Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-28


~ loud, rich and artfully melo7
died. 1t mingled, as it We're with
the scent that the wind famed from
the sumac blossoms. yellowish green.
Moon. music, perfume-and lovers
Were to meet
The trysting place lay il pillows of
frosty white, like the satin dress of Il
bride. Lounsbury measured it impa-
tiently. with anxious eyes turned to
the shack. At the last trumpet strain
from the fort Dallas approached it OH
swift foot, her shadow fitting before.
When he saw her-a slender figure
he leaped forward. eager, grateful.
She saw him and halted, raising de-
fensive hands.
dallas, Dallas" He stretched out
his arms to her.
mo, mono, no."
AS we'll try to stem the Missouri. He
caught her close and held her. He
pressed his cheek tenderly to hers. She
yielded, murmuring to him. Thus for
a space that was matchlessly sweet.
Then. without releasing her, he lifted
his head and lifted hers by q smooth
Ing cdTeSS Oh ueT udlr. L uPll lie SedECH-
ed her face long and hungriy.
"Oh, Dallas, you do care!' he said
finally, and his voice was deep with
joy.
She did not deny-only. Just makes
things worse" she whispered misera-
bly,.
Gently he let her go. But 1 love
you" he answered.
Her eyes were grave. They seemed
to blame him.
II love you" he repeated.
She was too just to forget her own
lack of strength. Her eyes clouded
with sadness and brimneh. Il hate
myself for coming" she said fiercely.
1--WE love each other. That isn't a
crime" he declared.
For you 1t isn't. but it is for me.
because-it'll hurt Marylyn. Oh, you
don't understand, l can't take her
happiness, l can't! | can't
Its not your fault that l love you,
Dallas"
What happens next Is
BE shook his head. smiling.
She raised her chin as if striving to
I'd come" she said steadily I'D "a
come if I-died for it,
"Ah. my dearest" He put his hands
upon her shoulders, drawing her near
again.
She stepped back determinedly.
LET me tell you" she begged. please.
i knew I'd come. so l made up my
mind I'd do what was white-ask you
to visit Marylyn and talk to her. If
you would. if you only would. why, at
last, you couldn't help liking herr
Again he smiled at her. shaking his
head. Il love you. not Marylyn."
You're a good man." she said. you
weuldnt like to see me do anything
that wasn't right square. You wouldn't
think much of me if l did. I'll do
wrong Tiff | take you from her"
Il wouldn't have you do anything
wrong" he declared stoutly You
never could. But, dear, Marylyn is a
child yet. She's too young to know
her own mind, and we're taking her
more seriously than she takes herself"
You don't know how sick and down
in the mouth she's been Just before
IutueT-NeuI Sne SOL IJtle better.
After that for awhile she was bad
again. But | could see 1t wasn't all
about father. There's something else.
She's changed so-never talks much;
just sits and looks and looks She
turned away.
'Fm-I'm all she's got" she went on.
"All her life I've tended her just as
If | was her mother. | fed her and
dressed her. When she hurt herself
she came to me. Now she's hurt worse
than she's ever been, and she's come to
me about it. I'm bound to help her.
Il happened to be the first man she
got to know this side of Texas. She'd
forget me in week If she met some
one else. If she don't meet some one
else. I'm afraid she'll have to be hurt .
Dallas Strengthened proudly. I'll
never hurt her." she said.
Nor / II i can help it. She needn't
know about us just YETI
II won't lie to her either"
Not lie. dear. But you won't refuse
to come out here
~ do! ] do I'll never come again.' y