Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-23
DAILY STORY
HOW HE CAME TO SUICIDE.
HOriginal.1

hair before Il mirror. struggling to get
| the part straight ,and in place TO suit
| him, turned and looked at his friend
| inQuiringly He admitted that Miss
| Peachblow was an old flame of his, and
had it not been for her poverty he
| might have married her. 1t had not
been necessary that he should he de-
| prived of his love on this account, for
he had inherited some means and was
doing very well i'll his profession. He
had gone so far as to become engaged
TO her, but on thinking the matter over
had concluded that in this commercial
age there was nothing practical in
mating with poor woman. SO he had
broken the engagement He had not
since met any one, rich or poor, whom
he had cared tO,marry and had remain
ed Il bachelor
Where is her shop?" he asked, re-
Stunning his toilet
The location was given, and Talbot
thought that he wouh go into the store
and see how his old flame would look
behind the counter. 1t was several
years since he had seen her, and she
might feel embarrassed at meeting
him. AS for Talbot, his equanimity
was not easily disturbed. The next
afternoon on returning from his office
he chose different route from his
usual one and stopped at a shop which
bore sign Maria Peachblow." See
ing his former fiancee. engaged with a
customer. he waited near the door.
Miss Peachblow turned her eyes to-
ward him. She did not start She did
nnf Inc, e-tr, ,,~Ir
again upon Il picture she was trying
TO sell.
Talbot was sure shes had recognized
him and was surprise ed that she gave
no evidence of the fact. For the first
time in the presence5 of woman he
felt uncomfortable. If she persisted
in treating him as stranger his visit
would not be a pleasant one. He
wished he had not cone. 1t wouldn't
do for him to back -out now, so he
leaned ON a counter and sucked the
head of his walking, stick nervousIy.
The customer, lady, Was IN no hurry
to choose, and it wasIhalf an hour aft
er Talbot entered theI shop before Miss
Peachblow made a sale, took the lady's
address and promised to send the pic
ture the next day. Then as the Gus
toner went out Miss Peachblow adj
Vanced with that stereotyped look on
her face by which salespeople ask
without the trouble OF 'speaking, What
can 1 do for your
Talbot stood trying to smile, but
forced smile. especially when one is
badly disgruntled, results in something |
not unlike a grimace. Conscious of |
this, Talbot flushed. The lady noticed |
neither of these conditions. She sim |
ply said:
viii you look atsome pictures?"
'Yes-no- thank you-if you have |
that you think will please
me-"
Miss Peachblow turned and led the
way to large portfolios in racks and,
opening them, said
Here are some fine engravings
These are water colors 1 can especially
recommend. In this one you will find
some photographs of celebrated pic
lures
Talbot took hold of one of the port
folios. and his hand trembled. This by
no means tended to restore his equa-
nimity. He wanted to break through
the invisible mask. shield or whatever
it was that she held between them.
Had he come with any definite purpose
ne could easily have stated it, but he
had not He had broken his engage
ment through selfish motives. and for
he first time he began to realize how
selfish they were. He had come to the
girl he had Tilted with motives of idle
and he began to feel that he
lad been a fool to step in where an
nigel would have feared TO tread.
If Miss Peachblow had shown any
relish in her revenge, the spell by which
Mr. Talbot wars held at arms length
would have been broken. She did not.
She treated him as she would have
reated any other customer.
Il think this will do said Talbot,
a landscape, land this"
,attle piece. III hang them together"
The landscape is soothing, the battle
,iece exciting. They will make good
ontrast. Will you have them framed?"
Certainly; frame them
81 will show you some samples"
Never mind the samples. / would
'refer TO leave the framing to your
aste' i
but the prices vary. We have
rames at prices from 20 cents to So
foot. / think you had better instruct
ne in this"
Put on a suitable frame, no matter
What the COST
Every well, l. will do my best and
end them. Let me see. This is Mon
ay. VIII Thursday do?"
Eyes, Thursday. Any day."
Meanwhile Miss Peachblow was look
ne for an order book, and, finding one,
ook up Il pencil.
Address. please
walter B. Talbot, 126 Orchard ave-
ue''
Tai or T-o-l?"
"T-a-l"
Bot or b-u-t?"