Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-22

r. SIiSp iEU DRAGGING WAS the IuOTuluS
as Harrington came ON deck, and he
drew great drafts of the cool air down
into his lungs, assuring himself that
people who took, vacations in the hot
months were fools indeed. He even
felt sorry for poor Fannie, who was
left behind in the city. A few weeks
OF this bracing air would do her more
good than the five-dollnr-a-visit special
list who looked grave and shook his
head when he stood by the bedside
and declared that she must have COM
plete rest.
1t was true that Harrington himself
had wanted to take his vacation in
August, and when Fannie's collapse
had prevented his leaving then he had
Stormed and chafed and succeeded in
making everybody uncomfortable and
bloodthirsty to varying degrees, ac-
cording to their temperaments and
fondness for Fannie. Harrington's
calm assumption that Fannie had no
right to be i'll when he wished to go
on his vacation was Irritating to the
others.
Now as the steamer moved slowly
between banks on which the green was
giving way to the first blush of autumn
tints the world seemed good to Har-
rington and he could even think kind
~ of the little woman who lay at
home in Il darkened room and whose
breakdown had been responsible for
his delayed vacation. In August he
would have gone to the shore, as was
his custom. but in the latter part OF
September the country offered greater
appeal. so he was to spend a month
With his sister. The latter had lent no
ear to the call of the city, but had re-
manned content to live a farmers
wife as she had been born a farmers
daughter.
1t was afternoon when the train
pulled into the tiny station. The ride
had been hot and dusty and, after the
early morning on the boat, the worse
by contrast. Harrington met his broth
er-in-law with the tolerant patronage
that the city man feels for his country
cousin and considered that he had
discharged his obligation when he Of
fered the other smoke with the ex.
PLANTATION that it was city cigar
81 guess most of them come from
the city" suggested Sam Dryer. with
n chuckle. as he bit off the end and
applied the match. 81 guess you're
about the twentieth chap this summer
that's given me city cigar with the
air of expecting me to drop dead with
delight because it comes from the
city"
you don't have to smoke 1t if you
don't want to-" snapped Harrington as
| the last vestige of the mornings bene-
diction fled
IT don't mind" explained Sam good
! humoredly. I'm used to smoking city
cigars That's LATE Spcnce's new barn
over there Before he got it done a pill
man came along and painted one end
up with his sign, and LATE got hoppin'
He danced around and told the man
that was just what he built barns for
and the man said if that was the case
he guessed he'd paint the other end
| too" s.'r' r
"Well, what's the rest of the story?'
demanded Harrington sharply when O
pause was not broken by speech.
| 81 was waiting for you to laugh al
| that" explained Sam. 1.-The answer
is that he painted the hull barn, just
| like you see it. Lafe's constable, and
he threatened to put him in the Lookup
if he didn't do the right thing"
Harrington cursed the evil fortune
that brought him into contact with hi:
brother in-law and inane country jokes
and his irritation against Fannie re
turned. If she had remained wei
they would have gone to the shore
where amateur humorists could bt
snubbed into silence. He was glat
when the old homestead came int,
sight and Ella, on the front porch
waved him welcome.
The remainder of the afternoon an(
the evening passed off pleasant.
enough, but the morning brought it
troubles. Harrington was always a
his worst in the early hours. He hat
been compelled to rise full hour be
fore his accustomed time, and Their,
| was uO lOl NdAtI lOI III
studs were not in his clean shirt, no
was the shirt laid out. At home, ever
from her sick bed, Fannie had mad
certain that the little things wer
looked after. 1t was the little thing
that Harrington cared about, and h
was In black humor when he cam
to the breakfast table.
He had been slow in dressing, an,
the breakfast was cold, though it ha,
been placed in the oven to keep warm
Sam had already left the table ant
Ella was alone.
Harrington pushed the bacon iron
him.
81 never eat bacon unless it's crisp,
he said irritably, "and 1 don't like tn
eggs fried so hard. Can't you COO
some more that are just set? And TO
heavens sake, Ella, please remember
can't eat hot bread for breakfast
"I'll get some cold bread" volunteer
ed Ella. st will only take fe,
minutes, Ben"
''Then hurry" he commanded.
ihatoa To sit idle of tho tahla ,,