Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-17

lawn. but the footsteps made no sound |
on the thick turf When they began
to ascend the STEPS Dorothy opened
her eyes with a start. and John Porter
stood before her.
There was n wonderfully tender light
in his eyes and determined express
sion about his mouth. How handsome
he looked! How tall and strong he
was! Dorothy caught her breath.
II thought you had gone away" she
managed to say.
"Only down to the junction to meet
the chief engineer. He wanted to talk
over my next job with me. It's lit
tie bigger than anything I've ever un-
dertaken before. But you didn't think
I'd go without seeing you again. did
you. Dorothy. after Sunday night?"
81 didn't know" murmured Dorothy.
her eyes on the big buckles Of her
colonial slippers.
John Porter seated himself on the
porch rail and looked straight at Dor
othy's face!
Dorothy" he said, 81 know it's the
| general opinion that man has no
|
to marry him until he can provide for
her the things she has been accus-
toned to having, but it seems to me
that if a girl really cared for man
she could be happy with him even if
| she had to do without some of the
things she'd been used to-"
II WONDER thought Dorothy, eff 1t
can be possible that the hero has mod
ern improvements too"
But she kept her eyes on the big sill
yer buckles, and John Porter contin
ued speaking with deliberate cOnvic-
ton. "And that is why 1 dare to tell
you that you can afford to give up
some of the things that money can
buy and come and share with me the
things that can't be bought. Will you
come, Dorothy?
yes" said Dorothy, meeting his look
squarely at last. Il will come"
Half an hour later they remembered
Dorothy's father.
"He will never allow you to marry
me-" cried John Porter, "a common
builder of roadsv'
"A rising young engineer" corrected
Dorothy .Come on. I'll manage
papa"
Papa" she announced. pushing
aside the portiere with one hand and
drawing her lover after her with the
other, I'm going to marry Mr.. Por-
ter"
Mr.. Allen reused himself from the
depth of a leather chair where he had
been taking an afternoon nap. started
a little at the sight of the young man
and looked quizzically Mt his daughter.
"Your prospects for doing SO certain
~ look little brighter than they have
for the past few days." he remarked.
where have you been keeping your
self, Mr.. Porter? Dorothy and 1 had
about concluded that you were too
busy doing things to give us any at
tention. But, if Dorothy has made up
her mind to marry you, you may as
well submit first as last. Do you think
you can support herr"
Not in the style to which she has
been accustomed" said John Porter.
But she is willing to dispense with
luxuries."
when 1 married Dorothy's mother,
said Mr.. Allen, ''she + :. a little mon
ey, which 1 invested, and after heI
death / put the investment in Doro
= thy's name without saying anything to
her about it. It's really surprising
how that little sum has grown. The
y income from it is now quite consider
;, able" He named a sum more thar
= twice John Porter's salary. Il should
= think this. added to your present in
come. might provide for love in a cot
b. tage"-
with all the modern improve
ments," said Dorothy softly, with shin
ing eyes.