The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-13
DAISY.

1911 sliAd ioSe tSdihs u p1JdSaItt SOltnu
TO hear. upon the evening air; but the
girl who stood knee deep in clover be-
side the meadow fence looked sombrely
down as the Joyous notes struck upon
her ear.
Poor fellow! dear fellowr' she said
To herself. 1T is SO hard to go against
him when he is as hght-hearted rs
that .a els fsf
A moment more, and Ralph Arm
strong, her lover, vaulted lightly over
the intervening bars and stood beside
her
Straight. sturdy. brown, something of
the contrast between himself. with his
snperabundant life. and the Wee woman
waiting there, seemed to strike him.
why, my little Daisy - he said, with
a playful touch. turning up her chin
until he could lock into the soft ewes,
that straightway filed with tears. "Why.
Daisyr' he repeated, in an altered, vex-
ed voice. II thought when law you
out here that you we're glad to have me
come. New, mind; You will be when
tell you the news. | have, paid off the
last instalment on the farm, and there 8
to be an end of your drudging your fife
away. No more cooking for dodgers,
or sitting up half the night to look ont
for Rick. Is. he up 10 his old tricks
again? Is that what has taken the col
or all ont of yonr face?"
''Iie was away all night" said Daisy,
in q low voice. HE never got home
until noon to-day. He is asleep, and,
oh, Ralpht ] am afraid to have him
wake. tits so much worse now that
/ Miss Winter is here"
..Didn't tell you how that would
10 IaA p,.l, nh Lev
'.But, luckily. it don't matter; Won can
get rid of her as soon as you please. and
we will have the wedding -when? /
won't be put off very long. my dear.
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
s'Oh. Ralpi,r' she cried piteously.
'.Be contentee to wait
10 waitl What forp For Rick to
drink himself To death?s For you To grow
old before your time with the hard
work of taking care IF yourself and
altim2 Daisy. once and Tor all YOUR
have to choose between your sot of a
brother and me. If YOU are bound to
put him first now and for ever"
The unfinished threat fell upon Other
ears besides those il was intended t.
reach. A dogcart rolled almost noise
lessly past on the thick green turf of the
lane upon which the meadow bars gave,
and DR.. Llovd, lifting his hat to Daisy,
shot n keen glance at the young fellow
standing sulkily ut her side. IIe was
gone in moment. but somehow Ralph
Armstrong experienced feeling of
shame which kept him for the time from
pressing what he had been about to
urge. He turned and walked towards
the house with Daisy.
1t was shackly, tumble down cot
tage, with moss and liehen breaking out
in patches over the decayed weather
boarding, and creaking porch from
which tho rustic benches had long ago
rottetl away The picturesque aspect
af the old place had taken Miss Winter s
fancy, and so little, fair-faced Daisy had
found the weekly addition to the sum
which she earned with her dressmaking
was all that now went into her shabby
purse.
There was muf1ied cry of .'Daisy!
DaIsyr' as those two approached to-
gethcrsthen once, twice. the report OF a
pistol, together With the sound of shat.
tered glass, was borne to their ears.
ats Rick cried Daisy, breathlessly.
~ locked him in his room. Do go and
talk TO Miss Winter, Ralph, till get
him quiet again
She was off as she spoke. Miss VIM
ter had come to the door, half in alarm,
and looked inquiringly at Ralph as he
approached.
s.Do you think he is doing anything
reckless?" she asked
..Nothing worse than smashing a
window or two; it's his fayorite way of
calling his sister. Pity he can't put his
balls to better use.'
81 wonder that you leave her to be
the victim of his whims,'' said the lady
with straight look at him.
''i?' said Ralph. with shrug of his
broad shoulders.
Perhaps he did not mean to disclaim
such an intention on his part, but it
looked like it. How could he tell Miss
Winter that the only reason he had not
taken Daisy away months before was
because Rick had outweighed her liking
for him? 1t was sore subject with
Ralph at the best, not one he would
choose to parade TO the world at large.
Two hours after that. Daisy stole out
into the moonlight. utterly wearied with
the scene through which she had passed.
All her efforts had been fruitless TO en-
tice Rick back to his bed. He satson a
bench in the kitchen. limp and stupid
after that fit of violence, and Daisy stole
out, rs | have said. to breathe the
heavy sweetness of dying roses, and
brush their dewy leaves with her heated
face The shadows lay thickly upon
the porch, but there was stir there,
and Miss Winter voice said. softly:
.'Good-night!'
"Good-nfght,t returned Ralph. .'I'll
show you tomorrow where the maiden
hair fern grows. "
He came whistling down the path 10
find Daisy standing by the gate.
ssWell, little one. have you made up
your mind which one of US you Il takep''
Ralph, you know that | cant leave
Rick.
Its him or me- said Ralph, stub
bornly.
He has nc one else" pleaded Daisy.
Have L? There's no use arguing it s
got to be one thing or the other / want
a wife in my home. and If YOU won't
have me maybe there are others that
will Sweetheart, say tha. you carr
too much for me TO send me away
'.Oh. Ralph, you must wait.
Ralph nluttered an unpleasant word,
and flung away without a good night
An unsteady step came down the
path.
Looking for me, Rickp'' Daisy tried
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