Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-14

She's coming tomorrow" announced
Billy Singleton. Tom Harvard smiled
She" could be none other than his
picture girl" as he had learned to call
her. and ever since he had arrived at
Gienoak, Harvard had been lost in day
dreams, in which the picture girl
was ever the central figure.
1t was Harvard's first visit to the
Singleton place. named Glenoak, and
for the first time he had seen the re-
suits of Mrs. Singleton's artistic skill
with camera.
That hospitable matron had more
than passing fad for photography
and in well equipped studio in the
back yard had turned out many prize
winning pictures. The most success
full had been of the picture girl" 9TH
erwise Mamie Prescott, Mrs Single
top's niece.
1t had been taken some years before
and showed a child with soul that
shone through the thick dashed eyes.
The small. sensitive mouth, delicate
molding of the chin. the perfect oval of
the face and the high white brow all
combined to make picture almost
perfect, yet Harvard seemed to see only
the eyes, with their inscrutable ques-
tioning of the life just beginning to un-
fold.
Singleton had surprised Harvard be-
fore the picture half dozen times, and
Harvard WINGED at the jests his chum
made about his infatuatiou for the pho
tograph, but even Mrs. Singleton's as
surance that the original now looked
vastly different from the big eyed girl
| of the picture did not abate his interest
in the handsome carbon print
Nan has u scandalous fondness for
picked pigs feet" went on Singleton.
lest Harvard's joy should grow too
great. You never saw an ideal with
I an appetite. did you. Tom?'
He lodged the book Harvard threw
at his head and stepped out through
the French windows on to the porch.
still chuckling over the fun he antici-
pated having.
| 1t was Singleton who drove to the
station to meet Miss Prescott and who
basely betrayed Harvard's passion Ia
the girl who shared his seat in the
dogcart.
Its not you." explained Singleton.
with brutal frankness; Its the picture
that he's In love with. I'll bet when he
sees what a plump and husky person
you've grown to be he'll decide to stick
to the picture"
1. There was much more to the same
effect. and so 1t came to pass that
when the Introduction was accom-
plished on the Singleton porch and
i Harvard guarded his expression from
any betraying glance of qualification
Miss Prescott decided that this man
who loved her picture and was disap-
pointed in the original was a very I'M
pleasant person whose presence at
Glenoak would make her vacation a
miserable one indeed.
Mrs. Singleton endeavored tactfully
to counteract the effect OF her sons
disclosures. but Mamie resented even
this we'll meant effort. 1t was intelera-
BILE to her that they should suppose she
cared in the least what Mr.. Harvard
thought Of her.
| If he was disappointed that the an.
giles of fourteen had rounded into the
curves of nineteen 1t was no concern
of hers. and to show how little she
cared she devoted herself industriously
to snubbing poor Harvard at every
possible opportunity.
u And Harvard. manlike. suffered
4 l,on k.x,,
about saying savage things to and Of
Billy, and he looked no more than HI
\ could help either at the picture or Miss
Prescott herself
So matters continued for nearly |:
month. when business letter gay