Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-02

my runabout and take care of your
plumber"
Il see," Maclise said. his eyes dane.
ing In spite Of his pain. Don't you
think you'd better let me ~ NOME
with them? l always did like to ride
on bee saddle"
But you never tried 1t with game
leg-at least l reckon not" Lisabeth
retorted. Anyway. you can't go to
Ma Higley's. found you in the road,
and finding is keeping"
Clearly there's no more to be said."
Maclise answered, shutting his teeth
on groan.
He had only simple fracture, the
very slow recovery. The colonel had
sworn over him for exactly half an
hour-silently, of course. Humanity
and hospitality both forbade anything
else Then he had fallen victim to the
charm Of a personality singularly
frank and winning. AS for nanny,
she had succumbed instantly.
Lisabeth was not permitted to do
more than say "Good morning"
through tie door so long as Maclise
kept his room. but when he came down
to sit on the piazza or hobble up and
down the garden she followed him like
fascinated child.
He had such tales to tell her. Evil
| IDENTIFY he had been all over the world
He was thirty, not handsome. but well
made and Supremacy well bred in spite
Of his vocation. The Mertons each
| and several deplored the vocation
| tacitly.
He had not fretted in the least over
bis accident. Instead, after sending
| off a couple of brief letters. he had
said: Now everything is fixed. / have
only to enjoy myself getting we'll"
All his solicitude had been for the
brass bound trunk. He had beside it
q suit case cramful of proper clothes.
Moreover, his wallet was so fat, his
fees and tips so generous, it was clear
he had no anxiety about money.
! In his first fortnight at Willow
Wand all the family had confided to
him their plans and grievances. Set
| speech was hardly necessary He had
sensed so much before it came. After
seeing the Kinross thing and the long
descended Hump billiard his judgment
veered shamelessly to Lisabeth's side.
But you need man of your own
/ to fight for" he explained to her jul
dicially, ''somebody-anybody almost
Ito oppose to these two. You insist
that you can do better than take Ell
| To oh n
the colonel. even If they don't come
from Missouri. Don't you know any
body you could idealize into a hero?"
Elisabeth shook her head. murmur-
ing: II don't know him, but know of
him. It's so aggravating he won't
come home. l wonder If you ever met
him-MM-Murray. He's been globe
trotting ever since he left college.
made up my mind to marry him-nO
body else-two years ago, when went
all over his house. not because it's sc
fine, but for the name-Goodheart.
love that. And I'm sure I'd love him
too. But how can 1 when he keeps
away all the timer?
1T might be harder still If you saw
him. No, I've never met him, but
I've heard n lot about him-not much
to his good" Maclise said. scowling
oddly. IF he's the only rival you car
scare up l see nothing for it but tt
propose myself. You found me. you
know. and said finding was keeping"
And l meant fright Them Lisa
beth said joyously. Even if you are
drummer I believe IL will be great
fun to go along with you. l nigh,
even drum for things myself"
That's bargain" Maclise said
holding her tight, but not kissing her
I'm afraid. though, you won't sticl
to 1t when you know I'm rank. ranl
impostor-not q bit of q drummer
You don't even know my right name.
II don't care-I know you." Lisabetl
cried. clinging closer. Then he kissed
her twice, saying, with the leas
shake in his voice: THANK God
Sweetheart, I never before was S,
proud Of myself. But the name is /,
pretty decent one. I'm asking 20,
formally to be Mrs. Marmaduke Ma
elise Murray. / was going home witt
my family papers in that trunk whel
1t famed me and gave me somethin;
very much more precious. Now, wha
r do you think nanny and the colone
!. will say"
ut doesn't matter. say Yes" Lis
abeth whispered. "Still, I believe the,
won't make much fuss about it."