Rock Island daily Argus., 1889-12-17

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whom had modelled after Daisy, displeased
me; my hero who was of course Mr.. Ashford,
was too good for her, so how could / marry
| them at the tndi / did think Of introducing
| another char icter, girl 70 whom his heart
should turn, because of her sweet unselfish
sympathy with all his sorrows; but-well,
put the who'll, thing aside, TO be finished in
| the winter.
One morn ng Mr. Ashford made his an
pearance wit n very melancholy air. my
work is com ileted, :" he said; my vacation
is over, and { must go back to the city. l
cannot tell lou how sorry am, nor how
much shall miss these 'sittings' And, by
the way, is MT the story nearly finishedi /
was hoping you would read it to me before
left"
''oh, mol not now-it is not ready yet"
exclaimed. Il have not written much
lately" Ano there l stopped, confused by
my own adm ssion. But he went on quietly:
You are quite right Put your work aside
for time, al d you viii take il up with new
vigor. And now. my kind friend, will you
let me occupy this last hour of the many we
have spent together with my own affairsi
have written TO Daisy-for the last time il
she still refu es me-and on her decision my
future now rssts. II she is at last won to say
yes, you know how happy l shall be. If not,
cannot stay in the city, where must meet
her continue ". l shall accept my uncles
offer, give up my profession, and go to Ger
many with hi N, probably for the rest of my
life"
He paused, looking at me expectantly, but
| was silent OF course, l suppose it was
sympathy, but 1t seemed TO me as if could
never be so utterly wretched in all my life as
l was at that moment Finally, realizing
that something must be said, contrived TO
get of two ar three sentences, with best
wishes" and deep interest in his welfare
and the like. but it was very hard work
However, hs seemed quite satisfied, for he
thanked me, end then he added: Il shall not
hear from Daisy before Friday, but, what
ever the answ ar may he, | must come back to
tell you. SO please meet me here on Satur-
day afternoon, and then. if am happy, |
shall claim yoIr congratulations, and if am
TO be an exile | shall at least have the conso-
lation of hearing a friendly good-by. Au
revoir, kindes- of friends"
He was gona, but burst into tears. For
long time ! re NAMED sitting in the little ar
bor where he lad left me, trying to compose
myself sufficiently TO return to the house
Then went up to my room, and, telling
Susan that | had violent headache and
could not be disturbed, shut myself up and
began to thinl..
My meditat on during that day and the
next made one point perfectly clear to me:
did not want Mr.. Ashford to marry Daisy.
But then, on the other hand, did not want
him TO go to Germany. began to feel posi-
tive hatred fo- that girl and TO wish that
could warn Mr.. Ashford against her, for
was quite suIe she could never make him
happy.
In this way the hours dragged on. Satur-
day afternoon came at last, and found me in
the arbor waiting for him with almost uncon-
trollable anxiety.
He made his appearance punctually, and,
As watched i'm coming along the path that
led to the arb1r, forgot in one moment all
the rules of conduct had laid down for nv
self. all the elaborate speeches l had pre-
pared, and, springing up, held out my hand
with a breathless ''Wellf'
mo, it ISM well Daisy has not accented
me, he said, as he took my hand Now the
only thing can do is to 60 away as soon as
possible. Don't YOU think soF'
did not IN end to say il. shall always
insist that nothing was further from nv in
tentions that moment, but suddenly burst
out withi NC, don't, don't 60"
DE was still holding my hands, and when
said these words he put his other arm verv
gently around me and whispered: IF YOU
want me, will stay"
am going o omit the greater part of our
conversation that afternoon in the arbor. as
1t was strictly personal and private But /
ought TO say that Lyman confessed to me
that be had ben guilty Of q great deception.
There was no 5 Ich person as Daisy, and it was
l, myself, with whom he had been in love all
the time. OF course forgave him, although
don't think it was quite fair, and to inveigle
Susan, tool
But we talked over our ''sittings." Iex-
claimed, ruefully: And 50 INV love story
has not been -itten after allr'
Your love story has just begun, dear
Msrgie, and / hope it Will never come to an
end
And | don't believe it ilL-Philadelphia
Press