Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-29

said to Mrs. Crowell, Il wonder If any
thing could have occurred during the
night that Miss Damon mistook for
a sign?" But the lady simply gave
me another of those strange looks and
made no reply.
There are fine grounds about Green
leafs house-I think he has some
eighty acres-and during the morning.
my mind being occupied with what had
occurred at breakfast. l took fancy
TO stroll out into a wood for medita-
ton. 1t was one of those bright. crisp
mornings we get only at the turning
point between summer and winter.
The season was late, and many varie-
gated leaves still hung upon the trees.
Presently l espied ahead Of me a girl
walking alone among the trees. In an
other moment / recognized the figure
Of Ethel Damon. I was delighted at
the opportunity of meeting her. ! was
sure she was there to be alone, but l
realized also that people who wish to
be alone also desire a confidant If the
right person is available. I caught up
with her, called to her. She stopped
and turned.
1t is some years since saw that ex-
preston on her face, but it is as clear
in my memory as then. Indeed, it is
picture that never can fade. There
were q slight blush, a smile and the
words, How glad / am that you are
here!' Then when L reached her she
laid her hand on my arm, seemingly
with that sense of possession a girl
feels on being just betrothed to the
man of her choice.
What did it mean?
IT am glad" said when 1 felt that
1 must speak, that my presence does
not disturb you. 1 thought it possible
that after the scare at the breakfast
table this morning you came here to
get away from every one"
Except you
you mean that L was more thought
full than the rest in respecting your
feelings ?"
She did not reply to this. She
stopped, picked up a crimson leaf that
had fallen and pretended to admire its
beauty.
Would it be too much to ask your
confidence as TO why you did not reply
to our hosts question? 1 am sure that
during the night you saw something
that you interpreted as a sign"
She turned ard looked at me with an
expression OF surprise. Then suddenly
another look came upon her face, one
Of mingled disappointment and morti-
hcation.
"Can it be possible" she exclaimed
that it was, after all, only a dream?
What dream?'
She turned away. muttering to her
self: "Oh, heaven. What have
doneT"
1 caught her hands in mine. turned
her toward me and begged for an ex-
PLANTATION. l was some moments get
ting 1t, and when it came it came
haltingly.
Last night" she said, 81 went to
bed and to sleep, much affected, ! ad-
NIT, by the Halloween stories to which
had listened. During the night !
awoke on hearing my name called
softly. ! window in my room opens
on TO a balcony. Ii was moonlight
and you stood with one hand on the
easement. You said to me. Meet me
tomorrow morning in the wood west
of the house Then you went away.
I took It for granted that your coming
was q Halloween sign and that you
were aware Of your own presence.
But now since you are not / suppose
it was only dream"
/ made no reply for a few moments.
but I still held her hands in mine.
Then. saying, Dream or no dream, it
is n Halloween sign, and a Halloween
sign you cannot resist; 1 am your fate.
and you are mine" 1 drew her 10 ME
and kissed her
Later told her that during the pre-
vious evening 1 had noticed Mrs.
Crowell go and sit beside her, and
asked her if she had felt any unusual
sensation. She told me from that
moment she had felt that during the
night she would get a Halloween sign.
She would not Join in the agreement
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