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

i shouldn't wonder II IL lanueQ IN
Roseville Great smoker lothian
paused and scratched his head in per-
plexity 81 didn't specify that only
meant unmarried wimmen should an
swer. Come to thiak Of it. though. If
a married woman found the letter
she'd probably have a sister or some
body who'd take an interest"
lothian kept away from the post
office for two whole days. and then he
went down to get his mail. There was
none.
That night he went to a box social
at the church parlors-
Fate decFeed that lothian Reed
| should purchase the box that Sophie
Trenton had prepared. Sophie had
changed from the pretty, dark haired,
black eyed girl of twenty years ago to
a sallow looking. dried up little NOR
! tai who dressed far too young for her
age. Now she looked soulfully at 10
| than from under the brim of her i'm
| mense hat and smiled enchantingly.
'T don't know myself sometimes"
! she ratified on. 81 used to be the most
! scatterbrained girl that ever was
! didn't know my own mind one days
end from another. I've done and said
lots of things that wished 1 could
| take back. I should "a been happier
and maybe others toof'
lothian was deaf to her chatter. His
brain was performing wonderful math-
ematicaI calculations anent the veloc-
fly of the wind and the possible speed
Travelled by Cupid's messenger. At
this rate, for the wind still blew brisk
ly. the kite must have Travelled far out
of the state lothian wondered rather
uneasily, If the wind should not abate
soon, might not the messenger be
waited down to Mexico or some other
heather country where women were
a drug on the matrimonial market?
The thought Of a fair senorita presid-
ing as mistress over Hilltop farmland
incidentally it's owner-sent lothian to
the door for a breath Of fresh afr and
a squint at the weather. To Sophie
Trenton's angry surprise, lothian for
got to come back again.
Two more days passed, with no mail
and no tidings of the kite. lothian had
gingerly opened the weekly paper, half
fearful that the kites wanderings
might have brought it within the ken
of the hungry editor-but no; there was
no word.
Then one day GOTHAM was Smelling
peas in the back porch when he heard
the click of the front gate latch and
a light swift tread on the path around
the house.
The sight he looked upon brought
him to his feet wide eyed, open
mouthed, the pan of peas rafting I'M
needed to the ground.
Before him stood a tall, youngish
woman with fair hair parted smoothly
on her white forehead and pulled be-
comingly behind her ears. Her skin
was fresh and pink, and her eyes were
dark blue and steady in their gaze,
!: and over them the straight brows cut
clear dark line. lothian saw the
laughing eyes. the twitching red lips
half breaking into mirthful smiles, saw
the crisp blue cotton dress the color of
her eyes, the fresh white hat and the
string of coral beads about her throat
and recognized his old sweetheart.
Mary Gray that was!
In her hands dangled the crushed
fragments of the box kite.
found it hanging on the pear tree
by my sitting room window" she ex-
planned as she laid the kite on the
bench That's a great idea of yours,
lothian. Most as big as the other idea
you had when you asked Sophie to
marry you"
81 was a fool" said lothian Reed
bluntly. I'm a bigger fool now. be-
cause it's just givin' fate another
chance to laugh in my face. You live
in RoseviIle now, don't your he asked.
She nodded. Funny, wasn't IT, your
kite should land there?" she said.
Seems like there was something IN
common in IT." admitted lothian So
berry. II sent it up four days ago of
this hill. 1 forgot till afterwards that
some married woman might get hold
of it. Looks as If you was meant to
get it."
Mrs. Blake. she who was Mary Gray,
smiled innocently. "Of course you
know Jim passed away three years
ago." she ventured.
lothian stared round eyed. and then
great gladness came into his face.
'Then-you-can keep the letter, Mary
You'll stay?
ct can't, lothian"
"Why nOt?"
"You said you didn't want any wild
Ows to apply and
"What d you come for, then" de-
manded lothian. his arm dangerously
near Mary's slender waist.
ST thought maybe you'd make an
exception in my case" whispered
Mary, seeing as I've waited so long
1 was a proud little hussy. lothian.
wanted you badly. but l was mad be
cause you asked Sophie"
Its come out all right, Mary. dear
We must have been meant for each
other or that kite d never have come
straight to you
COR 1 would never have come straight
to you" interrupted Mary happily
Its wonderful how everything always