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

DOWN there toiling. watching. waiting.
as they forge the gun which is to make
your fame she said softly.
"And your he asked. just as low.
In the darkness she looked up at him.
"And l." she said-''I shall be up here
just where l am now. watching the
lights and thinking and praying that
all will be we'll"
Again they stood in silence for a
time.
Then the man sighed.
'T am afraid to come back again." he
began unsteadily 81 think had bet
ter say goodby to you tonight"
She moved slightly closer
"Afraid?'' 1t was taunt tremulous-
ly given
EYES," he blurted. II am afraid. and
you know why
She did not answer, and he rushed
on, speaking low, eagerly. yet bitterly.
You know / can't tell you what /
wish to say. l haven't really the right.
I am a peDniless naval officer and you
the daughter of the biggest steel man
in the country. / haven't the right
"What is 1t you wish to say?' she
asked insistentiy. She was so close
their hands touched as he turned to-
ward her And. touching, the hands
chung together.
"You know what I wish to say" he
exclaimed. eff had the right I'd tell
you how much love you. I'd tell you
how from the first moment l saw you
wanted you. and you only. I'd tell
you how / never have lived until /
knew you and the rest of my life
must be one dreary blank of grinding
duty because l must lose you. I'd tell
you that life with you would be more
happiness than any man has the right
to have. I'd tell you that I'd rather
have one year of you than a million
years on earth and all the honors that
men could give me. I'd tell you"-he
broke off bitterly for a second, then
repeated-''Id tell you enough to make
you realize what an absolutely dream
ing, idiotic fool | am. but Ia tell you
enough to make you know how I suf-
fer because l haven't the right to real
Iy tell you anything"
In the darkness the girl laughed a
low laugh of pure delight.
you are an absolute, idiOtic. dream
ing fool" she said. so softly. so ten
derby. that he could not but understand
"Francesr'
He barely breathed her name. Then
all reply was cut of. for she was in
his arms with her own arms about his
neck and their lips were tight to-
gether.
1t was nearly half an hour later
when Frances Durant. her cheeks
flushed. her eyes misty with happi-
ness. opened the big front door and
stepped back into the lighted hall.
So much had happened in that short
| time. She had gone out an anxious,
worried girl. She re-entered a glow
| Ing woman, loved and loving. sure of
herself and happily confident Of the
| future. They were not engaged. No,
| indeed, They had solemnly assured
each other of that fact. 1t would not
| do at all for the penniless naval officer
| to formally ask the hand of the steel
| kings daughter! But when his gun
had been a great success ard fame
! had come to him then he was to come
and make his formal plea and ask her
| father for her hand. And she would
be waiting eagerly for her lover, ready
with her answer and prepared. no mat
! ter what happened. to follow him to
the ends of the earth.
Edward Pinckney looked up with q
sneer as she entered the library.
"Oh, he's gone. has hep he said
contemptuously.
The girl was too happy to mind the
tone.
You mean Mr.. Sommers?" she said.
affecting to misunderstood. Yes; he's
gone"
"Of course mean that naval whip
persnapper. Who do you suppose !
meant?' he replied sharply. You
ought to have more sense. Frances,
than to stand out on that cold porch
You're likely to catch pneumonia or
anything"
The girl smiled slightly.
"Oh, 1 wasn't cold.' she said.
ave been waiting to speak to you
began Pinckney again. ''It's about
| something important"
Frances was IN no mood for long
dull conversation. She wanted to get
away by herself to think over the last
half hour, to feel again the thrill OF
his touch. to hear again in her imagi
nation the sound of his voice. So she
spoke somewhat impatiently.
Wont tomorrow do, Edward p
He shook his head with decision.
mo; tomorrow won't do, Frances.
want to talk to you tonight about
something in which 1 am interested
and in which your mother and father
! are interested also-Something which
| we all wish to bring about"
The girl yawned. She did not have