Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-11
The Daily
Short Story
HER CHOICE.
By George r. Cobb.

health was not of the best, Beulah
was motherless and he hoped there
| would be some way of settling her
| in life while he was alive.
She had never seemed to care
particularly for company Of the
| other sex. OF course there was
| Barry Lane, a handsome, ambitions
young fellow whom Mr.. Cole really
liked. But Barry had gone to
France to fight the battle for free
dom, and while her father knew
that Beulah correspeAded with him
he did not consider that there was
more than casual friendship be-
tween them.
Mr.. Cole had an old bachelor
friend who lived in the city fifty
miles distant. This was Arson
tied Upton he had taken a great
fancy To Beulah. Indeed, he had
spoken of this to Mr. Cole and had
intimated that in the near future
he would be pleased to pay his adj
dresses to her.
You remember my friend, Mr..
Brooks?' he asked.
Yes, papa" replied Beulah, "a
dull but conceited person who did
not impress me very favorably."
You must not say that" object
ed her father. "Mr. Brooks is a
man of some substance, he has
twice filled a public office and, as
you have perhaps heard, was one of
a committee that went to Paris to
look over the Red Cross situation"
Il read about that in the papers,"
said Beulah, land 1 didn't see that
there was much excuse for his be-
ing with the committee, except to
make himself conspicuous"
You are prejudiced, my DEAR"
adjudged Mr.. Cole. AT all events,
he has written me that he is com
ing to Upton for few days and
intimates that, besides wishing to
celebrate his doing his bit for the
government, he is anxious to see
you"
Beulah looked uncomfortable. II
hope" she said, that he has not
got the idea that l am looking out
for a husband"
Il think he is very much inter
ested in you, and l hope you will
treat him with consideration"
distract and upset the day that her
aged admirer arrived at their home.
Beulah had read vast self-approba-
ton in the boasts of Brooks as to
his public duties well done, and she
felt certain that the mention of his
services" abroad in the city news
papers were puffs.
Arson Brooks threw out his chest
and strutted pompously about when
a reporter on the local newspaper
called at the house. Grandilo-
quently ne dwelt upon his impress
siOns of the war. To hear him talk
one would have considered that the
destiny of half a dozen nations was
affected by his junketing tour
abroad.
Beulah was relieved when with !
evening their distinguished guest .
left to meet some of his friends at /
q banquet at the town hotel. After
he had gone, her father again |
pressed the suit of the man he had |
selected as a safe and indulgent |
husband for her Beulah said lit
tie. She looked troubled and /
showed it, and her father left her
with the soliloquoy:
"She has a good home and loves
it, and hates to think of change,
but 1 am thinking of her permanent
good"
Beulah, left to herself, choked
down a mysterious sob. Then she
laughed. Her emotions ran a vivid
gamut, ending in the declaration:
We'll, the truth has got to come
at last, suppose Papa will storm
and scold, but he will soon get over
it. No one can long be at odds with
Barry-dear, handsome, loving
Barry Lanei"
She gave utterance TO another
next morning. There
was a full column describing the
hotel banquet. That was all well
enough, but a tipsy compositor or a
careless one, had made the line "a
son of the battle" read "a son of
the bottle" and "our war-scarred
hero" was transformed into ''our
war-scared hero!"
Mr.. Brooks did not put in an ap-
pearance at the Cole home that day
and Beulah's father looked serious
and disturbed all the morning. To
an inquiry Beulah made concern
ing their guest he gruffly replied
that Brooks had left for the city.
The truth was known to Beulah
before nightfall The banquet had
gone well enough, but afterward
Brooks and his companions had
started out on a wild race to see
v no could do the most reckless and
foolish things. The friends of
Brooks had promptly shipped him
back to the city in an attempt to
iush up the adventure.
81 think" observed Mr.. Cole next
Jay, that we may consider Mr..
5rooks out of the question, Beulah."
YES" replied Beulah meekly.
He was that all along. Dear old
,apa, l have a confession to make:
5arry and l were married secretly
he day he went off to the war"
"Ah! that mOdifies the situation"
observed Mr. Cole, and his forehead
Frinkled ominously, but after a
thought he added: We'll,
Starry is poor, but I know can
rust him, so ! guess l will have
0 accept this unexpected son-in-
aw with good grace"