Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-12

ten you, MRS. Durant. it makes my
blood boil to see it. i can't stand it.
won't stand it."
"EdwaEdp Mrs Durant was not
smiling now. Her face was stern.
grim, almost like her husbands. do
you realize what you're sayingw she
demanded sternly. LIT isn't for you to
criticise what Frances does one way
or another. I will attend to that. Her
father and / have charge of her and
no one else. For you to make any such
speech is presumptuous."
Pinckney bowed. rebuked.
'Im sorry" he said. 81 suppose I
was presumptuous, but"-his voice
broke with real feeling, a feeling of
fear and disappointed ambition that
Mrs. Durant mistook for love-"it is
hard after the dreams I've had and
the plans we've made. 1 tell you, it's
a fearful thing to stand by and see
you and Mr.. Durant calmly helping
this sailor to win her."
Mrs. Durant smiled appealingly.
''Now. now, Edward" she said.
"You take 1t too seriously. You know
that George and I have no idea of
helping him to win her. If any one Is
helping him you are the one"
Pinckney looked at her amazed.
up he exclaimed.
Frances mother nodded.
Exactly" she said. "You are help
ing him by your very apparent jeal-
ousy. There is nothing that will spur
a girl to be particularly nice to one
| man so much as a knowledge that
some one she cares for is seeing and
writhing"
Pinckney opened his eyes. Like
many another schemer. he had de-
voted all his time to circumventing
men. and he really knew compare
lively little about women.
But she hasn't seen that I notice
| IT," he protested. she's been too
busy with him to notice anything"
The mother laughed out loud at his
bitter tone.
Nonsense. Edward Mr.. Sommers
Is a nice young man, and don't
blame her for enjoying his visits.
| Goodness knows. nice young men are
not so plentiful in Pittsburg."
Pinckney looked at her reproachfully.
II thought you at least were on my
side" he complained. II didn't ex-
pect you'd be against me-"
He sat down in a big chair and
stared gIoomily at the fire. Mrs. Du-
rant came over TO rest one hand af-
| fectionately on his shoulder.
SCI am on your side. Edward" she
said seriously. You know that You
know perfectly well that her father
and l both hope with all our hearts
that some day we shall see you two
married"
He turned eagerly and, reaching up.
caught her hand.
"Then why don't you speak to her
of it?' be exclaimed. Let her under
stand your wishes"
The woman looked down on him
with pityihg smile.
"You poor boyp she said. "You
must be desperate. You want me to
propose for you. Well. If George Du-
rant had come to my mother She
| ended with a nod almost savage.
perhaps he did for all you know"
| exclaimed Pinckney.
mo, he didn't She was dead"
snapped Frances mother. Now. you
poor thing, don't be so tragic Som
| LueES Will 20 III q Ody Ut 80, duO III q
few weeks he may be ordered to the
north pole or the equator or goodness
knows where. At any rate. he'll be
out of her way and yours. See her to
night. Talk with her. Let her see
how you feel toward her. Now is g
good time. She's coming back. I'll
leave you"
But it was the butler instead of
Frances, as expected, that entered the
! room.
"Filkins, where is Miss DurantT'
asked Pinckney sharply.
The butler turned.
ION the veranda with the navy gen.
tleman, SIR" he said.
| Meanwhile, outside on the veranda,
| Frances Durant and Lieutenant Som
mers stood side by side in the dark
ness saying goodby. Back Of them,