Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-10

take too serious view Of the whole
thing Mr.. Raymond laughs over II"
"Mr Raymond was probably trying
to keep you unalarmed," answered Pea
body And now that You are out of
it do not think II well for either you
or Louis to return to IL"
Louis uttered Indignant outcry. "Oh.
see here! I've got to go back. I'm help
ing Raymond"
"I guess he'll have to stagger along
without yon, Louis" replied Barnett.
'You better not go into this mixup
again
'Ill go back whenever I please"
The dinner was finished with pleas
anter topic. and when the men were
alone with their cigars Peabody care
lessIy remarked: I'm going to take
Ann back with me IL she'll go. 1 don't
like. the idea of this youngster dragging
her Into all this filthy turmoil. Why, 1
found her living in a log cabin with an
Irish family-nice people, but no place
for her"
That's the singular part of it. She
seems to enjoy it. She wrote Jeanette
from up there pretty regularly, and she
out and out said she liked 1t. And she
Is gay as a bird-she's lost some of her
fat never saw her looking filter"
Peabody unused. "She Is changed. l
can't quite make out why or how. She
was like n schoolgirl for spirits last
night. Do you suppose it's the high
altitude?'
"My dear chap. I suspect it is man,
and 1 fear it is Munro" said Barnett.
| II hope not, for her sake"
"I do. too and for your sake: but I've
seen too maRy women go to pieces In
that way to feel any assurance. 1t
wouldn't have been so bad if she'd TAX
en- up with Raymond for he is a fine
fellow aside from his present stand; ;
but there, again, he was too respectful,
too near her own type. 1t needed a
wild devil like this cowboy captain to
stir her imagination"
| PeabOdy's cigar was broken between
his fingers. don. you scare me!'
Barnett, having fairly crushed his
| friend now tried to comfort him. "Ail
this may be wrong diagnosis, and
hope it is, but If l were you / would
go to her and use words that would
startle her. She needs the strong
hand"
| Peabody rose, all the quizZical lines
of his face lost in a plexus of doubt
and hesitation.
Ann wondered at the change in Pea
| body, but had no chance to speak to
him for some minutes, for couple Of
| young men were detailing their stern
plans for invading Skytown.
The large library was soon filled
III. Il,
return from the peak. and the girl was
profoundly amused to find herself TAX
en- for q fount of wisdom concerning
the miners war and their demands
The feeling against the camp was saw
age. and the men were loud in denun-
citation of the governor of the state,
who had refused to order out the mill
tia. "He is as bad as Munro. an alb
| solute anarchist" declared one man,
whose strident voice dominated all the
others.
One by one the guests dropped away,
and at last only the BarnettS and Ann
and Peabody were left in the library.
| AT signal from Mrs. Barnett Don
sauntered out of the room as if on
some errand and forgot to return. A
few moments she, too, begged to be ex-
cused for moment" and was seen
no more.
| Both Ann and Peabody understood
these actions, but as he was intent on
making an appeal to her and she knew
there was no escape from it they faced
each other with tensity of emotion
| which seemed impossible a moment
before
Ann broke the silence How indel-
icate of themr'
How considerable, say I, for 1 want
to talk with you," he hurried on. 81
want you to go back with me, Ann, as
my wife. 1 can't go back alone. 1
have missed you horribly. Dear girl.
answer me, are you ready to go?"
Ann remained silent, her mind run
ming over for the huIdredth time the
advantages, the duties involved, while
his plea proceeded. earnest and manly,
but leaving her cold. 1t permitted her
to calculate, to crfticise. He had much
to give her. He was man of large
income, of unquestioned power, and his
home was spacious. She liked him,
she respected him very highly, she ad-
mired him, but
The girls dream was not yet faded
out of her soul. She hoped-faintly,
foolishly hoped-for a return of the
glow, the mystery, the flooding. trans
forming power of a love that was more
than respect, more than honor and adj
miratiOn.
She found herself saying: 81 know.
Wayne, we seem suited to each other
all our friends would say rse-but I'm
not so sure Of 1t. 1t 10 silly In me. but
I am still wanting to be sure. don't
care for You as ought to do. I'm no
longer a schoolgirl; l. know what mar
riage means. and unless can feel diff
feFeatiy from the way LIDO now ] shall
not marry"
..Hare you met any one else who
rouses this other-emotion?"
She flushed. II don't know. am
not sure"
He sank back in his chair, heavy and