Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-15


my dear. you wilt have to take him.
Your mother will never forgive you if
you don't. 1t was quite an understood
thing between us when she lent you
10 me that if possible there was to be
match. Your beauty and name. and
Potter's money He's really a very
good fellow-a temper. perhaps. but l
wouldn't give much for a man with
out one. and. like most Americans,
he'll make a splendid husband
''For some one" l murmured.
For you, Betty. l assure. You. /
-daren't tell the duchess you've definite
~ refused Potter You must be per-
suaded. Be engaged to him. Let him
follow you TO England
IF / did that should find myself
being married off to him before 1
knew"
well, and if you did? 1t would be
change your mind"
: l shook my head. Il must go home
to England" l said, "but Mr.. Parker
mustn't follow me-
Mrs. Ess Rays face hardened.
"i'm afraid if you go home after
refusing Potter you'll have q very
poor welcome. my child. The duchess
has been kind enough to take me a
little into her confidence I don't think
she would have sent you over with
me il she hadn't known something
about Potter. and your sisters affairs
aren't arranged yet. Oh. you needn't
blush and look so indignant. The
duchess didn't mind putting her diff
culties in Il letter when l wrote her
YOU weren't behaving quite satisfac
torily. and you may take it from me
that at present things stand like this
you must go back an engaged girl or
else stay away until Lady Victoria is
married"
II mother We're different l should
have hoped Mrs. Ess Kay was exag-
gerating. but as it was believed her
though l did my best to be high eye
browed and incredulous till she re-
marked that I could see tho duchess
letter if l liked. Though it might be
rather embarrassing.
l was sure it would be and preferred
TO take its contents on faith, but
was so miSera Bile that | had to Keep
my eyes staring wide open to prevent
the tears dropping down. l was tired
and forlorn and homesicli-for Vic and
Stan and the dear dogs and everything
except mother-and l felt such Il hor-
rible weakness creeping over me that
| could even imagine myself by and by
doing what they meant me to Go.
thought the best thing was to gain Il
respite lest Mrs. Ess Kay should drag
some kind of Il concession from me
which would have to live up 10 after
ward.
Il can't talk any riore about it now
/ said. Il believe what you say. but
| it only makes it worse for me to think
that mother should have made what
amounts to kind of bargain with
you. Maybe by tomorrow everything
| won't seem so dreadful"
She got up with relieved air. Per,
haps even she hadn't been enjoying
the conversation.
"Of course it WON'T" said she. III
| won't seem dreadful at all. You've nc
| idea how happy we're all going TO be
Now, just you sleep well and dream
sweet dreams and you'll wake up feel
ing different girl. Maybe poor Pot
ter hasn't been as tactful as he might
be. That's because he's too much IL
love to be clever But he has love
| ~ surprise for you tomorrow. Some
| thing connected with a certain finger
1 % l.ft I tI,o,
you'll like it. And now I'm going tC
leave you in peace for the night
| can't tell what savage deed 1 NIGH
not have been capable of doing if SHE
had had the idea of kissing me. bu
she hadn't. She merely patted me OF
the shoulder and went out, leavins
me to stare aimlessly at the door afte
she had softly closed it.
| (To Be Continued.)