Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-17


blue below. 1t was early morn
ing, and Tom, having waited adrnira.
bly overnight. was setting the break
fast table when his master came in
glowing from the morning dip. AS a ,
rule they bathed together; this excep-
ton was their first. They had not
spoken since the previous evening, but
here was Daintree in n glow for more
causes than salt water and fresh air,
and a glance told the other that he
was forgiven.
"Well, Thomas, will you listen to me
another time? Neither lady has the
| slightest idea who you are"
81 am thankful to hear you say so,"
| said Tom, laying the knives.
Lady Starkie never set eyes on
you before. l feel certain that Miss
| Harding doesn't know you from Adam.
! Don't you think it was rather vain of
you to imagine that she would?"
II was afraid of 1t, sir" said Tom;
"that was ALL"
"And very natural, too," said his
master kindly. II quite enter into
| your embarrassment and only fear l
| l.
the moment last night. You must for
give me, Thomas. 1t was unpleasant
for you, I admit, but you won't mind
another day of it, will you? One more
day will end it-for the present"
| The swarthy Countenance was more
radiant than ever. Tom was non
plused.
"Only one more dayT
For the present" repeated Dam
tree. "The ladies' return TO Sydney
this afternoon. They go to the Pull
teney. Shall I tell you why-shall 1
tell you why?'
And now one man was on fire, but
the other felt a chill run down him as
he nodded his head. He could not
speak.
Because it's to he at once" cried
Daintree beside himself with joy.
Because a special license Is to he had
by paying for 1t. so why on earth
should we wait for banns? My boy.
we shall he married by the end of the
week. Only think of It, I can't be
lieve It myself. It's weeks sooner than
l dared to hope But women are all
alike. The very best of 'em, Thomas,
will take you by surprise if they can.
What do you think? I'd tell this to no
other living man. When | met her on
board no day was too distant. and be-
fore we said good night 1t couldn't be
too soonr'
The fine eyes glistened: the deep
voice shook. There was no doubt
about this mans love. But Tom was
thinking of his darker side, and 1T had
never seemed so dark before, for never
before had he allowed himself to dwell
upon 1t without shame. Now this was
duty. The point of view was changed
and the regrettab BILE in Toms benefsc
tor became the intolerabl in Claire's
| husband. Could she be happy with SC
dangerous a combination of the spoiit
child and the INSCRIPTIONS tyranti
Would she he safe? Tom sweated
with the thought 1t was horribly en-
tangled with that of his debt to Dain
tree. Yet for all that was in his heart
the fitting and conventional speech
passed his lips, and he found himself
shaking the other by the hand.
Congratulate me?" cried Daintree
81 should think you did. You have
only to see her TO know how happy
she will make me. She is a sweet
true. unselfish girl. She has beauty
e and goodness and strong common
sense. She can appreciate and admire
and understand She is the poets
= ideal. / have been longing for her al
my life. And then her manner! She
! will be leader of society when
I come to my own. Yes, Thomas, yor
may well congratulate me. She is go
ing to make me the very happiest Of
| men. can see her now-friend of the
wits, patroness of all the arts. gracious
, queen of an ideal salon-when the ex
lie returns to his own"
And doubtless he could also see him
seIf-as Tom could see him-swellin,
=. with happiness and pride and satisfac
ton. Her happiness he appeared t.
& take for granted. 1t might he unfai
to say that he never thought of it a
= all, but he very seldom spoke of !
( even to Claire
/. Tom was in and out at breakfast
q He contrived to be out as much a
!. possible. Her face tortured him. H
saw marks like bruises beneath tn
lustrous eyes that never looked hi
way. He noted the nervous effort o
her conversation while he was present
But after breakfast, w$es he mus
have met her face to face on the veran
o da, she turned her back upon him Il
. a manner not only pointed. but barbed
And for awhile his compassion desert
ed him altogether.
Claire was indeed not herself. He
indisposition became more and NOR
transparent, and when she ultimatel
confessed to a perfectly sleepless nigh
Daintree put it down to her great haI
. piness and was the first to insist ths
/. she should run away and rest ii
s luncheon. Lady Starfie, on the othe
}, hand, made herself extremely comfor
i able, quite doting on the harbor an
Rose bay, while she declared that sh
!, had seldom felt better in her life. Me-
ertheless when her host began readin