Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-11

| taking her to church with him. He
might wish to see somebody home, and
he could not lug child along as though
he were a lone WidOwer.
"Oh, no, DOLL he said; you cannot
go with me- Your mamma will take
you, or your papa or nurse or some
body" he added in haste to furnish In
disputable argument.
The child's blue eyes filed, and her
| lips quivered.'
Mamma is i'll and cannot take me,
and papa had to go to the office, and
nurse is busy, and''-politic child-'I
do love you so, Uncle Jack! 1 just
must go wifi your
But you-can't, Doll. Stay at home
like good girl, and 1 will give you a
| nickel"
Don't want nickel; want to go to
church wifi my dear Uncle Jack" and,
seeing no signs of relenting in her
uncle's face, Doll, who had early learn
ed the power of feminine tears, howIed
diSmally, her voice rising with each
wall. Jack, who knew that his sister
in-law must not be worried, was forced
to surrender, but, manlike. he did not
do it gracefully.
81 am astonished at such behavior
from you, Doll" he said sternly. ''How
do you suppose 1 can take such
naughty girl out with me?'
In the incomprehensible way chill
dren have, tears and walls stopped in
stantly, and, feeling her point gained,
Dolls face was wreathed in smiles, as,
little descendant of Eve, she clasped
both chubby arms around her uncle's
neck and murmured ecst,tticaIIy:
My own dear Uncle Jack! Doll
loves you-she does"
Then, not giving her uncle a chance
to repent or change his mind, and not
ing, that he had no means of escape
save the doorway in which she stood,
Doll grew confidential.
Minister told us that on Easter day
we should give what was dearest to us.
and I'm going to, Uncle Jack
And slipping her wee hand into her
uncle's, her cherub face wreathed in
smiles, she trotted along beside him
to attend the Easter services.
The joyous and beautiful strains Of
resurrection music were filling the
crowded cathedral when Doll and her
uncle arrived, and before the latter
could signify to the usher that. with
the, child, he did not care to take his
usual prominent seat in front, he was
being taken up the aisle to his accus-
toned pew, Doll still clinging to his
hand. Uncle Jack noticed an amused
pair of gray eyes in the opposite pew.
For half an hour Doll was perfectly
angelic. Then she began to ffdget. and
Jack cast such despairing chances to-
ward the owner of the gray eyes that
she grew merciful and beckoned to
Doll to come over to her The child,
nothing loath to change her position,
scrambled down from the seat, remark
ing as she did so, in n distinctly audi
bic whisper:
"Goodby, Uncle Jack. 1 am going to
sit with the beautiful lady awhile if
you think you can spare me-
And how Uncle Jack cnviCd her! She
was soon nestled close to the loveliest
woman he knew, which ought to have
relieved him from further responsible
ty. But Doll was one of those children
of whom you can never safely predict
what the next movement is to be. so
Jack watched her furtively in fear and
trembling. AS Doll continued to sit Sc
renely still, he was beginning to settle
down to an enjoyment of the services
and the near proximity of the lady of
his heart when the minister announced
that the Easter offerings would now be
taken, and Doll was Immediately wide
awake aud alert.
"Uncle Jack" she called softlyIacross
the aisle, unheedinG the warning
"Hush!' uttered simultaneously by her
uncle and the owner of the gray eyes;
then, slipping hastily to her feet, in
slightly raised tone of voice she broke
forth as follows:
"Oh, Uncle Jack, you are the best
you to give to the minister! But" with
an adoring look toward the gray eyes,
81 think will give you to the beauti-
full lady instead
Beaming benevolently upon the cou-
pie, Doll sat down.
Fortunately the organ voluntary pre-
vented Dolls words from penetrEt-
ing beyond the immediate vicinity, but
even then Jack said it was worse than
any fire he was under in the Philip
pines. The owner of the gray eyes al
ways insisted that the becoming tblush
which made her so lovely as Mrs. NJack
had its origin on that eventful Sunday
in the cathedral, when Doll presented
her Easter Offering.
'And 1 could not hurt thedear chih'S'
feelings by refusal, you know" She
added demurely.
AM rASTED rONrEET