Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-24

!
night to fulfill a dinner engagement.
His hostess was charming woman.
and her dinners were famous. He was
in very pleasant frame of mind. As
be opened the little envelope contain
ing. the name of his dinner partner he
exclaimed 50 sharply that the well
trained footman could not forbear a
glance Of establishment. On the card
was the name of Isabel Douglas.
MACPHERSON, instantly in revolt, med
itated fight for an instant, then re-
allied how impossible that was and
that there was nothing to do but go
downstairs and mset her. Never in
his life had he entertained such vio-
lent prejudice for any woman's society
+ as he now felt for hers. He was en-
tirely blind to her innocence Of the
manner in which her name had been
rung in his ears till he hated the sound
| of it. at any rate, she should not add
him to the list of victims report said
strewed her path.
He entered the big drawing room
and greeted his hostess.
"Pve favored you tonight" that lady
said. smiling. 'T'ye given you the
prettiest and incest girl here to take
out to dinner. Do you know Miss
Douglas of Kentucky"
81 do not" said the hapless John
MACPHERSON crisply and mentally set
his teeth. In two minutes 1t was all
over, and he was properly introduced
to her. Just what he had expected
Miss Douglas to do was hard to say.
He had braced himself for resistance,
but to his bewilderment, like dash
Of cool water in his face. he realized
there was absolutely nothing to resist.
Miss Douglas, far lovelier than her
picture. had given him one rare. cor
| dial smile which revealed the secret
of her power. for it was a smile speak
ing sympathetic interest in the indi-
vidual addressed. and then had not paid
much more attention to him, being in
| terested in the conversation of re-
turned arctic explorer.
| MACPHERSON studied her at his leisure
aIc1 as the moments passed found him.
self Grasping wildly at all his ingrained
preiudices against her. He had wits
enough to reflect in a panic stricken
| way that if the mere sight of her was
so disarming acquaintance with her
might work marvellous changes in a
mans feelings When they passed out
to the dining room Macpherson found
himself hating for something to say, a
new experience for him.
The girl herself broke the ice by re-
marking that she thought she knew
his sister. Was not Nan Ransom out
| west that relative? She had mention
ed her brother so often
BY the end of that dinner John Mac
Pherscn was miserable. Apologize. at
sea. He did not know why he should
be SO upset. All he realized was that
he had a crazy desire to explain to
Miss Douglas how sorry he was for
being such an egregious idiot as to dis
like her before he had met her.
"She certainly got in her special
brand of hypnotic work on me. all
right" he told his reflection grimly
that night as he took off his cravat
before the mirror. "But, then, she's
an exception"
| JOlu NIL ueTSOH WIS Uldu WnO
went out after what he wanted when
he got his mind made up. He never
really made up his mind about Isabel
Douglas, however-that is, deliberate
ly. He did not have time. 1t was IA
tai attack from the very first sight OF
her. And when he asked her to marry
him after she had been in New York
two weeks only and she very properly
protested at his haste it plunged hin
into despair so deep that he made life
unbearable for his servants.
But Miss Douglas knew of her owl
heart. too. after several years of expe
rience in refusing numerous suitors
and she did not keep the man she
found she really cared for waiting too
long before she promised to marry
him.
II don't understand it in the least.
she laughed. blushing and shaking hel
head when she had said Yes"
Neither do l." agreed John Mac
Pherson promptly. "-And l intend t.
, marry you as soon as 1 wheedle yo,
into naming the day for fear you'll
change your mind"
Then he telegraphed his sister ou
west, who knew nothing of what hat
been going on in New York. Mrs. Ran
: som laughed and cried alternatel!
when she got the laconic message. I
: said:
81 have at last met Isabel. You cal
buy your gown to wear to the wed
4 ding"
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