Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-18

heart to see you all again. oh. my
poor LITTLE girl. TO think 1 brought this
on you. And ! thought l was doing
it for your good The old mans sobs
broke out afresh
Did she love this Despard so much,
then:" queried Ingraham.
mo, no. was the hasty answer
Lately I've come to think she didn't
love him at all. but was doing 1t TO
please me. She knew l wanted her
to marry a Frenchman and thought
this was her only chance. You know.
my poor Nanon isn't exactly what
might be called beautiful" he broke
off deprecatingly.
Ingrahans face broadened In sup
pressed smile. but the father went on.
81 have n confession TO make to you,
Mr.. Ingraham." he said, something
you should have known before, but Ma
non said ! mustn't tell. The reason
goes back a long time. Once ! had
everything wanted, and then II
wouldn't have been necessary for me
to do what ! have to get husband
for Nanon. You boys maybe thought
we didn't know what brought you here
so much. but we did. 1t was the cook
ing Nanon knew. but she only laugh
ed and let me have my way. Always
she only had il in her mind TO let me
have my way and please me. But, TO
go back, after my wife died things
went wrong, and / lost all | had.
had never been taught TO work. so
could do little. and there came time
when we didn't know where to get our
next meal. Then came this chance
down here. Nanon told me to accept
it. But / can't keep accounts / told
her. Never mind said she: well fix
that so they'll never know And she
did. On account of my lameness ! got
permission TO work here in the shack.
Now. don't you see? She did the work.
while / kept the house and cooked.
Cooking was the only thing l could
do, you see, but | can cook. French
cooking has always been my hobby.
and / learned from some of the best
experts alive. Well, began to think
Nanon ought to get married. for ]
wanted some little children about in
my old age. She never attracted men. |
though, If they knew how beautiful her
heart and mind are. instead of looking |
at the face / would not have had to |
a
her. thought IL man really got to |
know her it wouldn't matter about the |
means. But I've failed. you see," he |
finished. land that's all. I've disgraced |
my child. and we'Il have to start all |
over again somewhere else"
where is the girl?" asked Ingraham |
soberIy. O'Higgins nodded at the pines. |
Seated on dead tree trunk he found |
the girl. her somber eyes gazing out |
through the vista of pine trees into the |
patch of opal sea beyond.
"Nanon." he said offering his hand. |
1--WE come to see If there isn't some
thing can say-something l can do
What is there to be said?' she an
swered. ruefully smiling. "Only-only |
please don't say you'll bring him back"
Then you don't love-didn't love-
81 love my father" she said simply. |
"And he wanted me TO marry"
As the man looked down into the |
deep eyes that told so much Of self |
sacrifice and love. that would have
made her even sacrifice her life TO give
an old man passing happiness. the
slow dawn of a comprehension broke
over him, a comprehension Of what II /
meant to know a woman who knew
only one law-the law of devotion.
He had never been a man OF impulse,
but as Ingrabam gazed at her the one
that came TO him was needed.
There are other men to marry, Ma
non," he said. looking her squarely in
the eyes. The girl WINGED bit. but
laughingly replied:
at cannot be that you, too, arc
looking for Il COOKE?
I'm looking for woman" he said,
land / think I've found her. I won't
ask you to answer me now" he went
on hurriedly. 81 have only found my
self that l love you. and the sensa
ton is so wonderful that l, too, must
have time to think of it. But you will
think of me little. won't your
The girl put out her hand as glad
light fitted in the somber eyes through
their wondering.
81 think I've always done that" she
said.