant see a photograph Of himp
mo, my dear. There is q reason
why you cannot, which Will appear
later. Besides, it would do no good
If you find his appearance repulsiye IN
you-which you will not-and conclude
not to marry him you'll be no worse
Off than you are now. Indeed, you'll
be better off. In a country where your
antecedeuts are not known you Will
not be ashamed to do anything for
living that is necessary. You can be
a chambermaid in a hotel, a waitress
in a restaurant, a shopgirl, nurse
'I'II be none OF these; I'll marry your
friend If he is an ogre"
Spoken like a brave girl Then,
too" with a smile, 'think of the flow.
ers"
at shall have the flowers. That will
be delicious, anyway"
"Yes; you will have the flowers. And
remember that while a romance will
fade forever the flowers continue in
endless succession
And the good lady kissed her again.
1t was the last day Of Mary Black
more's journey to San Francisco
During the morning a young man sit
ting near her offered her book to
read, and later the two fell into con-
versation. Mary's meager account Of
the reasons for her having come TO
California apparently excited the
young mans curiosity so far that be
took pains to get the story. Indeed,
she longed for some one TO tell it to in
order that she might get sympathy.
Singular" he remarked; my moth
er has the same views concerning me
that this lady has for YOU"
"And are you willing?" asked Mary.
81 am tempted in the matter on ac
count of my situation. l am stran-
ger in 4 strange land. lived in the
east, graduated at an eastern college
and came to California to seek my
fortune. I live by myself without the
city, have no means of making social
acQuaintances such as / have been ac-
customed to mingle with and an
lonely"
would you, if your mother should
find mate for you, marry her with
out a courtship?'
'T think I would prefer at least 10
meet her before marriage, but those
more experienced than 1 tell me that
a courtship is a continued effort on the
part of two persons each to make t9s
other believe he or she is perfection,
with the advantage on the side Of The
woman, who is more adept than The
man in appearing at her best"
Mary remained thoughtful after this
She felt that if her proposed mate was
not repulsive to her at their first meet
ing she would suffer herself 70 De
guided by Mrs. Ashurst's views, mar!
him and hope for the best.
1--WE have" said the young man
when the train was but a few miles
from the terminal, ''but a short time
for an explanation that I have to make
to you. Read that
He handed her a letter addressed 10
her in the we'll known writing OF MIS-
Ashurst. 1t read:
This will be handed you by my SCI
Henry, whom you are going TO me-
What is for your good is also for MS
May you be happy together.
Mary looked up from the letter 70
the face of Harry Ashurst, whiel
beamed with satisfaction. Neltnel
spoke for a few moments. Harry behe
down and kissed his betrothed. 1ns
first words were spoken by Mary:
"Such a dear, good mother must nave
a dear, good SON."
Henry Ashurst, graduate OF the
college, aided by tN
knowledge gained there of culuvatins
plants and his wife's love for flowers.
did not remain long in the business ..
a general flower supply. With capu',
acquired I'm that way he estabishee
a rose house and every year aouS
new glass conservatory 10 those ne u
ready has. His roses go in large quAn,
titles to the city, where they are sou
lt a good profit
But young Mrs. Ashurst instead
taking up society has taken up si~
cialty. She interests herself in p'V
curing homes for young girls. "ue-
they ask her if there was no roinan0
IN her marriage she says thoughtIu~'
'well. there were the flowers; VIZ
have the romance now"