Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-10


happiest day Of his life. for that very
evening he had asked Margaret to
marry him. and she had consented. By
contrast today would be the bitterest
he would ever know.
He strobe down the street, admired
by many feminine eyes and quite I'M
conscious of anything except the event
that would occur at 0 O'Clock. A little
past that hour the parade would march
down the avenue past the very portals
whence Margaret would emerge chang
ed in name forever.
Trumpets blared, drums ratified, ifes
rippled as the several bands Of music
fell into place. There were hoarse
commands, the shuttle OF countless feet
on the pavements; shrill cries from the
throngs gathered about, and the pa
rade started.
AS they neared st. Francis granite
bulk Matthew's heart almost stood
still. He prayed hard that he might
be spared the sight OF Margaret's we'd
ding party emerging from the church.
The uniforms Of the mS-, white and
green and gold. with splendid sashes
OF emerald satin fringed with gold,
made a ribbon of color down the broad
avenue. Matthew was in the outer
column, his face like ashes. his mouth
set in a grim line of despair and his
feet mechanically moving to the
strains of the "Wearin' of the Green"
Then, Just before they reached the
church, ,he saw them-saw Corners
red head and girls figure beside him,
saw them run down tie steps and en-
ter a carriage on the cross street and
roll away, while Tom Devlin waved
a jovial farewell before he turned to
watch the paraders.
Matthew's face had turned to watch
the bridal pair enter the carriage.
When he faced front once more his
startled, unbelieving eyes saw Mar
garet Devlin herself-Margaret In green
broadcloth with a great bunch of
shamrock at her waist waving a green
satin flag at-himi
Tom Devlin and his daughter follow
ed close in the wake Of the Faithful
Sons OF st. Patrick that day. Mat
thew saw them at the most unexpect-
ed corners, always smiling and waving
their flags at him. He began to feel
like one of the family again and to
realize that there was a blunder some
where-a mistake for which he might
be devoutly thankful, for It was evil
dent that Corners had married some
body, and Matthew did not care who 1t
was so long as It was not Margaret
Devlin.
When the parade was over Tom and
Margaret were on hand to escort Mat
thew home. He entered the big tour
ing car that sprang from somewhere
and found himself between Margaret
and her father. The girls cheeks were
flushed, and her blue eyes evaded Mat
thew's questioning glance
Once at the familiar house in Sew
enty-fifth street Tom Devlin disappear
ed and left the two together.
Margaret, dear"-Matthew was be-
side her instantly-"I've been a jeal-
GUS fool. Tell me the mystery. Did
you marry Corners or whatY
"Of course 1 married Tom Corners.
That's why 1 let another girl go off
with him." Knocked Margaret, and then
suddenly her blue eyes filed with tears
and her head found its place on his
broad shoulder. 'If you'd had little
more faith in me. Matthew" she said,
"you would have been happier your
self and made it easier for me to do a
good deed"
you'll have to explain, dear. I'm
all at sea-" he pleaded.
Corners has been engaged to Agnes
Lee for a year, and he hasn't had a
chance to show what he can do. BE
needed to get out one successful draw
ing and then he could have all the
orders he wanted. Till then he hal
to starve, and Agnes had to wait and
wait for the home she wanted. You
know Agnes is skin and bone and !
homely, and I'm not. So I went to |
Corners and suggested the picture
you saw on the magazine cover. /
wanted to help them, that's all. he |
sold the drawing, got another and lar |
ger order, and when the magazine |
came out father and 1 bought up all
the copies we could, and they got out |
a second edition. What do you think |
of that? OF course Tom Corners is |
fixed now-they've recognized what |
he could do. 1 didn't really want my |
face on a magazine cover, Mat, but 1
1 had to help them out They love
each other just as we do. Father and /
1 got them married and off on their /
honeymoon, and now, Matthew Gold |
en-, were you ever happier than you /
are this minute?" she asked saucily.
YES" replied Matthew solemnly, !
II was happier when 1 looked up and /
saw you standing on the curbstone |
waving your flag at me, darling. |
shall never forget the change from
despair to happiness, and / have one
thing to say"
'What Is that. Mat?" she asked,
with softly luminous eyes near his
own.
THAT you may forgive me for be
Ing Jealous fool and spelling the
sweet deed you were doing and that |
all my life, when I'm on the line Of |
march and meet troubles and sorrows,
can always look up as I did today
and see youT sweet face smiling on
y H. ILL