Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-08

phone for a moment. I've picked up a
little lost boy and
Certainly. sir II it's Mr.. Lessons
little boy it's all right. They've been
teiephoning here to know If we've
seen him. Come right in"
He held open the door and admitted
Justin and his sleepy charge into a
wide entrance hall softly carpeted and
delicately lighted with carefully dis
posed electric bulbs. a wood fire
whispered in the wide fireplace. and
several comfortable chairs were gath
cred around the hearth, where white
haired woman was dispensing tea.
There were several other women, some
| within the tall shadow of the settle.
The white haired woman dropped
teaspoon with silvery chatter and
arose to her feet. Justin saw with
dazed eyes that her face was startled
out of its customary sweet repose and
that she looked at him with astonish-
ment and displeasure rather than well
come.
81 ask your pardon. madam-Mrs.
Stone / came upon your place by mis-
| take. and 1 asked your man If might
| telephone to this little boys parents
that he was found and that 1 would
return him at once" he stammered
after q little awkward silence.
"Oh, fits little Frederick! How de-
lighted poor Evelyn will be. Here
Is the telephone booth. Mr.. Delos."
When Justin emerged after reassur-
ing the delighted parents that he
would return the wandering Frederick
to their arms at once he found Mrs.
! n inn or hn Of ha
corridor. She held out her hand, smil-
ing rather sadly as she did so.
IT must ask your pardon, Mr.. Delos.
for not giving you a heartier welcome.
/ was so startled at sight of you l
quite lost my wits for the moment"
You hardly expected to see me-"
said DeloS with a rueful smile. I'm
afraid If I'd known you were here I'd
never have ventured TO knock at your
door, hospitable as it always was in
the past. Pardon me for that blunder-
ing reminder he begged hastily.
Certainly, Justin. Will you come
and drink a cup of tea with us?'' She
paused at his protesting hand.
THANK you, dear Mrs. Stone. but
couldn't-not until you change your
mind about me, you know" he said
| firmly.
Change my mind! All. Justin, we did
that almost Immediately after you left
in anger. If you had only read and
needed our explanatory letters you
would have known that Mr.. Stone was
quite satisfied that the fault of the ac-
cident rested entirely on a defect in
our machine and not in your driving.
But you never answered our letters,
and you declined to see my husband
fT never received your letters, Mrs.
Stone, and as soon as 1 learned that
Dita-Miss Stone was out Of danger 1
went abroad and have been home only
few weeks. You see, 1 bought a
place not far from here-thought I'd
get in q new part of the country and
wouldn't meet any of the old crowd.
But it's a small world"
at is indeed, and you haven't asked
after my daughter, Justin. It's three
years since you last saw her. isn't it?'
She searched his face with anxious
motherly eyes.
at haven't dared ask for her. I've
felt that l was to blame for reckless
driving, and l shall never forget her
white face as she lay unconscious on
the stones nor the words of your hus-
band as he accused me of having muir
dered Remembering Dita when-Oh,
what's the use? You knew how l felt
about it, Mrs. Stone"
For an instant her warm hand press
ed his, and then she glided away to
| give place to a tall, slender form,
crowned with golden hair, whose face
was rosy with health and whose gray
eyes were now alight with happiness
| which had been postponed until this
blissful moment. Justin could scarcely
believe his hungry eyes when her own
answered his unspoken appeal and the
| quiet corridor witnessed the reunion of
the parted lovers.
After awhile the wailing Master
Frederick Templeton Lesson demand
cd to be taken to his mamma IL
don't like perditionr' he protested.
"PerditioH" repeated Justin for the
second time that evening. "Why
perdition, eh?'
Perdita Stone laughed merrily. ITS
such a good joke. Justin. 1t seems his
mother told him this road led to Per
| dita's, and he translated it into per
dition,' and the cook gave him a literal
/ Interpretation of that word, and he's
/ haven't you, Frederick"
| 81 like Miss Dita, but don't want to
| stay In perdition," yowled Frederick.
Justin lifted him to his shoulder and
turned to Mrs Stone with his old win
| aing smile. "Pm going to take Fred
erick home. Would you trust Perdita
with me tooT'
without a word Mrs. Stone stood a
tiptoe to kiss the tall young man, while |
Perdita slipped away to don coat and
scarf.
As they whirled down the dark |
avenue and into the winding road |
Frederick snuggled between them and |
uttered a sleepy sigh.
81 guess we're out Of perdition now" |
"And right into paradise" conc
Justin happily.