Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-31

and evidently spoiled son of an over
sond mother, who frankly acknowledge
ed that she couldn't handle him her
self
When the arrangements were finally
concluded Zephine walked home in
daze. She brought herself back to
reality long enough, however, to send
telegram to the distant boarding
school, which she would never enlight-
en- with her funds of knowledge after
all.
:.Well," she announced to the hospi-
table trunk, which still gaped in as
tonishment when she returned, .it's |
lucky my clothes are all in order. !
| Think of it, we start for Europe. old |
trunk, day after tomorrow, you and T.
and Ralph and Ralph's mother" she |
added in a subdued anticlimax ST
wish I'd seen the kid. know he's in
corrigible."
The day for sailing was ideally fair. |
| Mrs. Maxwell met Zephine at the
steamer and accompanied. her to her
stateroom, establishing herself CON-
| fortably there with much motherly |
kindness.
| after the farewells are over you
aud Ralph must get acquainted" shs
said. Fastening back to the deck
] Zephine herself had few goodbys |
/ TO wave. Indeed, she was a central
Egure of attraction as she stood at the
rail of the steamer waving her hand
kerchief gayly, all unconscious OF her
| picturesqueness as the sun crept I'M
| der the brim of her hat and made a
| bright glory of her hair.
by George. isn't she a stunnerr'
Zephine could not help hear a young
man near her eXclaim.
She blushed with confusion and was
relieved to see her patroness approach
ing.
LET me introduce my son Ralph
Mrs. Maxwell said proudly, laying her
| hand on the arm of the young man
who had just complimented Zephinc
so spontaneously. II expect you two
to get on famously together
Ralph extended his hand with will
ing cordially, but Zephine stood trans
fixed with establishment. AT last she
looked at Mrs. Maxwell appealingly.
81 thought he was little boy" she
gaSped helpleSSly.
The explanations that followed We're
chaotic at best. Mrs. Maxwell sup
posed. of course, that Zephine knew of
her son, Ralph Maxwell. the artist, the
popular, portrait painter of children
and modern madonnas. Why, had
she not mentioned especially how he
painted all women with red hair?
That is why she had thought it would
give him particular pleasure to have
the third member of their party pos
sess this distinctive mark of beauty.
And as for Ralph-why, he himself
had been entirely ignorant of the
whole plot until that very morning,
when his mother had revealed it to
him, telling him with boundless enthu-
siasm that she had asked Miss Holli-
day, charming young woman, to ac-
company them on their trip so that he
would have some one to share his art
enthusiasm with and to join him in
his tireless jaunts in search of pic
turesQue children to pose for him.
While this rapid fire of elucidation
was going on Zephine looked from one
to the other in her effort to compre-
bend the situation. Finally she burst
out laughing-a trife hysterical per-
haps-but still it was the yivacious Ze-
phine coming to her rescue.
Mrs. Maxwell sighed and smiled all
at once.
"Oh, I'm so glad we all understand
each other now. And / know we're
going to be the best of friends"
With this optimistic assertion she
turned. to greet an old acquaintance.
And so you thought 1 was a Kid
laughed Ralph, looking at Zephine
| with undisguised admiration. well
| | am pretty much of one. You'll
have to take me in hand just the
same. / may not mind promptly some
times. but that will be because I'm
ohlivious to everything save the glory
: of your hair"
: ITS dyed. I did it to get the Job
replied Zephine, as she turned and
left the young man staring blankly
after her.
= On the last day out Zephine sat curl
ed up comfortably in her steamer
chair, pretending to read Ralph sal
= not far off sketching her. as she very
we'll knew.
when we get settled in the studio
| shall make a portrait of you, Miss
HOliday-that is, If you are wiling
!, Then l shall be both dyed an6
> painted lady," she laughed teasingly
IAN irresistible combination"
Ralph made no reply. but gazed al
her so steadily that at last Zephine
I was compelled to raise her eyes.
o II could love you in.spite of either
8 was the unexpected declaration thai
II he made in response to her question
S ing glance, "but fortunately I'm no
put to the test. All the dyes in the
e world couldn't produce the matches
Il brightness and beauty of your hair
/ dear. Why did you try to deceive me
|. Zephine?''
Were you deceivedY
Il For a day or two, because yot
| shocked me into It, You haven't told