Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-16

play TO cre'S numOr, VINO pest GIG un-
.aercifully if he could or was beaten |
without showing the white feather.
The second winter Billy's sister died. |
He stayed away two months. and the
captain openly fretted for him. Then
one evening Billy appeared with box
OF the captains favorite cigars. Thei
captain fairly wept for Joy at sight OF
MIN ana shook his hand twenty rrn.as
He called That's to see who had come.
That's came, startled by the clamor and
q little, disguised when she found only
Billy. She gave him cool little hand
and q ccol little srrilc and cool little
phrase of welcon,, then returned TO
the piano and Chaminade. She did not
nr-Ir--tarll Billy .whn BROUGHT CHARS
to her father instead of bonbons TO
her.
Two years went by. The circle about
the captains card table had changed
many times and had dwindled to an
occasional widower, silly Tom Pike
and Billy. One by one the other young
men had mended their hearts and Of
fered them good as new elsewhere.
The votive offerings that now came
to That's shrine were far less frequent
Billy brought her nothing at all, but 1t
was wonderful how many little things
he found to present the captain witli
He even gave Aunt Lefty beautiful
crochet hook with a chased gold ham
die.
More years passed and more slowly
for That's. Chaminade had ceased to
charm her, and she missed the excite
ment Of past alteration. Mr.. Sweet
had gone away, and Tom Pike, In de-
Epair Of winning That's. had married
woman easier to WOO. There were no
new lovers Forthcoming. for That's was
now generally labeled dangerous More
over, she had ceased to be the beauty
Of the time.
She had reached q very trying period
Of her life, being too old to go In the
young set, too young to go in the old
set and prohibited by reason Of her
maidenhood from the married set.
Fer dreams did not, as In the past.
satisfy her. Her hero, the ideal Of her
imaginings, had not come. She believ-
ed now he never would come. She be-
gan to sigh when she looked in the
glass. Sometimes she saw herself
quite old, sitting at table pouring tea
for Aunt Lefty Or playing cards with
her father and having no interest in
life beyond these two daily duties.
That's ideas Of life were changing
She discovered that Billy Smith had a
coed forehead and mouth and that his
hair looked better with CLEANS Of gray
in 1t.
Rilly still came to the house as I'M
failingly as ever. He was almost tbs
only single man who did come. In
| consciously almost she began to look
forward to his visits. and he often
found her shutting cards against his
| arrival
Billy had frightened wonderfully ir.
| these later years. He told stories and
| jokes and the amusing gossip of the
| town. He was earning large salary
and was much sought by mothers With
| manageable daughters But for some
reason he continued to be free and to
play cards at the captains.
One evening he found That's alone
v,
| and he stayed. They sat down at the
card table, and Billy dealt the pack TO:
pedro. They played as for dear life,
scarcely speaking. Then by means Of
a lucky ace Billy Won
| He looked across at That's, but her
! eyes were down. Something in her
face. however, lent him courage, and
he caught her hands. which were alb
sently engaged with the cards.
"Thaisr' he commanded. She looked
at him.
81 win" he said triumphantly.
| YES" she faltered.
| cit has taken a long time" he said
| presently. ''Thais. have never given
you present. But l have one for you
which l have carried with me con
stantly for several years. May l give
it to you now?'
"Yes." That's said meekly.
| When he had put the ring upon hel
finger he leaned forward and kissed
her.
sit has been a long game" he said
"and one that required lots of patience
and determination. You see. dearest.
! fell In love with you the first time
saw you. and l made up my mind tc
have you. God willing. The only wa!
could make myself welcome here
was to play cards. So played. Your
never ask me to play cards with yor
after we are married. will you, dear?'
"Why not?" asked That's wondering
~.
because 1 loathe them and hav,
loathed them since the first game
ever learned"
; "Oh, Billy" That's said.
And then and there she realized tina
the man of her heart was indeed, afte