Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-11

in love. telling him that a;,sr snss part
ing kiss be ought TO be happy ran.
Tic c;he.'s face liahtened somewhat sf
this. bet sill he cid no; resume hts nat
ursl ckeerfrlne.s- They ate supper
quietly. and Is beth were tired they
econ lay down in their blankets to sleep.
But neither SLEPT. Il was ciess s-d
cool: the stsss shcne down steadily: the
wind rus,ied lightly bat f1ournfrlly in
the trees owe. IN the east the moon was
just coming up round and red. casting
long shadows among the trees. They law
thus for n long time with no other
sounds. Alec would have gone TO sleep
long ago had he not been 80 very tired.
Suddenly George asked. rs II he were
inquirins what O'Clock IL were. tut hall
expected TO find his bedfellow asseep:
did You ever kiss her before:''
mo" said Alec in the same tone.
81 don't know how happened to then,
only she locked so lonely"
do you think she cares fer r,e!''
came the question after n little pause.
why. Of course. am sure q. IL.
Didn't YOU know il? / knew il from tine
first night staid there. You know that
Saturday evening you came. / saw her
cry little behind the door when You
We're gone
There was q very long silence after
this. Neither moved nor offered 70
speak. But at last George said in his
old CHEEKY tone:
You'd better 60 TO sleep. Alec. It's
tough tra,Dpins over the mountains for
the first time. I'm pretty stiff myself.
and we must be of early tomorrow. I.'s
good thing we've got all the cattle
! in
Tho journey home was n long and
| tedious enc. One Of the men had TO
walk all the way. and they took turns
At the end of the first day they were 50
tagged out that George decided 20 secure
pen # possible in which 10 keep the
| cattle for the night, ard at last succeed-
| ed. The next day che Of the steers ran
away. and while ten miles from home
they were obliged to drive the other
cattle into ueiehbor's barnyard and
60 10 hunt for the missing one. which
they four6 along near midnight and
| drove back to the others They reached
Ashton about 10 o clock in the eyen,ng
| Of the third day The store was still
lighted. and George seemed in exceed.
ingly cheerful spirits as they drew near
They drove the cattle into the grea,
barnyard at the rear. and then George
brought the horse around to the front Of
the store. while Alec entered the build
ing at the rear. As everything in the
kitchen was ill and dark. Ire made his
way into the dining room. where sup
| per was spread for himself and George.
though no one was there, and then he
went on into the store. where 'Lisbeth
must be. No doubt the children had
gone to bed. and possibly Mrs. Higgins
also.
To his surprise. he found the store
full a. strangers. Alec read in their
faces that something had happened. and
he hurried on toward the outer door.
where he could see 'Lisbeth and Mrs.
Higgins looking into the dark for him.
self and George. As he reached the door
he made a sound, and Mrs. Higgins
tanned suddenly and fell Oh his neck
sotbing MS she mumbled out.
"Oh. Mr.. Howe. I knew yuu would
come; knew you would come, You We
always been that good to me and LIS.
beth, and even Joe spoke well Of yon.
knew you would comet
What is the natter" asked Alec,
looking at 'Lisbe;h, and invoiuntarily
drawing away somewhat from Mrs.
Higgins embrace.
'Lisbeth turned a sad. pale face on
him. and said shortly:
Fathers had fit end died about
two hours ago. we'vo been Waiting fo-
you to come. Where is George:''
There" answered Alec. fer George
had come up in the dark and was stand
ing ON the step. 'Lis5eth turned and
stood facing him.
| Fathers dead" she said in the
same HOMOGENEOUS tone in which she had
addressed Alec. He died in une Of
those fits about two hours ago. We've
been waiting for you. The neighbors
came in and offered 10 help. but they
could do nothing"
Others had crowded around. much q
Alec's annoyance. but 'Lisbeth and Mrs.
Higgins and George seemed to think II
only natural that they should. But
'Lisbeth said in the same tone as before
Come in and have your supper. I've
had il waiting for you. Come in
George. Don't talk about going Oh now,