Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-24

but natural that he should seek some
younger woman
And yet had Miss Merrinigton faced
the tall pier glass standing between
the front windows she would have
found reflected there II face unmarked
by lines OF care. but, lighted by the
glow Of earnest brown eyes.
She had scarcely lost her youth in
the placid. helpful life she led. Her
cheeks We're still smooth and unwrin-
kled. tinted as softly rs the petals of n
blush rose. Her hair was soft and
brown. with never Il hint Of gray. The
sensitive. tender mouth with its con-
slant smile was as appealing as n
chiid'S, Il mouth surely made for kisses.
The ting maid with her announce
ment of the noon dinner brought Miss
Warrington back to earth. The letter
she tucked in her pocket. and as she
ate her simple meal she planned the
work that must he done t. make the
| big Rial house habitable and liomeiike
| i'll spite of its two untenanted years.
| Once every week in all that time she
| had gone to see that all was well. but
| now that it was to be opened there was
| much To be done. In work she would
| find forgetfulness of her disappoint-
ment. At least she would not fail her
| old friend.
| Five days later Rial came. Miss
Warrington was ut the station plat
| form to greet him. and many curious.
half plying Chances were turned upon
her rs Harvey tenderly assisted down
| the steps of the chair car the slender
| form of Il woman younger even than
| his son. All the town knew of this old
| love affair
| Ralph stopped in New York to look
| after Il business matter" Rial explain
| ed when greetings were over and The
three were comfortably disposed in the
solitary village hack. Mazda was i'm
| patient TO see her Americas home, so
we pressed on
The house looks very well. if | do
I say it myself said Miss Merrington
complacently Tn sure that Mrs. Rial
will like it here.'
1T is lovely town. said the girl i'm.
pulsiyely Il was SO afraid that !.
should not like it,
| MAZDA imagined that we lived ON q
prairie aad had buffalo and Indians
running about" explained Rial. "She
wanted to carry n revolver IN her hand
bag. but talked her out of it."
Miss Merrington laughed at the con-
ceit. but her heart gave throb as Rial
leaned across TO playfuly pat the siri's
cheek. She was glad that the arrival at
the house prevented further demonstra-
ton
Mazda was profuse i'm her praise Of
the place. and she would not rest con-
tent until she had explored every nook
and Granny Not until then was she
ready to retire to her room and remove
the signs of travel, leaving Miss Mer-
rington free to see that the table was
properly set for dinner.
She had slipped out into the garden
for some early flowers and was arrang-
Ing these in vase when Rial came
into the room and with a happy laugh
tilted up her dimpled chin and planted
a kiss upon her smiling lips.
Miss Merrington started back. with O
little cry of pain.
rs this the way you seek to repay
meT she cried, with flashing eyes "A
new. wife in the house Just half an
hour, and you-you kissed me-
Il could not help 1t, sweetheart
cried Rial. Its SO good to be back
home after two years in hotels. aud
you are part of that home. VIII you
forgive me, dear, and promise always
to he a part of my homer
dumb anguish In her eyes. Then slow.
~ she turned away to where the
French windows gave upon the piazza
With few quick steps Rial reached
her.
II Forgive me, dear, for tormentinl