Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-24

Sitting at my desk one balmy spring
morning, rather than work I looked
out through the open window.
At window opposite a woman per-
haps midway between twenty-five and
thirty sat at typewriter writing let
tiers from stenographic notes. She was
dressed in mourning.
A sign Of widowhood furnished food
for story that was weaving. with
her for the heroine. She was refined
looking and comely. Quite likely her
husband had left her in poverty, and
she was eking out a miserable exist
ence by hammering a typewriter from
morning till night. L wondered If the
sleek looking man I saw in an adj
joining room, who seemed to be the
manager, had a wife and if he would
not fall in love with the widow and
make her comfortable. hut when he
arose from his desk and stood with
his hands in his pockets looking out
through the window l changed the
direction Of my romance and hoped
if he did fall in love with the widow
she would refuse him. because l did
not like the expression on his face.
There was something malignant in it.
My story seems to be coming out as
first planned It. While | was dream
ing this afternoon, instead of attending
to business, as should have done, the
man In the next room to the widow
tapped bell. The young widow arose
and, taking up her stenographic i'm
plements, disappeared to reappear in
his room. Taking a seat beside him,
she took down several different dicta-
tons. Then when She was about to
leave he said something to her that
caused her to resume her seat.
From his averted gaze and the ex-
preston on the mans face knew that
he was making love to her. And also
knew from something. | knew not
what-but any woman will under
stand what mean-that there was no
response to what he was saying. When
took her hand, but she gently drew it
away and, without a word, left the
room. At her own window she faced
me just long enough for me to see that
she was not pleased.
/ have now been watching the widow
for week. and it is evident that she
can marry any Of the men connected
with the office she chooses. for they
all seem to be In love with her. l don't
blame them, for if were man, and
not miSerably poor, as | am. would
| march straight over to the Office where
she works and propose to her myself.
What troubles me is that she won't
do what l want her to do | have
heard from authors that their charac.
tiers are at times very obstinate, and
now find case I'm point There Is
a man who think would make her a
good husband. He comes in to the of.
fee evidently on business and never
fails 20 get few words with her. She
treats him with great consideration
but l can see from the expression OF
his face-he always faces the window
| when he talks to her-that her replies
to what he says are disappointing.
This morning there was a scene be.
tween the manager and the widow. He
said something to her that sent her OUT
OF his room. He followed her to her
desk. where she was putting on hel
wraps and he doubtless apologfzed, fol
she took of her hat. which she had pur
on. and was evidently pacified.
1t Is my opinion that the reason the
widow won't marry any Of her suitors
Is that her heart is buried In a grave
wish she would marry my favorite
INT she evidently gives him no Ell
enlargement. lie stood In one Of III,
| windows facing me this morning, apt
| ! So iongcd 10 give him encourucemep
! rerSerere that ! looked II, and r.
| raid I 4inilfst
am very much displeased with m