Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-10-21
DAILY SHORT STORY
A College Chit.
(Original.l

| ton of the heart. no appetite, bad di-
gestion'-
''In short, you are a healthy man
who has been running in one groove so
long that the mind is tired and works
on the body. Go into the country.
where you will see no rows Of brick
houses, no people on business, no gay
society. These you are used to; seek
the reverse
The season of strangers in the coun-
try had passed and Pendleton found
no difficulty in finding farmhouse
where he was the only boarder. For
few days he took great pleasure
strolling about alone through the
woods, over the meadows, by the
streams. breathing the fresh country
air. Starting out on one of his walks
he met a young girl whose condition of
life he could not quite make out. If
she did not appear to be city bred she
was certainly different from the ordi-
nary farmers daughter. Returning he
met the same girl. She had evidently
been to the post office, for she was
reading a letter. PendletOn looked at
! his watch.
Why he did so should need no ex-
PLANTATION TO one who has ever been
similarly situated. If his reasoning
were analysed it would be thus: "She
goes for the mail at this hour. What
hour is It? Four o'clock. Tomorrow
at o'clock I will pass over the same
ground"
And he did Before setting out he
had framed a question to put to the
girl. and when lie met her, raising his
hat, he asked deferentially:
81 beg your pardon. but can you di-
rect me to the post officer
Certainly. 1t is half mile down
this road"
"And the mail-the eastern mail-it
comes in
"At AIS"
"Ah. thank you very much" And.
pulling out his watch. he took a glance
at its face. Its just A." he added
I'm going to the post office. I'll
show you where it is. You have to
turn into a bypath just before reach
ing it and might not find It,"
How kind of you, and how fortu-
nate that met your
Three weeks later Pendleton and the
girl were sitting on log beside
stream. They had sat on the same
log nearly every day about 4 o'clock
In the afternoon since he had come to
the place. and their letters had re-
manned in the post office till the next
morning. Pendleton heaved a deep
sigh.
what is it," she said.
''My stay here ends tomorrow. l
came for change, a two weeks rest,
and have taken an extra week" He
sighed again.
Now. there are different kinds of
sighs-at any rate signs that express
different things. Pendleton's signs APP
peared to indicate his unwillingness to
leave his companion. Really they were
signs of repentance. He was burdened
with the thought that he had yielded
to temptation and had won heart
that it would never do for him to pos
sess. He cast a side glance at the
girl. She was stirring up the dead
leaves with the end of her para sol.
81 suppose we must say gOodby here"
he said. my train goes in the morn
ing, and since you have never permit
ted me to call upon you (for the want
of an Introductory l can't go to your
house this evening"
They were not to part Immediately.
for they had just met, but Peudleton
put his arm around her waist and
seemed inclined to begin the adieus.
She drew away.
Pendleton did not ask her why she
refused the kiss she had SO often grant
ed. Useless question. Had he not
made love to her and had she not u
right to expect that lie would make
good his advances and ask her to be
his wife? He felt like a whipped cur.
I've something to say to you before
you co. said the girl. 81 hope you
will not be angry with me. You have
certainly been very sweet to me, and l
shall never forgive myself if you blame
me. OF course that first kiss was not
my fault; it was yours. but it was no
excuse for my letting you kiss me
again.
Yes" said Pendleton gloomily. 1.-The
first was my fault. but the first step
is always the fatal step. Besides.
there is no fault in you in the matter,
for you had a right to what my heart
prompted me to say and what
She stopped him with a gesture.
Say no more" she said. cor you will
be adding to my sin. cannot let you
go on or go away in ignorance Of
Well, to confess, the afternoon you
first met me l was going for a letter
from She paused, then blurted.
my lover
"Your loverr'
Yes. Think of me as you will. De
spise me. l have a lover, and till you
came never missed going for his let
ter as soon as it arrived. Since then
well. I've sent a boy for it and got it
on my return from my walks with you.
Don't be angry with me-. / know
have done wrong, but you must re-
member I'm only a girl, mere college
chit. And now I'll explain further
that I go back to college tomorrow.
I've been rusdcating here, having to
L.,