The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-21
ENGAGED IN FUN.

little oWiSs cottage where the sea breezes
swayed the lace curtains, he saw his
pretty cousin leaning her head on the
gay SOFA pillow, in most disconsolate
attitude
She lifted her head and put her hand
kerchief to her eyes a second, then gave
a wintry little smile
''Oh, Eric, l am heart brokenr' And
down went the fair head again, and pit
eous sobs convulsed her afresh.
A look of dismay was in Mr.. Mostyn' 5
KIND face as he drew low chair beside
the lounge and caressed the beautiful
hair that was all aglow in its loneliness
of shade and texture
''Oh, no, my dear little cousin, not
heart-broken. Heartsick and sore be-
cause Lumley Warner has had the bad
taste to tiirt with Miss Darrell. instead
of doing his duty with his little sweet
heart-hurt, Daisy, but not heart-broken
Hearts do not break SO easily
Daisy lifted her head with a quick,
wondering look.
You don't know anything about it,
/ Eric. You are good and Kind as ever
you can be, but you don't know what l
mean, because you never. loved any
| body"
Her lips quivcred, and she looked up
at him tearfully.
He smiled gravely Daisy could never
| have told all that smile hid
| You are mistaken, cousin. l COM
| fort You from personal experience
Hearts do not break, or mine would have
broken long ago when the only one |
ever loved showed her decided preference
| for another
A quick exclamation answered him
and a surprised, tender smile curved her
lips.
''Oh, Cousin Eric, is it possible you
| cared SO much for any one? How could
she have preferred anybody to you9 Oh,
! am SO sorry! l can sympathize with
all my heart because was sure he
loved me better than anybody elseH'
Somehow her distress hurt him, this
dear little cousin of his, who all her life
had gone to him, with her troubles, and
looked to him for counsel, and who,
when she had one day confessed to him
that Lumley Warner had told her he
loved her, and they were engaged that
he hoped she would be very happy, al
though he WAS fearful that Warner had
won q precious prize. whose value he
had doubted her lover rightly appreci-
ated; and he had been noticing the time
it was just six months now-and here
was his cousin in much distress because
Darrell, as no engaged man had any
business to do.
And l don't know what to do about
it, said Daisy, twisting her diamond
engagement ring knocking tokeni-on
her finger What must | do, tell ME,
Erie "
He bent steady. almost wistful look
into her innocent eyes.
''Since YOU love him SO dearly, there
is but one thing TO do-oyerlook his de-
lection, and restore him TO favor when
he chooses to cease his truant wander
ings. Who loves much forgives much
they say
sudden little hot flush flew up into
her face.
You mean l am just to sit dow II and
wait until Lumlcy is ready to come
back?"
That is all you can do, isn't it, since
you"
She Enlightened up from her detected
attitude, her eyes sparkling
But, Erie, much as l wish he would
come back. and dearly as | love him, |
never would do that! / win take some
other means. / viii punish him and
pique him into coming back Why
couldn't play the same game that Lum-
lev is PLAYING? | can-I can! and he
viii come right back to me, and he will
think don't care, and he will make up
and be happier than ever.
She was smiling through the tears on
her dark lashes, and Eric thought what
a scoundrel, what a fool, and a william
the man was who acted as Warner was
acting.
well, Daisy, and how will you do it?''
Don't you see? Eric. l will take off
Lumley's ring and put ON one of yours
-tiW one; and you must let me be en-
gagged to YOU. You will, won't you?
And veil tiirt-oh, awfully, Cousin
Eric, and everybody shall know it; and
then-don't you seeP Lumley will be |
sorry. and-oh, it will end like a fairy |
story"
Mr.. Mostyn had suddenly got up to
close the window, the breeze was blow |
ing SO keenly, and when he came back |
there was no trace in his face of the |
white agitation he had sprang up to hide
from Daisy's eyes.
Engaged to me, is it, ma pettte7 |
Well, it promises very pleasantly for |
while | assure you i will make most |
devoted cavalier. But only think what |
will become of me when I'm no longer |
wantedp'
He laughed as he took n cameo and |
pearI ring off his watch-chain and slip |
ped it on Daisy finger with a great show |
of ceremony, just touching the fair hand |
to his lips.
s.Oh, Lumley and viii love you SO |
forever and ever, Eric! You are so kind |
and good! Do you know" and she look |
ed at him with wondering eyes, Il can |
not comprehend how that lady prefer |
red any one to you.
A perfect storm of passionate pain
swept over his face for IA second before
he replied lightly,
There's no accounting for such |
things. is there? Come, my little fda1cee, |
let's open the play 18th a drive along
the esplanade behind my bays. i
Miss Maude Darrell was looking very |
handsome as she leaned back against
the cushions of the magnificent barouche
that was being drawn along by pair OF
horses that were among the finest at
London She was dressed rs
became beauty and heiress, in car
rage costume of pure white, with
parasol, and the CLEAN OF
dead gold iewelry in her ears and on her I
bosom and wrists. An exquisitely beautl-
full woman, with fair. eolorless face,
eyes that were large and dark and
shadow, and hair the very hue and tint
of sunshine on summer day. /