Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-31
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Becoming Serious.
BY eARRY' PAIN.

iOA al
ried girl to grow hd."tshetcontinued.
..one isn't alweiysi as old asa one
looks obserwedA AndJit appeared
that it was not the\rtghtithing. 1t is
too wearisome to sayttheIrlght thing to
Elsa-shet tasks for III too,much. and is
used to it too mach. Besides. I know
her too well.
Yes" she said bitterly, when I've
lost my self respect 1nd broken my
heart I'm right to come ITO you. You're
so sweetly sympatheticl palmist in
London refused to beliEe 1 was more
than twenty three"
Those palmists earn their money.
AS for self respect. l dpn't think you
ever had nnIch. AS for heart, know
you never lad any. I've. no sympathy
with you. AMI believe yOI ought,tO he
doing turmoil penal senvltude. Lots
OF convicts have less On their con-
science / gather you're lin mess
again, and from regard fortyour family
I'll give you good, advice.
''Of course, YOU dOrEt understand me
i'm the last Nobody ever has under
stood me properly. I'LL hadSever come
across one man who understood me 1
would have married him. Never mind
looks or age or position or money!
would have married ihim just because
he understooCAme."
Il expect tInt leaked out. Well. IL
the men misEndersta and you, you've
only yourself tG thank"
III YOU couldtonly imagine how that
vulgar chan jars me at present. And
IN I've
met would have been glad TO marry
me. l was saying-Pve not'really been
what l seemed to'be. I've been thought
frivolous. and heartlesS, anChcapriciOus,
and vain
We'll. at this period lof our acquaint-
ance. you're not going. To tell me that
you're not just eXactlytthat."
I'm not at all liketthat. I've had
the appearance OF it sometimes to peo-
pie who have not known the circum-
stances The only thing L could accuse
myself of wouId,be slight frfvolity. But
all the time The, frivolous me hasn't
been the real me. You'underStand:"
Not in the least"
well. you viii. because the real me
is coming out now. I'm becoming seri-
GUS Perhaps it's because I'm growing
so old. Anyhow can see all the folly
and emptiness ofNthe city way OF living
now. / went to-
zone moment; when you went or
your dandelion hunt the other after
noon all 10y YOU'RE lone self. where did
you meet him." g.
"He never came. And.I didn't want
him either"
Seems to have been a:bit too much
for-weIl which one was iit?"
'Aynscote.'
Il thought it was the talented for
eigner-the man with the fiddle. You're
bit difficult to folkow-sO rapid. So
it's Aynscote, is 1t? Well, you're play
ing with fire there"
She looked pleased. Really? What
do you meanE"
We'll. he's a moody beggar at the
best OF times; reckless too. Mind. il he
does it he'll do it decently. May pos
sibly take his gun out alone before
breakfast and manage a fatal accident
i'm getting over a stile. Nobody will
know except him and you-and me-"
You cant meanlthat:"
Its the kind of thing that has hap
pened."
1--WE never had u man actually Kill
himself for me. I've had three leave
the country. but that was ALL"
"You seem to.rather like the idea"
How can you say such horrible and
unjust things? wouldn't have it hap
pen for anything i'm the world. Still. it
is only. natural to be pleased at com
pllment, and thattwould be a real com
pliment. A man doesn't kill himself
for nothing. But it won't be-
s.ProbabIy not 1t doesn't happen
once in a thousand times that a man
goes that length. Still. of course, Ayns-
cote-but we won't discuss it,
She reflected for a minute or two.
"1lI forgive him tonight. after dinner"
she said, 'if it really is good excuse.
But 1 do hate men,"
Later in the day Aynscote sought me
out. He looked sufficiently sheepish.
Look here. 1 say, L wish you'd do me
good turn. The fact of the case is
that I've been unlucky enough to offend
your cousin"
II congratulate you. Keep it up
"Don't be an idiot I'm pretty seri-
GUS"
Good heavens! Is everybody be
coming serious?'''
what do you mean? 1t was alF
through my not knowing my way about
I this internal country. II you could just
say a word for me to her and tell her
that. Never mind the details. It's the
absolute truth L missed my road"
Suppose / did. would you do some
thing for meT'
Anything you like"
every well then. Tell her yourself