Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-04

had ordered him from the house.
George had then urged Mary to con-
slider herself banished also and come
70 q home OF their own. Mary. sau,
but dutiful, would not consent. Win.
ters temper was tempestpous. and the
angry young lover left town. sending
Mary word that she or the ''oId man"
must make the next move. The three
remained firm In their silence. One
faint glimmer of hope remained With
Mary
The long, icebound winter that fol-
lowed brought no encouragement to
this hope
In the early spring every Thing loos
ened save syria. The river which
found it's serene and sluggish way
past the Greenbury domicile received
the accumulation of snow and ice.
Heavy rains added new impetus. and
the shallow stream became at once
rapid aud noisy. One morning it leap
ed up the bank and beat at the walls
of Syra's little retreat. The Green
burys began the work OF transferring
the furnishings from the little summer
house.
II am glad the house is SO far from
the river" observed Mrs. Greenbury
as the river rose to the level Of the
yard.
Mary's watchful eyes filed with
tears as she slipped out for a last
farewell to the doomed little place.
The young Greenburys reluctantly de-
parted for school. and syria. who had
deemed 1t wise to remain at home and
guard his fortress. was doing some
carpentry work when he heard warn
ing shout from neighbor He rushed
into the yard i'm time to see the wa
ters circle about the little structure
and sweep it downstream.
MARY is in there"' cried his wife.
wringing her hands.
In confederation Of this prediction
Mary came out on the porch OF the
little house as 1t went around the bend
in the river. SYRIA rushed along the
bank until he came to a boat. He
leaped into the boat and showed on.
His little craft was whirled through
the waters and around the bend OF
the river. Then he saw the smoke
house some distance ahead. Syra's
progress was impeded by congestion
of driftwood through which he des-
perately pushed his boat When he
| rushed downstream again the house
| was far i'm the lead.
His boat moved so swiftly that the
scenes on the shore were like moving
pictures. The little town Of Mendou.
ten miles from home. soon appeared.
The knowledge that dam was only
six miles farther brought TO him a
shuddering faintness. Then his thin
| lips made a straighter line than ever.
His craft should follow the house. now
a mile ahead. wherever fate should
| lead it. Another bend in the river
| shut the object of his pursuit from his
strained eyes. Again this course was
| temporarily stayed by collision with a
mass of wreckage and it was some
| time before he rounded the curve
| His heart leaped. The little house
was safely lodged on shore. and q big
fat bottomed boat was being rowed
| toward him.
| The girl is safe" the oarsman as
sured him.
| His little boat was brought alongside
the smokehouse. and he followed his
rescuers up the embankment to where
| Mary stood within the harbor OF
George Winters encircling arm.
| "Oh. father!' she cried with &
GREATNESS laugh as she ran to him.
| George followed doubtfully.
well, George" said SYRIA grimly, ex
tending the hand of reconciliation
must come to you. And we've boil
come. you SEQ"