Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-18

4
If stay until the lightning stops, do
you?"
| "Mind? Well, guess not" assured
the man, promptly turning host. Come
over and meet my friend, Mr.. Burch,
| won't you? Billy, here's a lady come
| to our feast"
| Billy rose and beamed ON the unex-
pected guest. He was taking most
delicious looking lunch from a large
automobile hamper.
! Il wish / could shake hands with
you, Miss-Miss"- he stammered.
my name is Lake." supplied Harriet.
considering the day." said the chap
in white fannels, cts very appropri-
ate"
'Shut up, Arthur, will you, and let
me finish my speech?" Billy interposed.
what was saying when my married
friend, Mr.. Ralston, interrupted"-con-
siderable emphasis on the word mar
ried-'was that / cannot shake you by
the hand owing to the fact that some
clumsy gawk selected me as target
this morning Really there should be
a law preventing such persons running
at large"
Harriet was getting up courage to
confess when Ralston came to her
rescue.
"Why talk about personalities, Bill
| Typ he began. Suppose you ask Miss
Lake to share our repast?"
The three of them sat down, tailor
| fashion, on the floor of the old barn
and made inroads on the luncheon.
Nothing was wanting. Cold drink In
patent bottles, sandwiches, salads,
! strawberries and a jar of cream. Such
+ feast! And when they had finished
they were old friends.
Il say, Billy. Violet certainly does
put up fine luncheon said Ralston.
"She's the greatest girl man ever
! found" agreed Billy.
}, Violet. Who was she? Harriet
could not explain why she felt touch
Of disappointment on finding that Bill
iy, too, was married man.
Il guess I'll be running along" said
she, after thanking the men for their
hospitality "Oh, no; you need not
drive me over in the machine. The fact
is just live in that big shingled house
beyond this fence" With wave of
her hand she was gone, and the men
watched her slip under the fence and
disappear behind the tall hedge on the
other side
The storm did not clear away entire
ly, and Harriet realized that the lawn
dance which the Williamses We're hold
ing in honor of their first anniversary
must be given indoors instead of on
the lawn, SO she donned her prettiest
frock. Harriet was never on time fol-
anything, and when she arrived the
dance was in full swing Mrs. Will.
liams greeted her at the door.
You do look peachy, Harriet" said
her hostess. What have you been
doing to yourself? You are more love
ly than ever. oh, the poor, poor men,
added Mrs. Williams mockingly.
They stood together for a moment
and the beaming face of Billy Burct
confronted them.
"Mr. Burch. this is Miss Lake." sai6
Mrs. Williams. Il know you two will
get along immensely. Poor Billy was
hit in the hand today by some strag
Cling lunatic who thinks she can PLAY
| gull Dut,
d hand, he's the dearest man in til,
II world-eXcept one"
g At supper time Billy discovered /;
coy corner in the conservatory, wher
1T they could "eat in peace without bein,
lie interrupted by that married man, Raj
III ston," as he expressed 1t. Harriet wa
eating salad and studying Billy witt
n her big, dreamy black eyes.
Il wish Violet was here" Billy ex
re claimed as he tasted the salad.
Really, Mr.. Burch, am sorry tina
u. I am not sufficient company"
~ Billy actually snickered, but Harrie
~ was plainly In earnest, so Billy eS
Sc planned:
re You see, Violet is my colored coo
ne that 1 brought up with me from th
south, and If she We're here she coul
&C. taste this salad and then go home an
sy make better one. See?'
But, Mr.. Burch, I, too, have col
he fession to make