Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-19


first glimpse Of the face that he had al
ready trade up his mind must be rs
charming as the promise Of what was
vouchsafed to his admiration.
But, alas, there were tall people, Ia
dies with extensive cloaks, in the inter-
vening rows of seats. Henry's charmer
was short. He could make ont no more
than the tip of a black feather ON her
hat. and then she walked away between
another girl and q young man in the
direction Of the tearoom. Henry follow
ed rs so0n rs he could make his way
out and managed to keep the group in
sight. They were Joined by several 9TH
er people. and he saw them all taking
their places at q table together. The
brown coil was still before him, and he
thought he had never beheld anything
more bewitching than the bend Of the
graceful head as the girl seated herself.
But this was not enough for our hero.
He strolled around to the other side Of
the table and looked across, as though
searching for some one, with as careless
an air as he could assume. Then came
what he sought-a pair Of clear, gray
eyes, fringed all round with dark LASH
es, met his own full. dropping immedi-
ately, perhaps from consciousness Of
the admiration they encountered.
But Henry had seen enough. There
was no Observation-Disclosures the con-
trary. White necks and fluffy brown
hair are pleasant to contemplate, but n
| pretty face is better. He seated himself
! close by at another table and ordered tea
| to be brought. Meanwhile he could
steal frequent glances at the group near
him. Two elderly ladies, an old gentle
man and a boy had Joined the original
party of three.
Henry watched their proceedings with
tho greatest interest. 1t pleased him to
see his particular girl helping the elder
ladies to cream and sugar and laughing
with the boy. Then he observed that the
young man, who was seated between
the two girls and had apparently been
monopolized by the other, who did not
possess soft coil of hair, bent familiar
ly toward Henry's charmer and said
something to her that caused her to
flush, while she threw up her head a
little and looked at him coldly, evil
IDENTIFY with some retort that caused him
to shrug his shoulders slightly and turn
back to his former companion, who
beamed upon him radiantly, and they
became engrossed rs before.
All this byplay was evident to the OBJ
server. He would like to have shaken
that young man, whom he was sure
had said something impertinent. The
girl, however, was evidently quite able
to hold her own. He liked the dignity
she showed il answering, and perhaps,
after all, the young man had right to
he familiar-at any rate, more right
than Henry rs a perfect stranger had to
resent his behavior.
The impression made on him first by
that bewitching coil Of hair, and then
still more by the girls face and whole
bearing, gave him a feeling of appro-
priation in her. He envied that boy who
sat OH her other side. and with whom
she was a good comrade. rs could plain.
~ be seen, and wished he could change
places with one of the elder ladies, who
appeared totally unaware Of their priv
ilege in her near presence.
But tea cannot 60 on forever. Ever
the boys appetite was at last satisfied
The whole party arose. the old gentle
man paid the waiter, and they all filet
of toward the outlet.
Bitterly did Henry regret not havin,
paid his bill before. Every one wanted
to do the same exactly at that moment
he could not get hold Of waiter Afte
Tuning for some minutes he could stan,
| y 81, a
on the table TO be left till called for. h
made his escape in pursuit Of the los
coil Of hair and its owner. But tn
crowd was great. He could not get alon,
as quickly rs he wished. The people n
was pursuing must have passed the en-
trance already. He rushed down tin
steps, but nothing was to be seen O
, them. He waited, hoping they Nigh
, | appear. but there were no signs of them
, AT last he went on to the platform O
! the station. A train was waiting {
start. They surely could not have evade
/ him and taken their places in it? H
/ passed mp and down looking into tn
carriages. There was no time for clos
, examination. The train began to move
, He was still undecided whether to go G
stay when he saw the head Of the oil
1 gentleman Of the party thrust out of
window. That was enough. Henry CAV
+. bound into the moving train and wa
swiftly whirled back to London.
1 The ride back seemed interminabl,
p Henry Moore was destined that day I
: find time an impediment. but ut Ia,
n Victoria station was reached. He hai
r tened from his own end IF the train
quickly rs the press allowed tn the pal
where the old gentleman had been Wis
. BILE. There hc was deliberately gettir
| down ON to- the platform alone. whel
h were the others: Henry could hardly :
a up and accost him and ask where W;
, the giIl with the beautiful coil Of Ia
I and gray eyes. The old fellow had ev
IDENTIFY no misgivings about his womal
= kind. He fastened his coat careful
q across his ample person, and climbir
> ponderously into an omnibus disa
n peared into space.
A Should he follow? was Henry's fir
| eIov,cht ~, What 0vac tLo ,,SeS Roff