Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-30
..,uhnt.. she demanded sharplv.

! nv not communicative Win any OnS
! in the old village during all these
years. And TO think Here a truck
! load of trunks was pushed rapidly to-
ward them. and they were forced aside.
/ Bates caught the eye OF waiting
| backman and nodded. A moment later
tbe carriage stood beside the platform.
/ with the driver holding open the door
| for them TO enter.
"a station platform is no place to
| talk" said Bates genially. Suppose
we take a drive through some of the
| quiet streets of tho city. We have
plenty of time" Then be looked at
her with a new thought in his eyes.
II didn't see you in the he began.
then added hastily, You haven't had
dinner, suppose"
No" hesitatlng and flushing a lit
tie, u
.'Oh, / understand" quickly. "Yon
are like me and can't put up with the
makeshifts of a railroad restaurant
Now. I'll tell you what" unblushinGly,
Pm about as hungry as a man can be.
There's a nice hotel in back some
where. Wen go to that and have
dinner. and then well drive about the
city and talk until train time"
There was hesitation almost refu-
sal. on her face; but, feigning not to
notice il, be urged her into the carriage
and then sprang in himself and mo-
toned for the driver TO close the door.
An hour passed and then a half
hour, and soon after train rumbled
into the station and then rumbled
away. Twenty minutes more and an
other train arrived and departed. As
it disappeared the carriage again
whirled up beside the station.
HAS my train gomez" the woman
asked anxiously as she reached the
platform.
Bates took out his watch and looked
at it meditatively.
I'm afraid it has" he answered,
land my train, too. with its possible
thousand dollars. We've been gone
little over two hours. Driver" severe
", you ought not to have taken US
so far
There was grave concern in his voice,
but in his eyes was sly twinkle.
which she did not notice. The driver
twirIed his hat apologetically in one
hand, but into the other generous tip
had been slipped. so he was silent.
1t Is really too bad" Bates con-
tiDued Sympathetically. There is only
one more train out today. and that
goes toward Richmond. But I'll tell
you what" as though struck by sud
den solution of the problem, suppose
we take that. You know what you
have promised me at the end of three
months. Now. what is the use Of
waiting that long? You have no peo-
pie. and l have none, and II you go
back to that school you have been
telling me about it will be TO unap-
preciative employers and at wages
that will scarce pay your expenses. L
have a good house waiting for some
body to look after it and more money
in the bank than | know what to do
with Now. my idea is for us TO so
TO a minister. You know where min
lister lives. don't you?" TO the driver.
''Yis. SORT" grinning.
"And then come back and take the
train for Richmond. 1t is very nice
city, and you are bound TO like il. How
does the scheme strike you:"
Evidently it struck her unfavOrably
or as something tCo astounding to ad-
nit even Of a reply.
Good" he said beamingly. silence
means consent Now we will drive
back to the hotel and write a couple of
letters. You tell the school committee
that unforeseen circumstances prevent
ed your returning. and / will write
that the same kind of circumstances
have kept me from attending the sale.
Come
She parted her lips as though to pro-
ri N Il RI
her heart was with this man who had
been so much to her youth and who
had returned. and in the end she en-
tered the carriage with him and the
door was again closed by the driver.
1t is said that the groom is usually
the one 70 show trepidation ut wed
ding. but in this case it was the bride.
IN a twiDkiiug the whole course of her
life had been turned. She was being
transformed from schOolteacher TO
a wife. But in her breast was that
satisfaction at being permitted to give
up that struggle with the world which
is natural TO men and usually distaste-
full 10 women. Instead a vision glim-
mered before her eyes-a vision Of
home. husband and children-and,
despite such gasps as one will take at
being swung over precipice. she was
happy.
An hour later this driver was stand
ing on the platform Of the station
watching the train rumble away to- |
ward Richmond. Not until IL had dis
appeared did he climb back to his boz
and drive toward home. Bridget. his
wife, swas preparing supper when he
came in from the stable.
"Ocb. Pat" she called in sudden APP
prehension. "how come yeZ so soon?
1t is bad luck we've been hayin' the
day?"
"Troth, no. Biddy." catching her in
his arms and swinging her about the
room and then slipping a crisp new
ten dollar bill in her hand. That's
for the new clothes the childcrs made"