Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-14
OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.


coquette, is invited to visit her aunt,
Lady Appuldurcombe. that she may
be satisfied on her retr n to marry
Bob Heatherley. She .s welcomed
by her cousin, Ronald Kilmurray.
II-Lesley meets Miss Cynthia de
Sails. III-And is interviewed by
her aunt. IV-Mr. Yelverton tells
Lesley that Ronny is the best gentle
man horseman in England. V-Les-
ley rides out with Mr.. Yelverton and
is criticised for so doing. VI
Ronny buys Yelverton's mare for
Lesley. Wellesley desires TO see
Ronny brought to sue for Cynthia de
Sails, who is in love with him. VIII
But Lesley's aunt suspects her of
wishing Miss de Sails out Of the way
that she may have Ronny herself.
CHAPTER TX.
Two young people, both victims to
primitive habits of early rising (now
discontinued), quite independently dis
covered that four walls were in.olera
bio when a glorious summer morning
beckoned them abroad to rejoice in its
crystal freshness; but, woman being
always quicker at following ont her
ideas than man, it happened that Les
ley got to Lady Appuldurcombe's front
door first and unbarred it and stepped
forth about 20 seconds before Ronny
appeared on the scene.
He blamed Charville, or Charville's
young gentleman. for the unfastened
door until. to his surprise, no saw Les
ley's tall figure marching AHEAD of him
and at that moment turning, with a
businesslike air, in at Stanhope Gate.
He hesitated and almost turned back.
Where was che going? What had she
now in her mind? A tryst to keep, a
prank to play! But, no-he remember
ed the quivering scorn in her face when
she had repeated that accusation of his
of Slipping off, with Yelverton.
If he had thought so, he would have
gone the other way, for he was not Les
ley's keeper, and, if she did not look
back and see him, was not the park free
| to all?
She was more plainly dressed than
usual, no thought, and certainly her
brown holland gown had all the merit
(and cJstliness) of extreme simplicity /;
so had her coarse straw hat, with its
white ribbon bow. twas tho way that
hat and holland gown were carried that
satisfied Ronny's fastidious taste as he
walked ut ease behind them.
| 1t was one of his standing quarrels
with the human race that it did not
know how to walk and would never
learn, while there is scarcely an animal
that does not know how to use its limbs
gracefully and we'll.
Lesley threw up her head. now and
then, to sniff the air, her elastic step
indicating boundless content within,
and the few poor people they met look
ed ut her wistfully, rs at some young
goddess Of youth and health. and to one
she gave a bright morning greeting. to
another money. Presently she turned
out of the but lately opened gates and
stood, hesitating, in Piccadilly.
"Covent Garden, miss" said the bur-
~ policeman she addressed "Straight
down through Piccadilly and Leicester
square. turn to your right, then to your
left, and there you are" When she
had smiled and thanked him, Bobby
stood looking after her, and he, too,
smiled. Even his h;deous dress and office
could not quite cut him off from manly
emotions, and he was aware that, quite
early in the day. he had got most es.
pecial treat and intelligently enjoyed it.
Ee touched his hat when Ronny pass
ed him, for Ronny was extremely well
known, bat the look of pleasure dimin.
ished ON his face. and as a man he felt
resentful, for he did not consider Ronny
good enough fer the young lady.
"They re rum uns, these aristocrats,'
he soliloquized as he watched what he
supposed to be the sweethearts' disap
pearance in the distance. "Covent Gar
den, and single file, at this time of thu
morning, when they might lie snug il
their beds! And will say that blu,
eyes and black hair, with color like !
rose, is my fancy, and walk so a.
she'd go over cobblestones as if they
was satin!" he added, thinking that il
that were his sweetheart he would no
tail behind, but step out brisk besid.
her.
And then he thought If his fat, sand,
haired old woman at home and sighed
Half way down Piccadilly, Lesley
shoestring came untie1, and as sh
stopped to tie it, resting her foot on
doorstep. Ronny stepped forward ant
performed the task for her.
She started very slightly, and. look
ing down on him as he knelt with
face full, of delicious mirth and mis-
chief, said:
Don't DO alarmed! Naught is her
in danger.
"May I come with you:" said Ron
nv, when he had rubbed the dust fror
/, his knees and Strengthened himself. .
heard you tell the policeman where 20
were going"
, "You know" said Lesley, keepin
: swift step with him, as man likes
; woman to do, but only a tall woma
can, dad said to me: There's onl
!. one thing worth seeing in London. an
2 that's Covent Garden market befol
L people are awake. You get real SINE
!, Of the country there, and breath OF II
3 EARTH But what will auntie say: