Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-08

and opened to him a realm of dazzling
possibilities.
And when he had graduated how
proud Of her he had been! How little
he had realized the gulf that separated
them, and how quick had been his
awakening.
shown him his folly. He had talked
to the young engineer kindly. If firmly.
being too shrewd an old diplomat to
fan the flame of a headstrong love
with vigorous opposition.
Mildred is a rich GIRL" the old
fnancier had told Boyd, "a very rich
girl, one of the richest girls in this
part Of the world, while you. my boy
what have you to offer?'
''Nothingi But you were not always
what you are now" Emerson had re
piled. Every man has to make q
start. When you married you were
as poor as am"
Granted! But 1 married a DOOR
girl from my own station In life. For
tunateIy she had the latent power to
develop with me as grew, so that we
kept even and 1 never outdistanced
her. But Mildred is spoiled to begin
with. 1 spoiled her purposely to pre-
vent just this sort Of thing She is
bred to luxury. her friends are rich.
and she doesn't know any other kind
OF life"
And so it was that Boyd Emerson
had gone to Alaska, to the Klondike.
to win a fortune and thus to win the
girl he loved. He fixed his own time
for returning. and SO It was that MIL
dred Wayland had awaited him.
If today. after three years OF depri-
walton, she seemed to him more beau
t1ful than ever-the interval having
served merely to enhance her charm
and strengthen the yearning Of his
heart-she seemed In the same view
still further removed from his sphere.
His story finished, Boyd went on to
tell her vaguely of his future plans,
and at last he asked her, with some
thing less than an accepted lovers
confidence:
''Wiu you wait another Year,"
She laughed lightly. ''You dear boy,
I am not up for auction. This is not
the third and last CALL am not sure
1 could induce anybody to take me
even II i desired"
IT read the rumor Of your engage
ment ina San Francisco paper"
She mentioned a number of names,
counting them of on her finger tips
'"Then. OF course, there are the old
standbys, Mr.. Macklin, Tommy Tur-
ner. the Lawton boys
"And Alton Clyder'
ITO be sure; little Alton, like the
brook, runs on forever. He still wor-
ships you, Boyd, by the way"
rs there any one in particular 2"
Boyd demanded.
Miss Wayland's hesitation was so
brief as almost to escape his notice.
Nobody who counts. OF course father
has his predictions and insists upon
engineering my affairs in the same
way he would float a railroad enter
prise. but you can imagine how roman
tic the result is"
''Who Is the favored party?" the
young man asked darkIy.
Really 1t isn't worth discussing.
Do you remember when offered to
give it all up and go with you, BoydT'
81 have never forgotten for an in
slant"
you refused to allow It."
Certainly! I had seen too much of
your life, and my pride figured a bit
also. But am going to have you" He
drew her to him tenderly. You are
going to be my wife" He repeated
the words softly, reverenty, my
wtfew
She gazed up at him with a puzzled
little frown. What bothers me is that
you understand me and my life so well,
while 1 scarcely understand you or
yours at all. That seems to tell me
that l am unsuited to you In some
way. Why, when you told me that
story of your hardships and all that
listened as If it were a play or q
book, but really it didn't mean any
thing to me or stir me as it should /
Do you see what I am
trying to convey?"
Perfectly" he answered, releasing
her with a little unadmitted sense Of
disappointment at his heart 'T sup
pose it is only natural"
81 do hope you succeed this time"
she continued. 81 am growing deadly
tired of things. Not tired Of waiting
for you, but 1 am getting to be old;
I am, indeed. Why, at times actual
y have an inclination to do fancy
work-the unfailing symptom. Do you
realize that 1 am twenty-five years
old!'
The portieres parted, and Wayne
Wayland stood in the opening.
He advanced to shake the young
mans hand. his demeanor gracious and
hearty. Welcome home. You have