Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-28
CHAPTER I.

~>O.~s~~1
was doomed to crawl on 80 forever.
Raindrops battered with q dainty ca
dence upon the glass ind broke into lit
lie streams following wavering courses.
To the two women sitting within
here was suggestion Of the thin fog
curling in the air, occasional glimpses
OF empty lots, smoky factories and cleo
trio iQhts that burned in the Opaque
dusk like huge brilliants set in misty
halo.
Another lunge Of the wheels into one
Of the ruts in the neglected road, and
then word in scathing accents left Mrs
Ventnor's lips for perhaps the twentieth
time that afternoon.
"Provincialv"
The girl sitting opposite to her smiled,
her superb eyes softly shining as she
looked ut the wet panes and unloyely
street.
Provincial. yes But like it. Aft
or all, France, you Oughtn't to mind
few ssumbles. The pavements of New
York are no better. can recall one
place at Fifth avenue audi
"Oh, 1t isn't the pavements," ex-
claimed the other, with q shiyer that
made her mcckintosh rustic; "it's-it's
everything. It's that horrid ferry; the
mean little streets; the dead and alive
tone Of the place. It's being away from
every ono one likes, every ono one
knows"
'"That particular corner table in Del
monico's? I see it in my eye Poor old
France, how will you exist without it
here?'
Eyes, and oil the rest Of it. The New
York tone, the elevated roads, the very
cobblestones, the bohemian esprit de
corps. Can You define the charm Of
big tOwn-the throb and thrill vibrat-
ing in the atmosphere-the succession
Of faces and gestures seen for a second
and then probably lost sight of forever?
Oh, there's such an intoxication in feel
ing only drop in the ocean, Marian,
dear. You'll miss it too. And to think
that this town is only few miles from
New York. 1t seems absurd"
Marian rubbed her daintily gloved
fingers over the glass and peered out
She was very beautiful, with slow NOV
ing, mysterious eyes, laughing mouth,
patrician air.
I'm going to love it. This is only
the outskirts. Wait until you see Mace
don place"
With an impetuous movement she
leaned forward and seized the elder
woman's hands in q grasp that was
fierce.
I'm SO glad to leave all that other
life that you regret. We can 20 back if
change my mind, you old dear. But
you mustn't run away and leave me-
And in the meantime this little place
I've leased means peace. 1t means do
main where I ON to be absolute mis-
tress. Why, France, for the first few
months think Ill just lie on a couch
by the long window and watch the trees
blossom in my little garden" Her
voice was like velvet, with underlying
passion delicately suggested.
"And you won't regret any of all
those you known" And Mrs. ventnor
shook her head wonderinely.
"No," with q curl of her lip.
And You are honestly tired Of gay
ETY. so soon?'
Desperately"
"It's unusual for young women to
arrive at the conclusion that all is van
ity' SO carly. Sometimes I think you
are 100 instead Of "a. Then again you
act like child Of or o fool When
think Of the chances you've thrown
away. Dick Osborn, old Westford, littlo
Chauncey Frere, all wild about you,
money galore. Oh, you can be such a
foolr'
Marian laughed merrily and threw
back her head. For q moment child
making cowslip balls could not have
looked more innocently gay.
And I've given them all the slip.
| Ono will 60 to Rome to find me, anoth-
er to Paris. another to the Yosemite
What . lark! Pah, how tired I had
grown Of them! They served to amuse
me, one after the other, but I want no
other ENHANCEMENT I've had oue-and
there is nothing 80 nauseating rs facing
the living reminder Of q dead fancy.
Henceforth I'll keep love at arms
length"
i Mrs ventnor leaned back with toll
Grant smile, slightly tempered with
WEAKNESS. A moment later the cab
came TO o standstill
Here We are ut Macedon place. {"
And Marian threw open the door. "Oh,
how pretty it is! dare you to deny its
beauty. See, We are advanced enough
to have an electric light on the corner.
conveniently near my gate, and II
makes the raindrops ON my garden
mark the posssssive case?-sparkle like
gems"
Before them stretched . row Of
quaint, red brick houses, all exactly
alike, with trim gardens sloping down
to the iron palings that divided them
from the street There was q woodland
glamour over this tree shaded corner Of
the town. . springtime charm. that
was restfu1 and sweet.
! Between wheexy groans and little ex-
clamasions Mrs. veutnor collected her
pug. her novel, her foot warmer, her
lorgnette She dropped them all on the
hearth rug before the open fire that illled
the old fashioned hall with golden lieht,
| making mvuAariou.a sI,~Srnur~ ~<~~l 1;lr.