Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-14

You may come along if you want
to, but l should think you'd hate to
be always tagging" Berta said, with
small, insolent laugh. Berta was
beauty and belle. Linda. her sister,
older by two years, was neither
According to the countryside, Linda
was even ugly.
People who were all for roses and
dimples ard sunshiny smiles saw no
beauty in Linda's olive complexion. her
severely classic profile and the slim
figure, which they called thin.
She did not smile much. and she
laughed so rarely in public that gossip
said she did not know how. Before
she was sixteen she had been set down
us predestincd spinster.
1t was far otherwise with Berta, who
was damask rose embodied in ador-
able flesh and blood. Linda at twenty
one had never had beau. Berta's
conQuests could not be reckoned upon
all her fingers.
At first Berta liked to have Linda go
out with her. finding in her dark pallor
fine foil for her own charms. But
after awhile she grew in strange.
unaccountable way resentful of Linda.
It seemed q reflection on the family
that its elder daughter was so nearly
n social cipher, At least that was
what Berta told herself. Everybody
feels the sovereign need for good
excuse to justify an unkind action.
Not for worlds would she have adj
mitted to herself her feeling really had
its origin in certain praises of Linda
spoken by man when she herself had
resolved to marry.
Aston Wade was the man. He was
the catch of the county. He lived
twenty miles away and had not known
the Lee girls until six months before
Then they had met at the county fair
| and after that they had not been able
| to go anywhere without finding him
there Not that they objected. Wade
was the kiud of man to whom no one
could object-not even a young woman
predestined TO spinsterhOod.
Linda danced but rarely; therefore
Berta had well nigh monopolized AL
/
| tunities, for all that, to talk with Lin
da and had even been unwise enough
to tell Linda's sister that she rested
| and cheered him as might fresh ant
fragrant breeze.
| Berta had cooed that Linda wa!
truly the dearest old thing. Whei
they were home again and for week:
/ fhnraa 10. CT, 1h.,
est old thing one possible pin prick.
| You won't be lonesome. All the oil
/ maids In town are sure to be at tn,
| Ansieys," she ran on as they stepped
into the carriage. She had been hop
| ing Linda would not go to the lawT
| party. 1t was the first of the season
Nobody but Peggy Ansley would have
risled such thing thus early. ever
though May had come in summe,
| warm.
1T would be better If you'd put oil
a black frock. a short one. and Whit
i apron. Then you could help serv'
i things" she went on.
i Linda smiled gravely. And yol
i could have Worn my chip hat" she re
II WIFI Il lN NnCN
it's almost as becoming to you as yol
are to it But I'm getting to be selfisl
as I grow older"
1.-THE hat doesn't matter. If peopl
see me they never think of what hav
4 on" said Berta "I'm not just part o
the scenery, like some people"
Il Linda flushed and made a motion to
ward the carriage door. almost as
she would leave 1t. In moment. how
ever, she sank back on the cushion
saying evenly: 'Well, after all. tn
scenery has its uses. Anyway, I'm &c
ing to have the best time / can. A
you say, shan't be lonesome. Pegg
says she's asked everybody in tow
over six months Old
"Yes, know It'll be the same as
Sunday school picnic fully expec
to sees you marching about looking lik
the head of an orphan asylum" Bert
: copnented spitefully. Linda onl