Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-18
The Argus Daily Short Story
Love at First Slightly Mildred Baker.
Copyrighted. 1911 by Associated Literary Press
J. J. M'NAAIARA.

| her face to his. When full time had
elapsed for her to do so and she did
not, when instead she turned her back
to him and looked in the opposite di-
rection. his heart sank His advance
had been repealed.
"Idiotr' he exclaimed inwardly.
why could 1 not have waited for an
introduction? had everything my
own way. and now l have made a
mess of it,
Cringing under the rebuff. he skunk
away. His first impulse was to take
train and get as far from the place
and the girl as possible. But this was
only momentary. He resolved to stay
and conquer or die From afar he
watched her sitting on the rock till
she arose and went to her hotel.
The same evening Eggleston prom
enaded on the board walk. hoping and
at the same time dreading to meet her
who had repealed his advances. She
was walking there with another girl.
who looked something like her and
might be her sister. The two saunter-
ed along slowly, languidly. neither
speaking to the other. AS Eggeston's
charmer approached she cast a mo-
mentary glance at him, then turned
her eyes upon some other object. He
plainly saw look Of hauteur in her
face. but this might have been the re-
suit of sensitiveness on his part. which
led him to imagine that he saw what
was not there.
Eggleston looked for the girl the next
day. but failed to find her. She had
and the city in which she lived. But
he considered himself no better off
than when he had lost her in the
crowd. He questioned If he was not
worse off. He was in the position OF
one who had endeavored to force an
acquaintance upon a girl and had re-
ceiged a rebuke.
Fortune favored him again. He was
at an evening function and suddenly
came upon the object of supreme in
terest TO him. She was sitting alone.
How could one who was so charming
to him be a ''wall6owerT' He hunted
for some one to introduce him to her,
but found no one. He applied to the
host. who replied: "All my guests are
supposed to know one another when
under my roof. l introduce no one"
Considering Eggleston's sensitive con-
dition. he was cowed. He went back
TO the place where he had left the
girl. resolved on an attempt TO placate
her. and saw her walk out of the
room. She went to the library. and he
followed her. She took a book from
a shelf and opened it. Eggleston stood
a few feet behind her
IF you don't forgive me-" he blurt-
ed. Il shall commit suicide"
He waited for reply. but received
none. Presently the girl turned and
looked at him. Then she turned again
to her book without q word.
This second rebuff took away all the
courage there was In EgglestOn. Again
be skunk away. this time not only with
pain but bitterness In his heart
In some respects our minds are
merely human machines. as our bodies
are. and prone. Ike machinery. 10 get
into conditions where they will not
work properly. Eggleston's mind was
at this time like runaw way auto. The
power couldn't be turned of and there
was danger Of smash He had fallen
In love with a girl at sight had at
tempted 10 make her acquaintance (
without an introduction. been rebuffed !.
had asked forgiveness. been ignored. +
and was now In n desperate condition 4
In other words. he was running away
With himself
He At once left the house where he .
had met with this second rebuff. went i
TO bis room and walked the floor till
morning. He was sure he had seen a
look Of contempt on the girls face. He
was not sure but that there was min
gied with this look a threat meaning
III Won force Yourself on me again |