Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-12
MsYounger Set
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS.
Author Of THE Fighting Chance" Etc
copyrisht 1907. by Robert w. Chambers
MM&M@@#@@H#@&##AM 9:
Author Of Tho Fighting Chance" Etc.

very brief, curiously stilted and formal.
with a strange tone Of finality through
It, as though he were taking perfume
tory leave Of people who had come
temporarily into his life and as though
the chances We're agreeably even Of
his ever seeing them again. Y
The girl was not hurt as yet; she
remained merely confused, incredulous.
unreconciled.
1t was possible now to ride cross
country, and Nina. who was always in
terror Of an added ounce to her per-
feet figure. rode every day with Eileen,
and Austin, on q big hunter, joined
them two days in the week.
There were dances, too, and Nina
went to some of them. So did Eileen,
who had created a furore among. the
younger brothers and undergraduates,
and the girl was busy enough with
sailing and motoring and dashing
through the sound in all sorts of pow
er boats.
Truly, for her, the world was still
green, the sun bright, the high sky
blue. but she had not forgotten that
the earth had been greener, the sun
brighter. the azure above her more
splendid-once upon time-like the
first phrase of a tale that is told. And
If she were at times listless, absent
eyed. subdued, a trif1e graver or I'M
usually silent, seeking the still paths
of the garden as though in need of
youthful meditation and the quiet of
the sunset hour. she never doubted that
that tale would be retold for her again.
Only, alas, the fair days were passing.
and the russell rustic of October sound
ed already among the curling leaves in
the garden. and he had been away a
long time. very long time, and she
could not understand.
On one of Austin's week end visits,
the hour for conjugal confab having
arrived between husband and wife, he
said. with a trace Of Irritation In his
voice:
81 don't know where Phil Is or what
he's about I'm wondering-he's got
the Selwyn conscience, you know
what he's up to and if It's any kind of
damfoolishness. Haven't you heard a
word from him, Nina?'
Nina, in her pretty night attire, had
emerged from her dressing room. lock-
ed out KiteKi and her maid and had
curled up in big. soft armchair, era
ding her bare ankles In her hand
II haven't heard from him." she
said. "Rosamund saw him In Wash.
ington-passed him on the street. He
was looking horribly thin and worn
she wrote. He did not see her.
Nov, what in the name of common
sense is he doing In Washington" ex-
claimed Austin wrathfully ''Proba bly,
breaking his heart because nobody
cares to examine his chaosite. BY the
way, Nina, Gerald has done rather an
unexpected thing l saw him last
night. He came to the house and told
me that he had just severed his con
hection with Julius Neergard's com
pany."
I'm glad of itv' exclaimed Nina
I'm glad he showed the good sense
to do it!'
4 "Well, yes. AS a matter Of fact
Neergard is going to be a very rici
man some day. and Gerald nigh
have But / am not displeased VIVA
/ appeals to me is the spectacle Of tn,
boy acting with conviction on his owl
initiative. OF course he can, il b,
chooses, begin everything again ant
come in with me. or. if am Statistic,
that he has any ability, he can set u
some sort Of real estate Office on hi
/ own hook"
i Nina hesitated, another idea intrud
}, ing.
] Austin. the Orchil boy, the one !
i Harvard. proposed to Eileen, the III
tie idiot! She told me. Thank goo6
ness, she still does tell me things
Also the younger aud chubbier Dray
more youth has offered himself after
killihgly proper Interview with me.
|, thought it might amuse you to hes
4 Of it."
ut might amuse me more II Eilee
would get busy and bring Philip int
camp" observed her husband.
do you know" said Nina, shat
believe he is in love with herY'
@Then why Doesn't
81 don't know. / was sure-I a.
sure now-that the girl cares more Z,
: him than for anybody. And yet-ar
+. yet don't believe she Is actually
. love with him."
n After a moment Nina's face gre
1 | grave, and she bent forward.
Alike is Ill. Nobody seems to kno
r what the matter is. Nobody has see
4 her. But she's at Clifton. with co
8 pie Of nurses. and Rosamund heal
+ rumors that she is very I'll indee
: People go to Clifton for shatter'