The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-04
WHY I DIsoBEYED ORDERS.
By COULTER BUXTON.


Mr.. Singleton, the manager of the
clearinghouse of Sterling, Coin & CO.,
came up to my desk, and with pleas
ant smile handed me an envelope.
81 suppose you would like your holi-
day now, Frank" he said. '4You have
drudged the year through without muir
muring or shrinking from your duty.
and the firm gives you four weeks-a
whole month, my boy"
''Thank you. Mr.. Singleton" said,
blushing and smiling. ''You have been
good enough to speak kindly Of me to
the company. see, and I heartily thank
YOU"
II did not commend you to them more
than you deserve, Frank" he returned.
Come back to your place month from
to-day, and see to it that your face is
not so pale as it is just now. / trust you
will have pleasant vacation" Then,
with a pleasant laugh, he added, ssAbove
all things. don't fall in love-"
Fall in lover I repeated to myself,
as Mr.. Singleton quietly retired TO his
private room. mo, by Jove, Frank st.
John, You must think of something else
than love-making fishing, shooting,
boating through the grand
old woods that are within rif1e-shot Of
the dear old home, where that good,
sweet mother of mine still lives to bless
us all. -
opened the envelope 1t contained
an order on the cashier for one hundred
dollars.
ssGoodr' / cried. 81 have saved q
With this generous present / certainly
ought to make the month move along
merrily. No, Mr.. Singleton 1 added,
''don't be afraid of me- Love is not in
my notebook, 1 assure YOU"
And yet, so very inconsistent is hu-
man nature. that while / thus unused
there fitted before my minds eye a
form that used to make my heart get in
to my throat.
''Ah, Jennie, suppose you We forgot
ten me- murmured 81 suppose you
have entirely ignored me. now that
have been absent from you for nearly a
whole year. Some other fellow, sup
pose, is a good deal nearer and dearer
to you now than ever imagined myself
in your estimation. Well, never mind,
Jennie Strong. won't be jealous of
him.
And yet, somehow, while was max
ing my preparations to return tothe ma
tive nest, Jennie's sweet face, with her
deep blue eyes, would peer into my So
berer orbs.
NV home was near Oneida Lake, and
made haste to reach it.
The first day of my vacation saw me
in Albany. The afternoon of the second
in Utica, and four hours later I was in
my dear mother's arm, as happy as q
king.
Now, mind you, had firmly resolved
not to think of love, for my superior had
particularly warned me against indulg-
ing in such silly pastime; and SO, just
as soon as / had rested, and called on
nv brothers, sisters, cousins and aunts,
who were not at the homestead, but who
were settled within few miles of it, l
began to make grand preparations for
rod and gun work. But, somehow,
when / got into the woods, the game
wouldn't stay long enough to be shot;
and as for the fish, they nibbled the bait
away without SO much as touching the
hook. couldn't make it out. / used
to be accounted a sure shot, and as for
fishing, why, the finny creatures were
so glad to be caught by me that they
would follow whenever / went on the
lakei
81 don't know how it is, mother" 1
said, before the close of the first week,
s.but there's no use of my carrying q
gun or fishing-rod any longer. can't
shoot or hook game
30, know the reason, Frank" cried
Margaret, the sister who always leased
me most, and who, of my near relatives,
l cared most for. %, know, brother
mine," she repeated. What will you
give to know"
Nothing said, petulantly. ''All
/ know is 1 can't do any thing ut home
now rs I used to do il. !"
..Of course not, sir, said Miss Mar
garet, with mock seriousness. ..Shave
o.i. that moustacfe you're SO vain of,
with your city airs, and the 6sh will
bite
..Tushr' / exclaimed.
land. Master Frank continued my
cease. IF you viii rid your mind of one
thought, you can bring down wood game
easy enough"
j blushed.
..What do you mean?r demanded.
ssI'd like to know, sir,o she retorted,
@swhy Won have never thought of calling
on certain parsonage you were so CeTy
sweet on before You went to the big
city. It's my private impression public
Is expressed that you've some fashions
BILE flame on your cards, sir, and have
entirely forgotten poor Jennie Strong,
to whom you vowed eternal constancy
before you left her to mourn over her
sad fate.
You're foolish. Maggie" I said,
somewhat tartly.
20, these young men-these young
menf' she continued. raising her hands
inward and loosSing soleinnly cut OF her
great eyes. ..What conceited puppies
they are.''
nv face was afa.ne.
II promised Mr.. Singleton" I said.
gaspingly. .sbefore I lett HIM mol 70 Ian
in love-
Maggie on hearing this fairly crowed
with laughter, and could not help mo-
ticing the quiet smile that for the mo-
nlcnt illuminated my mothers dark So
Der eyes. !,
..Beside.' I added, II had supposed