The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-21
CHAPTER "

CHAPTER "
THE MAJOR SETTLES 1T SATISFACTORILY.
Ruth DAILY, prayer book in hand, was com
ing quietly home from church the following
day, when across the last meadow between
the church and town she encountered Maj.
Crawshaw She recognized very quickly
the tall, irquisitive gentleman of the pre-
ceding evening, and would have passed him
had he not stood direct in her way in the
little footpath that ran across the fields
there.
Good morning, Miss Daily" he said, raj
ing his hat
Miss DAILY bowed slightly, but did not re-
spond to his salutation.
Il thought you would come this way" he
continued, a have been looking for YOU"
"Indeedl"
"They told me at your lodgings that you
had gone to church so | came to meet you
They had no right to tell you where had
gone, and you had no right to ask, sir, said
Miss DAILY, drawing herself up very proudly
now
Pardon me, but had a right"
"To prosecute mo because | serve at Bat
Teton Junction. All, WELL you are not the
first gentleman who has thought that" she
said satir ically.
~ have not prosecuted you, young lady"
said Mai Crawshaw, very gravely, "and
have no intention OF doing SO.
Then good morning."
But | have an intention of speaking to
you about my nephew; l have come from
London expressly for that"
"You had better speak TO your nephew
himself"
Il have done so, a, you," he add1d, With
emphasis, @are peIfeclly aware.
Miss DAILY cclorcd slightly.
ayes, am aware Of THAT" she confessed
ale told YOU So last night, after he hal
given me tn slip IN most ungentlemanly
fashion Did he not|
ale told me that 90 were his uncle, Maj
Cre~sh>~. and that he wa very much
afraid of You. But am not, sir she added
looking at him fearlessly, "and / will
trouble you 10 LET me pass TO my home"
The major half drew aside to allow her
to pass, and then altered his mind and
blocked the way again
"No, can't he put down in this fashion,"
he said firmly. 81 must speak, and | will
speak, and if you are not afraid of me- YOU
will listen Ny persecution will not last
many Minutes
very well; come othe counter tomorrow
and leave me- in peace TODAY"
leave you in peacei' said the ma ior, in
dignantly. Il have had enough of this non
sense between the two of YOU You know
my nephew is waiting for you we'll enough
NO, don't said Miss Daily, quickly.
Where is her
Outside your own door-hanging about
like thief
"He told me he would never do that
again"
He would tel you anything, my chilli,
he's an abominahle liar" said the major
YES, he is not very truthful" said Ruth
Day, thoughtfully.
You had better listen TO an old man like
me, the major remarked, Though he may
tell yeu some plain truths, than to a weak
fellow like him. 1t might do Won more good,
Miss DAILY, after all "
Ruth DAILY looked at the uncles earnest
face attentlvely, and he manner changed
for the better, and became more natural
Perhaps it would Come along, then
she said
She turned from the direction she had
been pursuing, and the major said:
This wayl"
Yes; away from him, pleasa.7 she aided,
with a little shudler
You don't like my nephew
Il can't bear him, was the reply
Honor brisht7
Upon my honor, can't" she said.
Then ! have nothing to trouble vou
about, Miss DAILY said the major q can say
good morning at once, that is If | can believe
you-and its very odd, somehow. but can
1t is all his fault, Them
He spoke as it he Dad made full explana-
ton of the position, and she did not affect 10
misunderstood him
%Yes, it is all his fault" was the reply
off be would only keep away--it he would
not be SO very, very foolish. and not make
me look so very foolish. toc-if he would
talk to Miss Dart or Miss Racket-no, he had
better not perhaps, for be is weak. and
neither of them would make him n good
wife ~
Good wife-good Cod" said Tho major
"But if he would keep away for a while
among his own people, or if YOU would
take him away 10 India, sir be would socn
be, OH so much the better for it
"And you would lie glad to see the last of
hima'
Yes, very glad-noor feIlowi'
II don't like that poor fellowr said the
major, beautifully, again Pity is akin to
love-, the proverb says"
'Ohi could never love him, with all his
property at his back. and all his fine mother
and sisters to love me even in return, cried
Ruth DAILY. He is a poor, weak. whisky
drinking boy, who wants a good uncle 10
look after him"
"Are you laughing at me Miss Dalyl7
mo am very serious. she replied Abut
this Edwin Todd has been left to run wild
too much, and SO has grown wild. He has
wanted his own way at home, and had it.
There has been no one 10 care for him, and
be is careless in consequence"
"All his own fault
"Yours; for you are the guardian of him,
and he respects and fears you'
"You are an extraordinary young
woman exclaimed the major. You
should have been in better position than at
that beastly refreshment counter. BY Jovei
here am ] receiving advice, instead of Civ