Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-15

to walk on without noticing what you
We're doing, but l suppose It might be
awkward without chairs and floors.
Soon we We're near enough to New
York TO see the tremendous chimney
things clearly, and they sharpened the
impression that | was sailing straight
into Il dream. There could be no such
things in the real world. They wouldn't
be possible. But the dream felt very
interesting and intense all of a sud
den, and | didn't want to wake up
from, it just then in spite of Mrs. Ess
Kay.
The tall shapes were bright and
vivid now, as giant hollyhocks grow
ing in irregular rows. Still they did
not look one bit like houses or offices
where people could work without go
ing stark. staring mad. | got queer
idea in my head that the houses them
selves must be buried deep under
ground. like bulbs, with only their
towers sticking up.
The next thing that happened in the
dream was slowing majestically into
our own dock. and that was wonder
Iui' nv W uoit IiuCS was WIN
faces, mostly pretty girls faces. I'M
der fascinating hats, gay as flowers
in a flower show, parterre above par
terre of brilliant blossoms. And they
had all been grown in honor of us.
There was wild waving of hand
kerchiefs ON the ship and a frantic
.fiuttering of white among the flowers,
as if flock of butterflies had been
frightened up into the air. Still we
We're a long time getting in, and l
grew quite impatient. But finally
Louise, who had attended to my pack
ing. took charge of my handbag. my
sunshade and coat, With her mistress
and Miss Woodburn's things The
moment had come TO bid the ship
goodby.
"Now," said Mrs. Ess Kay, slipping
her arm into mine, Il wonder, dear
child. If you would mind being left
alone to deal with the custom house
people? You'd stand under your own
letter b of course"
"Oh, Katherine. do you think even
Letter r. which sounds so like a warn
y
for q duchess daughter?" exclaimed
Sally Woodburn.
/ laughed. but Mrs. Ess Kay didn't
/ She evidently considers things connect
ed with the American custom house nc
fit subject for frivolitS. She went on
without answering: I'm under X and
Sally W. Wen both have all we can
attend to wrestling with our own
| fiends. and Louise will be just as busy
But you're a British subject, on q
short visit to this country, and they
won't be as diabolical to you, dear.
| did all the swearing necessary for YOU
| in the saloon with my own when the
| tiresome man came on board, ant
there's really nothing left for you tC
bother with on the dock except to opeI
your boxes and say you have nothing
| to declare
| / was glad that since profanity ha(
been called for in the saloon owing Il
| the tiresomenesS of a man it had beer
! Mrs. Ess Kay who was Obliged to Civ
| vent to it. not /; but l felt rather de
frauded that l couldn't have heard
and wondered if. she had gone so ia
as to mention damn" All l said on
loud. however, was that l was sure
could manage very well in the docks
and Mrs. Ess Kay appeared much re
lieved. That's perfectly sweet of you
Betty" she said, launching dagger
j glance at poor, inoffensive Sally 70
j some reason which l couldn't under
stand 81 hope you won't think II
horrid not to have asked you to labe
! your baggage * so it could go wit
mine. It's better not, for every on
u concerned. I'll explain afterward why
2 and Louise shall take you to B."
Louise did take me to 3D." .whic
J they had thoughtfully printed yer
:. large and black on a wooden wall @
D the dock In row with all the othe
letters Of the alphabet. A good man
. people from the ship were collectin
0 beneath theirs. as If they were animal
getting ready to join the procession fo
e the ark under the heading Of "cat" &
I elephant as the case might be. al
they all seemed worried and apprehel
I siye, as you do at the dentists eve
. when you try TO distract your mind l
: looking at the pictures in Punch.
G Louise put my bag on the wDode
j foor and folded my coat on 1t. "Mila,
!. will do well TO SIT down." said sh
e ut may be that the baggage do NJ
8 come immedatemcnt" With this 81
] BUSTED away 10 the Louise rabbit wa
g rem. wherever 1t was. leaving me
e the tender mercies of fellow "Bs." wi
e began to swarm around me and blu:
; distractedly.
/ subsidized on the bag, which we
9 very like sitting on the floor. But
i was sitting down there among pc
5, pies feet. Besides, mine soon &,
{ pins and needles" So presently
u popped up like Jack out of his be
II and almost knocked off mans no.
e with the crown of my hat
s, ! said, Il beg your pardonw thoue
IS what the nose was doing so near IL
,r top of my head / couldn't conceive u
e, til its owner (fumbling with one har
1t for his handkerchief to stanch
is drop OF blood and snatching off b
straw hat with the other. already fl
II Of notebooks and things) blurted o
In abruptly. "Are you Lady BulkeleyY'