Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-07
Tie Country
Of Anyevbere

y1uda, br00d, cool, immaculate. Bef0re
Il was the regulation plot Of freshly
clipped lawn, bisected BY a path the
edges Of which were geometrically pre-
eise. A few rods up the street. far
enough away to be unobtrusive. yet
near enough to furnish Just the right
amount OF light. was the regulation
street lamp. Even the regulation sub
urban mosquitoes hummed noisily
about and were duly cursed and slaugh-
tered.
4 Hardwick, stretched comfortably in
a steamer chair, blew smoke rings
thoughtfully In the still air. Vaneta.
seated near by In u low rocker. idly
traced the shadow of the vine with the
toe of little shoe.
{ In the house across the street the
long windows OH the lower floor were
wide open. Through the stiffness Of
the night came floating the tinkle OF a
I piano aud masculine voice singing
! snatches OF Tosti and Nevins.
| Hardwick moved uneasily in his
chair.
| Hang itr he burst out suddenly.
II wish 1t had raine,l tonight"
The girl eyed him curionsly.
"It would have been easier for you.
I suppose" she observed.
"Infinitely," said he. This sort Of
| thing gets hold Of n man-this quiet
and peace and eminent responsibility.
I He leaves under q disadvantage. He's
f: homesick before he starts"
"And yet you are going back there
tomorrow" she said.
! YES" he returned bitterly. 'I'll go
back tomorrow to my railroad and my
! niggers-and my inconsistencies"
"And forget all about us up here aft
er n week or so.' she said lightly. "fOr-
get us so completely You won't even
write us line"
~ wish I might forget" he said fer
ventiy.
why ?" she asked.
well" said be, FOR one thing Ii
simplifies matters. Down there. when
you think about people you know. 1t
makes you very unhappy. You get to
imagining all sorts Of things"
"For instance" she prompted rs he
paused
Lets make it personal" he suggest
ed when l think of you. ] imagine
you married to some nice. respectable
suburbanite who comes ont every night
on the 5:13 and finds you waiting for
him and fire burning i'm the hall fire
place and dinner ready In the coy din
ing room and
The girl interrupted him with n
hooking laugh.
THE nice respectable suburbanite
hasn't doomed ON TIN. horizon as yet
she said
Nevertheless lie will" Hardwick re-
turned. That's the worst of that God
forsaken country" he ended Irrelevant
~.
whats the worst OF itY' she In
quired.
THAT II prohibits one from being n
suburbanite of the aforementioned va
riety. VAN he said. rising suddenly
and standing by her chair. Il never In
tended TO tell you. but perhaps We'll
both feel better IL do. l went down
there intending to make my pile and
come back here to marry you. The pile
Is still to be made. and IL looks as IL
were doomed to stay there forever. hut
don't think II was because didn't love
you enough or because I haven't done
my best"
The girl looked up Mt his earnest face.
and something in 1t filled her with pity.
She had intended to reply lightly. In
stead her eyes fell. and she was silent.
you understand. don't your" he said
after pause.
mo. I don't understand" she said
sharply.
She was aware he stepped back as II
he had been struck.
81 don't understand how-how you
could misjudge me So" she said.
"Misjudge you!" he cried.
Yes" she said. THAT is just what
you have done. Do you think all my
hopes are bounded by a house in con-
ventfonal suburb with a conventional
lawn and all the rest of it,"
He looked Mt her inQuiringly, but said
nothing.
She turned her head and looked across
the well kept lawn. When she spoke
her voice had softened.
Teddy" she said. "have you ever
heard Of the country called Any
where?"
I'm afraid 1 don't follow you" he
said stifny
Listen" she said. land III tell you
about IL. 1t is a very delightful coun-
try, Teddy. no matter what its environ
ment-hot or cold. peopled or desert,
fruitful or barren. 1t Is always charm
ing to the girl who really cares, be-
cause II is his country and he Ii there.
1t Is lovable because Of him"
She stopped. half frightened by her
own words He stood quite still for a
moment. then suddenly bent over her
and took both her hands In his own
Dear little girl" he said dear.
brave little girl. You tempt me into
the selfish cowartlice Of taking you
there"
She felt his big hands tremble; then
he stood erect
But you shall not make that sacri-
6ce" he announced with determine
ton