Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-17

iiector BeverieYs arrived IRON nIUII-
mona at the old homestead. with big
Saratoga trunks and the announcement
that they had come to pay good long
visit.
when the word went round that
Aunt Neelie had invested Richmond.
perfect panic seized us" quoth Ella
Henderson, the younger of the two
girls. Father beat his breast and tore
his beard all the way down to his Office
and wept copiously when he got there
L have it from the best authority, for
Charlie Warwick was in to see him in
the course of the morning and says that
the dear old gentleman was so unneryed
that he couldn't attend to business.
Mother is, unfortunately, Aunt Neelie's
favorite sister, so we are to have the
major portion of her visit She is at
Cousin jamie Carrington's now, but she's
coming to us next week Mother went
to see her the morning after she arrived
and returned with the fatal intelligence.
Then looked over at Nan and she looked
back at me, and by common impulse we
decided TO refugee at once"
Mary had ushered her guests into a
cool, shaded chamber, and was helping
them to make themselves at home The
girls chartered gayly as they removed
their dusty travelling dresses, and Mary
listened much amused. She could gauge
their CONSERVATION at their unloved rel
ative's advent by her own joy in her de-
parture. She was very fond of these
two bright and pretty cousins and glad
to have them with her. Indeed, if they
had not come of their own accord she
would have summoned them. She had
come to Il crisis in her affairs when she
longed for the support and refuge of the
presence of other women.
Mans pretty dark face was down in
cool water i'll the big old fashioned bowl,
but she managed to remark between the
dips: I'VE are going to stay until you
send for the sheriff, Mary: so | thought
1t was just as well to tell Charlie he
might follow later on. It's horribly
stuffy in town and I've ordered him to
pay Aunt Neelie lots of attention in my
stead" With smothered laugh that
gurgled in the water: Il wish you could
have seen the gloom of his countenance;
the Dane was fool to him; melancholy
distilled from every pore. He'll do it,
though, because he really is a good
hearted fellow. hope you won't mind
his coming; he isn't a bit troublesome
and he'll need recuperation."
Mrs. Beverley assured her that she
did not mind it in the least, and that the
fiance would be most welcome Then
she turned smilingly to Ella and offered
hospitality to her friends as well. But
that young lady airily waved the offer
aside. She was in the enviable position
of caring for nobody and being the OBJ
ject of nobody's care, she said, ard in
tended to loaf and wear out her old
clothes and enjoy herself in delicious,
untrammeled solitude. To secure this
end she had, even amid the demoraliza-
ton of their fight, retained sufficient
presence of mind to quarrel with every
man she knew. She was not going to
let such disturbing elements as men
spoil her rustication.
"There isn't much of that to dread up
here" she added, laughing.
An idea dawned on Mary which sent
light of laughter into her eyes and
caused hidden dimple to play hide and
seek in her smooth pale cheek. But
when Nan asked for an explanation of
her amusement she refused to give it.
tTo BE CONTINUED