Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-31

covers and turned down tue idinP.
you're fool. Susan Tipping.
shrilIed Miss Melissa angrily. lis Le
going to take that goose along 100!
NO: Fanny Lees going TO take care
of it."
Miss Melissa's dark eyes glared
fiercely at her neice. go along. do.
amt got no patience with you at ALL.
And she covered beneath her coyerlids
with little grunts Of dispIeasure.
Four days afterward Jonas sailed
away on ttle Blue Heron. and be car
ried away two pictures in his memory.
One was of Fanny Lee. plump and
smiling, with the gray goose at her
side. waving farewell from the dock.
! The other picture was of Susan Tip
ping. tall and slender and pale, with
her face frozen into stony Indifference.
And when the familiar faces had melt
ed into the haze that covered shore
and bay Jonas Wilton still looked
wistfully backward.
1t was a long year. The Widow Lee
Haunted the gray goose as a betrothal
! gift, and Queen of Sheba was gener-
ally regarded as the tangible bond that
united two loving, separated hearts.
| AS the months wore on and no news
came from Jonas there was a strained
| look in Fanny's eyes and occasionally
! in the woodshed the gray goose receiv-
ed the castigations she so richly de-
| served after her predatory descents
| upon the grass grown lawn.
1t was a long year. Aunt Melissa
! died in the summer and left Susan
| richer by several thousand dollars. but
! poorer by one friend less. Susan plan
ned when Jonas came back she would
go away and leave the home to him
and his waiting bride-and Queen Of
Sheba.
One cold winter night Fanny Lee
brought the gray goose 20 Susan's
door. Her eyes were red, and she
wore a black dress and a black veil
on her hat.
Il can't bear to see the critter
around" she sobbed bitterly. lit re-
minds me so of Jonas and him drownd-
ed at sea-"
"Drownded?" asked Susan in a
strange voice.
Il forgot you didn't know. OF
course they told me first. 1t was off
the coast of Brazil. He fell overheard
and was drownded, and Captain Rink
he sent word to the Telegraph sta
ton. and of course they tod me.
You'll keep Queen o. Sheba. won't
you?"
Susan stared fiercely at the long
neck and yellow bill wriggling out of
the widows black shawl.
III take care Of her," said Susan
iciIy. Put her in the she'd"
You'll be good to her-for his sake"
SMILED Fanny Lee. turning to so.
iii be good to her." repeated Susan,
with strange smile as she closed the
door.
One day week later Susan was eat
ing her dinner in lonely conte mplation
OF the great goose that crowned the
feast. Her face wore the look Of one
who has overcome an enemy. but her
triumph was married by lack of appe-
tlte and a futtering pain at her heart.
The kitchen door opened noisily, and |
familiar feet tramped across the floor.
Susan Tipping. I've wanted to see |
you for a hull year, and to Susan's |
CONSERVATION a pair of arms encircled !
her and she was kissed by no other |
than Jonas Wilton himself. Il wasn't /
drownded. 1t was John Wilson, the
cookv'
In her joy Susan nearly kissed Jonas
in return. but a sudden recollection
assaiIed her. and she pushed him away
and arose to her feet. 'What about
Fanny Lee and Queen o. Sheba? Shes
took good care of the goose for you."
she said quietly.
IT got a silk shawl for Fanny Lee"
said Jonas. 'that'Il pay her for her
trouble. AS for the goose-there amt
nothing happened TO her yetY' His
voice almost quiyered with suspense.
There she is. Something has hap
pened to her / was $3.50 wrought
I'D when ! heard you was drownded
lust took spite on her and killed her.
but now somehow / can't eat her. 1
was awful mean to kill a pet goose"
Susan stood aloof. pale and defiant.
pet nothinG!" comforted Jonas. with
his arms about her once more. Il got
dreadful tired of being tagged around
by that goose. 1t made a sight of talk
and it kept us apart. so / jest made
up my mind I'd run away for a year
and maybe something would happen
to Queen o. Sheba. And something
did. Don't it smell good? Ny, but
I'm hungry"
but why-why didn't you say you
was willing to get rid of her instead
Of
Susan caught n CLEAN of embarrass-
nent in Mr.. Wilton's arectionate gaze.
and there da wned upon her the reaiiza-
ion that man is a superior being and
his motives must not be too closely
questioned by the woman who is priv
legged TO love him. so her sentence end
I'd in a smile OF loving sympathy as
heir lips met.
Rich Mems Gifts Are Poor
beside this: 81 want to go on record
Is saying that l regard Electric Bit
ers as ono Of the greatest Gifts that