Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-09-01
T h 9 u a ilv
Short Story
YOUTHFUL PHILOSOPHER
BY f. A. Mitchell.

DA NAVE UDHE IDtAlAE- NiF de-
eision arise simply from worldly wis
dom You have no income exceut
what you earn HI the way OF salary
/ In case you lose that we will he beg
gars.
/ How do YOU know that this Is
worldly wisdom? How do you know
| but that my marriage with the girl
/ love viii prove a stimulus which will
lead to fortune ?"
Il don't but I know chat a bird iu
I the hand is worth two in the bush"
Who is the bird in the hand2-
mo one. I am simply breaking
with you on account of Jack of pro-
vision for marriage, not that I have
a more advantageous offer"
You VIII not lack for offers
Nevertheless my heart is yours"
We'll, Lucy, / commend this
worldly wisdom OF yours. though h
comes from a girl barely Is years old
There seems nothing for me &c do but
/ to accede to it. To attempt 10 force
myself upon you under the Circum-
stances would be 70 drag you down
TO my level when by marrying man
! Of means you might rise to hts level
/ This / am unwilling TO do. Moreover.
/ suppose we must get romance out
/ Of our heads
out OF our hearts You will become
one with the man you marry: 7 will
/ become one with the girl I marry
/ and
soon forget me In her"
The tone in which this was spoken
was not philosophical; it was regret
ful.
That's the natural outcome Of such
cases,
He put out his hand to say goodby.
She took it, with a sigh HI bent for
ward and kissed her; then. with sim
ply a goodby, to which there was no
response, he took his departure
n week later -he received "a note
! from her to say that there should he
an exchange Of letters between them.
/ If he would call with hers. she would
have his ready for him When he APP
/ pearcd he wore an officers uniform
You are not going to sacrifice YOUR
self in this horrible war?' she said
I'm going to fight on the side of
the allies and the United States"
They say that of three men who
60 to the war only one returns"
That may be- but it is my duty 20
60.
why is it your duty to 20 to the
war;"
man. Il is the duty OF all such to re-
spond to their couutry's CALI.
There was a silence between them
for some minutes, at the end Of which
she said
by this act you have widened the
breach between rs"
II did not suppose there was
breach between us. thought that
you did wish to incur the responBl-
biiitie5 Of matrimOny without per
manent income"
Yes, and now you are going where
. there are two chances iu three OF
your being killed"
I'm the one case it is a matter OF
choice, IN the other case OF duty"
when DO you go abroad ?" she
asked mournfuIly
Tomorrow afternoon about 4
O'Clock. I suppose But You must not
say anything to any one about our
sailing. Nobody in America Is &c
know it. The departure of our troops
is only known to~the higher officers.
Seeing a package OF letters on
table, he took it up and left another
package in It's place. Then hs said
g0Odby and was leaving when she laid
hand on his arm He turned She
was looking at him wisffully.
II thought wa had said goodby." be-
said
She made no reply. but there was
the same wistful look. He kissed her
your 18-year-old philosophy IS not
working we'll You need 10 brace up,
be said Then he departed.
The next morning she appeared at
the barracks where his regiment was
housed and asked for him. Au orderly
was sent to ind him. and presently he
came.
..Neu can't stand this Since YOU
are going 10 France to ba allied
want to be vour wife
He REGARDED her WITH melancholy
/ nj
s.Yor are taking unor Yourself "a
great DISADVANTAGE. Better follow YOUR
u1fInzonhv If van do 10 wears from