Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-30
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
His Homecoming. by Cecily Aller
copyrighted 1908, by Homer Sprague.)


[, Peggy played golf and Janet sat on the
t, veranda or disappeared in the woods
where wild flowers were thick: to the
| matinee. where between the acts he
, and Peggy discussed the love interest
Of the play as II 1t were personal
matter, while Janet read the advertise
ments in the programme; to the rink.
where he and Peggy skated together
and Janet found some girl friend as a
skating partner or sat against the. wall
making humorous mental comment on
the circling tide before her.
| What jolly little beggar Janet had
been in those days! II she had been
bored she had never shown it. and
He was standing before the trio now.
| The man, Fred Marsden, had been
duly introduced Peggy had turned
the full battery Of her wonderful eyes
without the aid Of the granny muff
upon Gregory's tanned and clean cut
face. and Janet had murmured some
thing about "old times"
81 haven't skated-why, 1t Is nearly
year since I've been on Ice" he was
saying to Janet. I've a good mind to
get admittance to this party and give
you all a chance to laugh at my awk-
wardness. Do you think could rent
decent pair Of skates at the rink?'
Marsden was politely but not effu-
sively reassuring. Peggy was mis-
chievously pleased to pit the rivals
on skates, and Janet Just murmured.
| do come"
ST wonder how it will feel to the lit
tie girl If she has a real partner all
afternoon" thought Gregory as he
locked his skates. Before he and ia
net had circled the rink a dozen times
he realized that she was a splendid
little person on the ice and a most ap-
preciative listener. never giving
thought to the tricksy steel beneath
her trim boots.
No, she was not "out" yet Next
winter perhaps she might come out at
tea. She was still the little sister
of the reigning beauty. And didn't he
think Peggy handsomer than ever? He
did, and he said So with heartiness
and lack Of tenderness that a more
experienced girl than Janet would
have interpreted correctly.
They fingered so late that the rush
Of home going toilers caught them in
its swirl on the return trip, When
they reached Gregory's corner. Janet
mechanically extended her hand.
Indeed. I'm not going to leave you
in this crush. I know I'm a self invit-
ed member of this quartet, but Mars
den has his hands full to steer Peggy
through the crush. You'll need me-"
Janet flushed and dimpled. Nat al
most gasped. He had never seen 4
dimple in her. chin before, but then
, Janet had never laughed up into bis
eyes in just that way. ..i
r I'm coming up to call tomorrow
! night if may" said Gregory as they
drew near the Barton home.
you'd better ask Peggy IL she'll be
home" said Janet soberly. Il think
, there's dance on at the St Andrew
tomorrow evening"
But you said you were not out yet
I You can't go to a st. Andrew dance"
! he said, with fine assumption Of
elder brotherliness.
"Ohr said Janet. And again the
dimple cleft her chin.
Fred Marsden is so tiresome," said
Peggy as she permitted Janet to unlace
her boots and spread out her dinner
frock- he seemed to think that Nat
Gregory had no right to skate with me.
Il And we were old friends before Fred
moved here. Nat has improved. too.
o don't yon. think so?"
& "Oh. / can't see that he has changed
e any" she fbbed, her face now as rosy
It as the pink chiffon.
y At that particular moment Nat Greg
= DRY was sitting before the CRATE fire in
y his room, lingering a parcel Of letters
l. tied with deep violet ribbons. Then he
e laughed-a short, chuckling, eloquent
y laugh-and laid the letters. ribbon and
all. on the glowing Goals.
n 1T was just when she peeped at me
IS above that silly big nun! OF course
l. never really cared for her. but some
ir how knew it was all up when she
2 gave me that look to make the other
1. fellow squirm. Heavens. how used
q. to squirm too! Now. janet wouldn't
d make a man squirm. And where In
o time do you suppose she had been hid
$ ing that dimple? By Jove. come to
n think of 1t, I never looked to see
IS whether she had dimpie or not In the
IS old days."
ISL For few minutes he sat very quiet.
~ ly watching the mass of letters. turn
d from fame color to yellowish pink and
le to pinkish gray. Then, whistling, be
" went down to the library, closed the
Of door and picked up the desk telephone
,e rs Janet In? Yes, Miss Janet Bar
r. ton. All right Hello. Janet. is THU
you? This is Nat-Nat Gregory. Oh, !
7. just happened to think that you did NO,
answer my question. Are you going X
the St Andrew dance tomorrow night,
ly No. you did not answer my question
r, All right, then, I'm coming, about $50
r. Nonsense! used to call .on-er-othel
e. girls before they came out Al right
is goodby. Oh, wait a minute. Say.
want to knoW-would you mind tellinl
=. med did you always have dimpls d
your chin? No, really, never did
| 0ON1bF."