Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-21
The Daily
Short Story
Much ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
BY r. A. Mitchell.

engaged. 1 was pfacllcdl sort OF
fellow and was inclined to discuss
how we were going TO live. Would we
keep house or board? five kept house
where was the furniture to come FROM
There were plenty OF such matters IN
! talk over, but Phyllis did not seem in
/ cIined to discuss them. With her The
Question of how well loved her would
| always love her, had I ever loved
anyone else, engaged her thoughts. Al
/ any rate this was what she was con-
tinually harping on.
| Since she would not discuss prae-
| teal matters / was forced to talk
about what considered trif1es, though
they were very delicious trifes, mas
much as all my assurances to her were
reinforced by kisses. One day when
/ the kisses were plentiful ] said 10
Phyllis:
| Have you ever been kissed by
man before?'
Certainly not"
That's very lovely" replied with
another kiss.
Ifore?" she asked.
The innocent creature.
Il cannot tell a lie.' I said 81
have"
She looked tride disappointed.
A long time ago?"
81 am sorry TO say I kissed q girl
within a week.
| I was holding her hand; she with
drew 1t as if mine were a hot coal. I
lexpected TO see tear in her eye, but
/ did not She was hurt, but she was
Ialso offended There was just enough
man in her to keep back the tears.
Forgive me-" I replied. IF you
should see those pouting lips, you
would not blame me-"
II knew it, she said with heay-
ing breast. 81 have all along feared
that in such matters you are not trust
worthy"
cit Is my only fault"
"Your only fault II is the worst
fault a man can have; that is one his
wife or fiance would consider his
worst"
, THE temptation was very great
pleaded.
: There was an awful silence for some
. , time, then she said In a tone Of bitter
disappointment:
81 should think that you would not
care to kiss girl who would permit
you to kiss her, unless you were en-
> gagged TO her"
That's the girls lookout. not mine
If she don't mind, don't"
But by kissing her you Influenced
] her.
= ION the contrary. she Influenced
4 me-"
e you mean that It was all her fault
a That's just like a man; he is always
: ready to throw all the blame on the
woman"
Il solemIly aver that I was not
g thinking of kissing her. She put UP
' her lips to be kissed and-well. Just
e kissed them. I couldn't help it."
), Without word Phyllis rose and LETT
s the room. l called to her to come
n back; that I had an explanation to
/. make; but she paid no attention to
: me. Her mind was in that peculiar
$ state of a girl who had Just become
i engaged, ready to take fright at the
). slightest appearance of unfaithfuiness
TO her on the. part of her betrothed
e think that More engagements would
il hold il the parties were separated the
it day after the betrothaI and kept apart
]. without correspondence till the
+ wedding.
IS There was nothing I could do-at
e least for the present-to undo the
4 damage | had done. Phyllis had left
i me, deaf TO my recall, and would not
4. come back. / cursed myself for fool
e I was to go away on q business trip
e for the firm I was with early the next
a morning. and I would have no oppor-
d tunity to plead for forgiveness. While
was away Phyllis might do some
: thing to separate us forever thought
Of going to my employer and asking
> permission to delay my departure.
: But what reason could / give him?
= That | had had spat with my sweet
;. heart and wanted an opportunity to
:. make it up before it became any worse?
: Likely he would have accepted the
- reason. but ] did not propose to give
I such a one | took train the next
; morning
y / could have written Phyllis an ex-
:, PLANTATION, but / feared that on cold
= paper she would not believe it, / was
only to be gone a week and concluded
that the safest plan was to let the
matter rest till my return.
/ I confess that It was week OF anx-
i iety for NE, and 1t must have been
Is one of misery to Phyllis. On reach
ls ing home ! wrote her a note saying
N that the girl / had kissed would 90
le with me the next evening at O'CLOCK
~ TO plead my cause with her. / re-
N ceiyed no answer, but I expected none
o. On the appointed evening I appeared
le as / had said I would with the girl /
m had kissed
IN Phyllis came down from her room
evidently resolved TO listen TO no lame
We excuses. On entering she saw my lit
ne tie niece, Alice. years old. Alice put
as up her lips to be kissed.
IS, That's the way she accomplished
as my fall" said "Now can you blame
tn me-"
er You should be ashamed of your
ri self" said Phyllis as she took che child
into her arms.
is Then took Phyllis In my arms.
he