Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-02

wharf, FESTIVE to reach the waiting
trains, but quite apart from all these
whose faces were set westward three
people-a girl, a man nearing forty and
d slim lad-lingered on the after deck
as though loath to take their leave OF
the imperial city.
The resemblance of the monstrous
hive OF humankind to a height of land
was so marked, so singular, that the
girl remarked upon Ii, and the boy. a
pale lad OF seventeen. cried out In shrill
staccato:
Yes; but think of the real mountains
were going to climb
The girl did not speak for a moment,
and when she did her voice was dis
tinctly sorrowful. Il feel as though /
were saying goodby TO everything
worth while"
Including meT' asked her escort.
She did not smile, but her accent was
kindly "a she answered, Yes, Wayne
Including you"
"Oh. sis. you make me tired!' cried
the boy Just as If going west were
bidding goodby to everything" He
beat his thin chest. I'm just begin
ming to live now. I'm glad to get away
from the stuffy old town. / want TO
see something besides Fifth avenue
and Central park"
Wayne Peabody laughed good natur
eddy down at the boy. You wouldn't
care II civilization did stop at the west
bank OF the Hudson river would your
Il should say not. I'm tired OF it
all-theh noise and the pavements and
the heat and the wetness. l want TO
get out where the wolves and the
cranes and the cowboys are; / want to
hit the trail and find where fathers
camps were"
The girl spoke musin&ly. Its singu-
lar. but / have a premonition OF some
dark fate-some vague sorrow / new
er felt so before-not even on my trip
TO Egypt. II 1 don't come back L want
you To note that / was forewarned.
Let's go forward
Peabody remarked in a low voice:
Louis is transformed already. 1t Will
do him all kinds OF good to go west"
Il hope So" she replied rather dreari-
~. but he seems unwholesomely ex
cited ut the present moment"
He'll get over that"
Il fear he Will be disappointed. Fa-
theirs "trip was made nearly twenty
five years ago. when il was a really
wonderful land"
He is young. he Will reimagine it"
The boy stood like some beautiful an |
imaI poised for spring as the ferry.
shouidered its clumsy way into the |
Jersey dock. He was of less bulk than /
his strong, composed, motfish sister, /
and his face was as dark, as mobile /
and as eager as hers was fair and i'm /
passive. Peabody experienced once |
again n twinge OF keen regret that Ann /
had not some OF her brothers radiant /
enthusiasm.
Surrounded by porters and wearing |
an air OF command, Louis led the way /
to the sleeping car, impatient Of his
sisters elaboration. On one hip he
carried a pair OF large field glasses and
over the other a costly camera, while
half concealed cases of pencils and
pads OF drawing paper bullying from
his pockets announced his artistic in
tention.
AS the time for the train to start
drew near Peabody strove to win some
softer word from Ann, but she was
not Of those who manifest emotion.
Her training and her temperament
were alike opposed to easy expression.
When he tried to take her hand a sec
ond time with eyes that eIrrea1ed she
recoiled.
NO. no. You have no right.to-expect
that
He was no longer n boy, and he was
bred to self control; therefore, though
his voice trembled a little, he spoke
quietly: "Goodby, Ann. Write every
day, won't you?"
In a voice which chilled him she re-
piled: Every day is pretty often, but
you will hear from me. Go and see
mother. please. She will not say so,
but she will be glad to,have you come"
Depend upon me-" he said, lifting
his hat His bearded face betrayed no
emotion, but his eyes were hot with
pain and grief.
The girl on her part felt n sudden
fwinge OF remorse as she left him
there. a fine, strong, manly sutton, who
uttered no complaint, though she
wounded him. The twitching OF his
lips troubled her, but she did not re-
lent In her heart she said: II can't
help II. 1t isn't in me. He shouldn't
ask it,
! Louis threw himself fat on the,couch
I'm their stateroom and said boyishly:
'-Geei We're or at last. Now Let her
whiz. This old train can't go fast
enough for me-"
Looking down at him at that mo-
ment, AIMS bosom sweIaed with an
emotion almost maternal. How thin Z
be Isl she thought, as herreyes took in
his slight body. I'll go. I'll do any
thing for him, il only he can grow
strong and well"
She loved that slender lad and as
suned for him a greater Weight OF care
and hope and fear than Dor any other
human being. He was so like his Ia I
ther-the soul restless as flame, the {
slender body racked, worn with end G
less enthusiasms, the burning. mes I
meric eyes and the delicate mouth. All G