Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-08

As the sound of sleigh bells broke
The quiet of HE room Miss Mercer
rlincheI her teeth to keep back threat
eniIs tears.
Il couldn't stand on that foot for one
infinite, let alone dance" she exclaimed
to her younger sisters governess. who
stood slim and silent before the fire
Il am truly sorry the latter replied.
Jane said YOU sent for me to help you.
What can do:"
Take my place in the minuet'
'Oh. no--lo: couldn't do that
you'll have to-" groaned Miss Mer-
Ger. with decision. Being fond OF An
gusta Park. she treated the young de-
pendent with confidence and consider
alton beyond her position but expected
in return cheerful yielding to her own
whims or comfort. III write 10 Aunt
Enid explaining the accident 10 my
ankle and that you will take MY place.
SO that the dance need not, he aban-
dOned. It's fortunate you played FOR
some of the rehearsals and can wear
my gown"
Il really cannot!" Genuine distress
| rang in the protest 1.-The dancers are
all your friends. | am not In society
when l wanted you to play the
| other night you made no fuss. Regard
| 1t as an act of charity if il helps You.
but co.
"Not to Mrs. Fitzray's l won't enter
| her doors
The invalid raised herself on her ell
bow, regarding in establishment the
| flushed checks of the other girl
! "That sounds as if you held some
sort OF grudge against aunty, and /
| doubt if you ever met her.
| Augusta shook her head. Don't he
| 4 goose then" Miss Mercer shifted her
cushions with little moue of pain.
Bring that low chair and let me talk
| 10 YOU. Now listen" she coaXed when
her directions were obeyed. III would
be wickedly selfish not to save the sit
uation Auntys masked ball has been
locked forward to as one of the events
lof the season. Our minuet of holly
| and mistletoe' is TO be the piece de re-
sistance. Aunty will never forgive me
If am the cause of its being cut out
1T would be ridiculous for one in
| my position to take part in it," OBJ
jected the governess.
"Who will know or care so long as
i they get their fun:
"If it were only somewhere else
Mercer turned the averted face toward
her. holding it firmly by the chin to
study the expression.
"You are keeping something back,
she accused. BE honest. Oh-it's not
possible She half started up from
the lounge, TO drop back. breathing
quickly. $50 you're the girl" she said
You might have trusted me-
There was nothing to tell. would
not marry into family where ! was
not wanted
Morgan said he would choose his
own wife, and my cousin is not one to
change where his affections are con-
cerned Or course / now understand
your refusal of my request, but you
must reconsider the matter. No one
can recognize you with L mask, and
you can leave directly after the min
uet I'll mention no name. merely
write my aunt that friend has con-
scented to substitute. She'll be too
busy to be curious
Thus it happened that when the bal
opened Augusta, a mere nobody. was
among the envied aebutantes who par
ticipated in the .minuet She was
thrilled at being In the house of the
man she loved and the possibility OF
learning how 1t had Jared with hin
during the three years of silence that
had buried their happy courtship.
When Morgan's parents had discov
cred his attachment for an unknowl
college student bitter scenes had en-