Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-26

penalty due such Il crime than TO have
been the bearer Of this cruel missive
He avoided her eyes as he turned
away. but there was tremulous little
catch in the voice which thanked him.
To his great relief, Isabel no longer
awaited his coming. and when he next
left a letter for her mother ii was a
white capped nurse who responded to
his ring.
Young lady sick?" Mike asked in
a tone which was supposed to express
only petite interest, and the nurse an
swered gravely:
Eyes; she is very sick indeed"
He stopped to inquire every day aft
er that and then pursued his way
gloomily. Mike is getting peevish,"
the clerks at the Office said in surprise.
An air of intense anxiety seemed to
pervade the atmosphere of the stone
house, and the bell was muffled, for
the patient had reached the crisis when
Mike again appeared at the door. He
was awkwardly holding a parcel wrap
ped in tissue paper.
"She used to like white roses" he
said to the nurse. Put these in her
room"
At length news came that Isabel was
really getting better. The air of de-
preston vanished. Once more Mixes
whistle sounded cheerily. Then he be-
came puzzled over a letter which IN
mistakably bore Bllly's handwriting
and yet was not directed to the girl he
had treated so cruelty. Mike finally
came to the conclusion that the fell
low had written to the nurse desiring
information concerning IsabePs condi-
ton, and he fervently hoped that she
wouldn't make it up with him"
He fingered the letter guilty as he
approached the house and saw Isabel
herself standing upon the veranda.
sudden moisture filed the sympathetic
postman's eye, for she was such
small. white Isabel. Her dark hair had
been cut, and the short curls seemed TO
change her back again into the little
girl who had raced 10 meet him upon
her way from school.
II am glad you are better" he said
heartily, and she smiled.
Thank you,' she answered softly.
You have been very kind. Any let
tiers today"
Mike drew 4 long breath. There's
one here" he said hesitatingly. Il
guess it's for the nurse-addressed to
Mrs. William d. Rhodes"
Isabel extended an eager hand.
"why, Mike" she said. laughing hap
PLY. don't you know-that I am Mrs.
William Rhodes?'
He stared at her unbelievingly.
"You," he repeated dully-''you Mrs.
Rhodes, and it wasn't the Billy fellow
after ALP
"Oh. but it was" she said rather
confusingly. for Billy is William
Rhodes"
! The old postman still looked Devil
dered. You married to him all the
| while" he said slowly. and me think
| ing when the letters stopped and he
went away bidding you goodby for
! ever on a postal card that it was all
| over with"
She laughed merriIy at his unblush-
| ing confession TO reading her mail. Il
understand now" she said, your dis
| appointment at having no letters TO
| deliver. but you see when we became.
engaged Billy managed to be trans
ferred to the company's Office here, so
| there was no further need of CORE
the very day before l was taken des-
perateIy Ill with typhoid fever. which
had been threatening me for so long.
Billy has been with me through it all.
| and now that | am strong enough
the girls eyes shOne-"we are going
upon our long postponed wedding trip
to Europe. The card you spoke Of"
she explained kindly. was sent from
New York. where EiIly had gone to
engage our passage. and. knowing that
was TO be married the next day, he
babe goodhy forever to Isabel Drew.
Mike replaced his cap and sorted out
another handful of letters. The infec-
tIous smile appeared upon his face.
and the Irish blue eyes twinkled. You
can't always take it from the postals.'
AT the foot of the stair he dotted
his cap again. Il wish you much
happiness. Mrs. Rhodes he added
tremendously. and the girl watched
him far down the street.
Never was wish more sincere" she
murmured softly. The days followed
each otheruneventfully No girlish face
bent over the rosebushes or smiled
from the window. and then one morn
one bearing a European postmaTk and
addressed in a small. neat hand-which
he we'll remembered-to Mrs. James
Drew
1t would naturally be supposed THAI
such a bulky letter could convey all
the news necessary. but with it. also
directed TO Mrs. Drew. came a picture
postal, the same white boat which
had at one time aroused Mikes anger.
and beneath the boat was penned:
You will be glad to know that Billy
and I have, arrived safely and are well
and happy. ISABEL RHODES.
The pos:man assembled the steps of
she stone house. There's Il letter for
Mrs. Drew" be Informed the maid
who opened the door. and postal
card for me-
YOU the girl exclaimed scornfully.
.'(Tby tie for bn- 700