Rock Island Argus., 1896-11-09

"I don't think IL win rain." said
'Lisbeth in harsh, 1oncsono1s tone rs
she glanced mp st the scuddiny clords
which could be seen through the treex
The shower is going round"
A few big drops came bouncing down
upon them before she had finished, brt
she assured Alec they meant nothing.
"She has been thinking OF the black
smith, said Alec to himself. and. as
for 'Lisbeth. she seemed to feel that he
had read her through and through.
She rose rather sullenly to her
feet, however, and started OF. bidding
Alec come ON. He followed her. sorry,
sympathizing, wishing he could COM
fort her, help her. at least show his feel
ing. But she was silent and forbidding.
1t was impossible TO speak. They tried
to talk of Indifferent things. but conver-
sation failed, and as they walked through
the avenue of trees which formed the
road they both lapsed into utter silence.
That evening about O'Clock. as Alec
was thinking Of going to bed, he STUN
bled into the parlor from the piazza,
where he had been sitting on nail keg.
At first the room seemed to him desert
ed, but soon he heard a half stified sob.
and at the farther side of tho room made
out the form of girl lying ON the old
sofa 1t must be 'Lisbeth. and she was
crying. This time Alec could not re-
strain his sympathies. and ho walked
directly across the room to her side.
where he let his hand rest on her arm
in the dark.
"Is i. you, 'Lisbeth:" he asked as
cheerily as he could.
She Immediately sat upright. but
made no answer.
Tell me what s the matter" he said
kindly. perhaps can help you. I'm
so sorry for you. You've been awfully
good to me. 'Lisbeth," lie blurted ont
and put his hand out to her in the dark.
but she repelled it.
You don't know anything about it,"
she answered in broken voice, land it
wouldn't do any good il you did. You
can DO nothing for me bat go away
and lie; me alone. Yoa've got plenty of
things to thirk about FOX yourself.
You've got a job TO earn ycur board and
bed for little while. and you think
yen are as independent rs n landlord.
But you don't know how long your jobs
going TO last nor where you re going to
get the money 10 pay for them very
clothes you have on. There! I didn't
mean TO ssy that. bu. it's the gospel
| truth, and you better understand IL now
as well as any time. like you. and I've
tried to help you. but I'm only q girl.
and l can't do much.
A II, ~. =.
| sudden turning Of the tables. He mum
bled something, felt the tears coming
into his own eyes and began stumbling
hack ont Of the room. 'Lisbeth sat
| quietly OH the sofa and made no sound
CT movement.
At tho door Alec unwittingly plunged
squarely into q mountain Of humanity.
| which turned out to be Mrs. Higgins
She had been standing ct the door and
had heard the colloquy-at least the
last part Of il.
80 Lord, Mr.. Howe. don't mind Lis
BETH" she said when they had recover
| ed themselves. She shut the door and
Ted the way on. to tho piazza, where she
had just placed n chair. into which she
presently sank, while Alec took his old
place on the nail kcg, with tho side Of
the building FOR back.
"You zee, Mr.. Howe. 'Lisbeth Won
ries sight over her pa. That was part
Of what she mean; when she talked TO
you that way. Three years ago her pa
had q sort Of fit or something. which
they says heart failure or something.
He was cut in the store one evening
with lot Of r,en there smoking and that
sort. and little girl, Mrs. Janeways
little Nancy that died. came in and
wanted some sugar. and he was reach
ing into the barrel that stood out in the
middle of the store. you know. and all
of sudden they saw he was kind Of
limp and just a-hanging ON the side Of