Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-23
inc would not have admitted. even to

vhe would not have admitted, even to
herself, that they were more for the
hurt to her pride involved in his going
without her than for the crushing out
of what but yesterday she had fancied
was her one true love.
Torrens had awakened it-Torrens
with his gay elegance. his careless
easy assumption of authority. so I'M
like Billy's respectful alteration. Bill
~ was the inevitable, the common
place. Therefore she had resented
him even more than she had resented
the family disposition of her hand.
Torrens had fascinated her from the
beginning. She had felt it would be
SO finely romantic TO fling away
lover and fortune for his dear sake.
And he had asked her to do it-a hun
dred times al leaSt-aS plainly as any
thing could be asked without words.
And now he had gone, at Billy's
bidding-gone without q word to her.
come the whistle of the departing
train. In a passion of anger and hui
initiation she turned again upon Billy.
saying in her hardest voice:
go tell everybody you threw me
| over-because of-the other-and don't
let me see you ever again"
She was sorry for the speech before
| the gate shut behind Billy, sorrier still
as the days drew into Il week-a week
| full of stir and wondering over Billy's
, approaching departure. She had not
seen him again. even at a distance.
Daily he walked block about rather
than pass her gate. He did more
| gave up his share in the money, put
| ting the whole CT it safely In trust for
| Adela. When word of 1t was brought
TO her she turned away her face, ran
! upstairs and was invisible until next
J day
Torrcns had written-a light. grace
| full, lying letter, pleading imperative
business in excuse for his seeming
rudeness, and at the very end limiting
at wishing her joy with Billy. She
tore the letter furiously into small
bits and next minute wished she had
sent it to Billy instead
Billy was going that night-upon the
same train that had taken Torrens
away. All day Adela thought of him
All day she fought with herself.
AT 3 o'clock she began furiously to
make some small preparations. At 6
cloaked and bonneted. with travel
Ing bag clinched in her hands. she
stole down side streets to the station
and shrank into hiding there
Billy would not come for half al
hour. The train came at 4. but she
must be il time. She had on n thicb
veil and had chosen the most mufiiinc
of her wraps. Thus nobody recognized
ner. not even Billy when he came in
the center OF Hearty group.
They laughed and TESTED with him
all talking at once and very fast. The.
; slapped him on the shoulder anC
poked him in the ribs. but somehow
they were not very merry. Billy him
self was not merry, though he kept W
his part manfully.
AdeIa, watching from her covert
saw lines in his face unseen before
Otherwise she might have lacked cour
age for the desperate thing she had L
do. 1t was desperate thing. consid
ering what had come and gone, t,
walk out and say in weak, small
voice. but so all could hear: "Billy-I-
have changed my mind. II want m.
wedding present after all. Yes, there
, time II sent word to the ministe
TO have everything ready, you see.
, knew l could depend ON YOU