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

1t was all Of these-nay, it was more
lit was a something deeper-it was
everything that made her herself.
Hugh dismissed his gig and walked
ON with her.
I'm glad I met you,' she said in n
voice that struck him as formal. There
is something want to tell you"
''Not that you are going away" he
asked quickly, and then wondered at
the feeling of incompatible loss that
suddenly made his heart heavy.
She was silent for q moment before
turning her head, the sunset glitter
through the budding trees that lined the
street filing her eyes with splendor.
"Would you be sorry il I did,"
Eyes" He spoke clearly, meeting
her gaze directly.
The instinct of the practiced coquette
made her look for q something in his
eyes left unexpressed by his lips. She
looked in vain.
but you would be rid of a very un-
satisfactory neighbor.
81 do not think So Ihave enjoyed
knowing You more than can say. Be-
sides, he added almost joyously. "you
have been good to my boys"
She moved her hand impatiently.
Don't speak of that. / have given
my money. denied myself nothing to
do this"
"But don't decry the pleasure it
gave you to make them happy, he said
softly. "That was great deal''
She threw back her head and laughed,
with weary infection.
ut gave me no pleasure, she said
shortly. THAT is what I wanted to tell
you"
"Then why did you do it:'' And the
question had q suddenness that startled
her.
Because you told me to. You said
If were good to the poor my life would
no longer he the meaningless thing it
is. I grasped at the suggestion. as I
have grasped at others. Well''-she
held out her empty hand-''I have done
all you said, aud am no better than
was. don't love the poor as you do.
They seem far away from me. don t
think I really pity them. They seem
different from me. Let them have some
Of my money, little of my time, if it
does them any good. 1t does me none. 3"
Her smile was ambiguous. She made
him feel ill at ease with himself. The
atmosphere of metropolitan frivolity
about her was never palmer than as she
spoke these curt words, and for q brief
moment they paled his life and its aims,
making it appear miserable thing in
deed.
In the conversation that ensued it
seemed as if she purposely tried to pain
him. His defense and argument were
torn to bits by a spriahtly hut scathing
ridicule he had never before heard from
her lips. She was merry and sharp at
his expense. Nothing was too serious
for passing jest, and her laughter,
with more scorn than mirth in it, left
his heart little sore.
And all this time she narrowly
watched him, although he did not guess
1t. As his face grew pale and disheart-
ened her heart grew willfully lighter.
He liked her sufficiently to be hurt by
her raillery? She could pain him? Oh,
she was glad of it. She had attracted
and held many men, but not one like
him-this man of heart and conscience.
1t was moment of sweetest triumph.
Hugh was relieved when at last they
turned into Macedon place. The naive.
" earnest friend who had entered so
thoroughly into his work had departed,
and in her stead there was a stranger
with cold, laughing eyes, who Knocked
at everything.
He had liked the other more than he
had known.
"Then, since everything here is so
intensely wearisome to you," he said
rapidly when her gate was reached,
land since the stimulus I suggested has
failed, / suppose You will go away"
II suppose so. But there is a last IA
vor you can do me. Suggest where to
CO."
mo, you would only laugh" and he
gave her one reproachful glance. 81 am
sure I never could select a spot that
would fulfill your many and unique re-
quirements"
Her face grew preternaturally grave.
Now, don't be angry because 1 can
only care for newsboys at distance"
mo. am not angry, but l am sorry
to have failed so siRnally''
~ Xxx