Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-28

1t isa treElepde6s thing to do this, to
separate from all the world you are ac-
quainted with, to plunge into the M
known. Men do it often enough, though
seldom without some clew, some link
Of connection with tie past and way Of
return. Janey was about to cut herself
of as by the fury's shears from every
thing. She could never join her hus-
band again. She could never face her
guardian again. She must drop out O;
sight like stone into the sea. There
was no longing love 20 search fo- her.
no pardon to 10 offered, no one who
would be heart struck ut the thought Of
the little girl lost and unhappy. Only
anger would be excited by her running
away. and desire to punish, to shake
her little fragile person TO pieces, to
make her suffer. She knew that if she
took this step ut all it must be final,
But the thought did 10: oyerwhelm
her. What troubled Janey a great deal
more than the act Of severance vhich
she was about to accomplish was tile in
evitable fib or fibs she must tell in order
to account for her appearance i'll the
unknown. she did not like 10 tell fib,
even justitiable one. 1t was against II
her traditions. against her nature. She
felt that she could never do it anything
but badly, never without exciting sus-
picions. And she must needs have some
story, come way Of accounting for ker-
self.
This occupied her mind while tie
slow train crawled from station to sta
tion. II was the most friendly, idle.
sossiping Gttlo train. 1t seemed to step
at the mercst signal box to have Il talk,
tn drink as it were social glass ad-
ministered through that b!.Icl, hose,
with friend. 1t stopped wherever
there Were few houses, it carried lit
tie parcels. IL tool: up n leisurely rassen-
ger. going next door. and the little elec-
trio bell went on tinhlinc, and the guard
cried En- vOiturc," and the little buale
sounded. Janey was amused by all these
little sounds and sights. and the country
all flooded with sunshine. ard the flow
ers everywhere. though it WIS only
March. and dark black weather when
she had left homo.
Left home. And she had no homo now
anywhere, 10 place to take refuge in,
nobody TO write To. to appeal 10, to tell
If she was happy or unhappy. Bns Jancy
did not care! She felt strange c ,.tion
Of ease and relief All alone, but every
body smiling upon her, the young moth
er opposite beginning To chatter. the
baby ~ crow 10 her, the nurse to smile
and approve of the bonnie petite dame
who took so much notice Of the child
Her head was swimming. but with
pleasure, and the blessed sensation of
freedom-pleasuro tinctured with the
exhilaration Of escape. and the thrill Of
fright which added to the excitement.
Yet ut that moment she was certainly
III no danger. He was toiling along DO
doubt. fuming aud perhaps swearing,
On another slow train on tho other side
OF Marseilles. Janey laughed to herself
little guilty ut the thought.
And she had escaped! 1t was not her
doing primarily. She might have gone
on all her life till she had died, but for
that sccident which was none of her do
ing. 1t was destiny that had done it
fate. The cage door had been opened
and the bird had flown away. And how
nice it would be to settle down, with
this little mother, just about her own
age. for neighbor, and to help to bring
the baby up! The kind. sweet faces
they all had, mother and baby and
"bonDe' all smiling upon her! When
Janey looked out Oh the other side, she
saw the sea flashing In the sunshine,
the red porphyry rocks rejecting them
selves in the brilliant blue, and village
after village perched upon a promontory
or IN the hollow Of bay. She had
never ia all her life before felt that
sensation Of blessedness, Of being able
to do whit she liked, Of having no one
to call her TO account. She did not know
where she was going. but that was part
Of the pleasure. She did not want 10
know where she was going.
Then suddenly this sentiment changed.
and she saw in moment place that
smiled at her like the smiling of the
mother and baby. 1t was ono Of these
villages in bay. A range of blue
mountains threw forth a protecting arm
into the sea to shield it, The roofs were
red. the houses were white, they were
all blazing in the sun. Soft olives and
palms fringed the deep green Of the
pines that rolled back in waves Of yer.
dure over the country behind, and
strayed down in groups and scattered
files to the shore below. Oh, what q
cheerful. delightsome place. and this
was where the little group with the
baby was preparing to get out. II will
go. too. said Janey TO herself, and her
heart gave little bound Of pleasure.
She was delighted to reach the place
where she was going 10 stay-juSt as
she had been delighted 10 go on in the
little pottering train. not knowing where
she was going and not wishing to
know.
This was how Janey settled herself
ON the day Of her flight from the world.
She scarcely knew what story it was she
told to the young woman whose face
had so charmed her. and whom she
asked whether she would no l;lalv IN