Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-16

tIdI A1rlca. He had eXpecteQ-nOl
unnaturally that Alethea would
meet him with some show OF pleasure.
She had not troubled to meet him at
ALL She was out when he arrived,
and when he inquired the reason OF
her absence he was informed that her
ladyship was speaking at meeting
of the League of Freedom. Carlyon
had been absent from England for
some months and had never heard OF
the League of Freedom. He supposed
1t was something new, and he was
surprised that Alethea should b. in
terested in it. 1t was not like Alethea
to be interested in anything but her
self, her husband, her house and
frocks, and friends, and all the thou
sand and one amiable frivolties which
made up her life. Carlyon die not
understand her connection with the
League of Freedom, whatever that
might be; he understood it less than
ever as he gazed now, perturbed and
slightly disappointed at Alethea's
changed and unsmiling face.
Didn't know you had anything
the matter with your eyes, darling,
he said, feelingly. Look bright
enough, anyway, 1 say, you haven't
said you're glad to see me yet"
Alethea parted the question. Her
eyes-was it the result of the mys-
FERROUS process of "opening?" -
pierced Carlyon with glacial stare.
die you not receive my last :
ter?"
BOAT got upset; expect it's feeding
the fish," Carlyon explained. ANY
thing particular in it?'
ST told you in that letter that h-.d
Joined the League of Freedom"
$50 did Smithers. Said you were
'spouting at a meeting" Carlyon
said, beginning to drawl and clip his
g's little. 1t was way of his when
eyes sparkled. Didn't know you'd
taken to the platform trick. Beastly
bad form, amt Itch, what, Ally?"
at wish you wouldn't call me
Ally" Lady Carlyon said irritably.
cit reminds me of the comic press"
her tone conveyed volumes of con-
tempt for the comic press. 1.-The
League of Freedom, Reginald, is
very serious thing"
Carlyon took out his cigarette case.
Sounds so. I'm sure-deuced seri-
GUS. Wish you wouldn't call me
Reginald makes me feel chilly
about the spine. What the dickens
is the League of Freedom when it's
at homer"
1.-The home of the League of Free
DOM" Lady Carlyon retorted lyrical
ly, lis III the hearts of those who
have devoted their lives to its sacred
cause-those whose one desire is to
free the victims of a hideous tyranny
from the yoke-that-which-"
Her eloquence eTaporated. Carlyon
was selecting cigarette.
Dc, MI In cot
Don't wonder you're gone on the
platform, if that's your ticket. Most
improvin'. So the League of Free
dom is a Russian secret society-eh.
what?"
Lady CarIyon was so irritated that
she forgot to be lyrical.
"You are really too frightfully
dense, Reggie. It's nothing of the
kind. It's a society formed by myself
and-and others-to bring about the
reform of the divorce laws-to make
divorce more easy"
Canyons jaws dropped, so did his
eyeglass, so did his cigarette case. For
a moment he looked almost idiotic.
BY joveI" he calculated, slowly
1t was the only remark which seemed
appropriate to the occasion, and he
repeated it more slowly still. by
Jove!"
The president of the League OF
Freedom felt vaguely pleased. At any
rate, she had made a Sensation-Oi
some sort. Her announcement haC
undoubtedly filed her husband wit
amaZement.
Carlyon suddenly found his tongue
make divorce more easy why
it's a COMPOUNDED lot too easy as
is! There was the Carraway bushes
-d'you remember? oh, / suppost
You were in the schoolroom then
Well, anyway, it was a plant, tn,
whole blessed thing Mabel Cara
way dragged me ind no more t
do with it than you had-and the oil,
man stopped my allowance. and there
was the deuce of a row-and every
bit of evidence was paid for AnG
you want to make it more easy!"
You need not tell me about the
Carraway case. | know too much
about it already"
"By Jovei" Carlyon murmured to
the ceiling. Make divorce more -
why, you'll be wanting to divorce me
next"
IF / thought it my duty, Reginald
| hope l should not hesitate to make
an example of you. even at the cost OF
much pain and unpleasantness to my
self. But do not let US be personal
at present. After dinner l am en-
gagged to address a meeting. Perhaps
you would like to accompany me. The
subject is The House of Bondage
a. The House of -
Bondage returned Alethea, in
her clearest platform tone. ut signi-
fies marriage, the marriage of those
who have no true bond of sympathy.
'sI'll have smoke, if you've no OBJ
lection, Al-Alethea," he said. An
other night I'll be charmed to go and
hear you spout-most-ah- in
terestin', I'm sure. / nope you take
your examples of wife beatin' from
personal experience-eh, what? Trff-
i'm, did you say? Well, perhaps Pm
lot feeIin' very serious tonight-sight |
IF you, / expect. l say, Ally, can't |
gou chuck your spoutin' and take me
% theater-eh? Can't? Oh, never
mind"
But when she had gene he sat star
ng at his unlighted cigarette. Mar.