Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-25

her father did not, nor did any of their
neighbors. 1t was carelessness on
Norman's part, and it grated on her
sensibilities.
Il thought perhaps you'd answer
my letters" he said rather ruefully.
as he drew his chair near the glowing
stove. but l expect you were pretty
busy studying your music. I'm going
to ask you to play some Of your clas-
steal pieces for me by and by"
"Of course l will" said Elizabeth. 'I
didn't write to anybody here except
father and mother. and they said
she paused with sudden confusion.
II guess they said l came over here
most every night while you were
gone" he grinned happily. They let
me read your letters-and that was
next best to getting 'em myself"
Il didn't promise you I'd write,''
protested Elizabeth, rather stiffly.
NO. nor he uttered quickly. ex-
onerating her from blame. "But-but
Il kind of thought you might answer
one of 'em. and so kept on writing"
II was glad to hear from you, and
suppose it was mean of me never to
answer Oh
give you the messages 1 sent?"
Yes, yes! And that was somethingT'
He looked so happy and so handsome
that Eliza beth had to harden her heart
against the magic of his dark eyes
Every time that nasal twang smota on
her ear she WINGED. and after awhile
she grew to counting the times he
said Yes. yesr' and mo, no!' II he
would only break himself of using
those expressions. But OF course he
could not know how they sounded.
Every body in Elmwood used them ex-
cept a few persons like the minister
and the doctor and lawyer and her
own father. Outsiders laughed and
called it part of the dialect of Buffum
county.
When Eliza beth asked him if she
should play for him Norman said
Yes, yesw and when she asked If
he had had enough music he cried
hastily mo, nop' until ner nerves
were all a-jangle
At last he arose to go, and there
was a very tender look in his down
bent eyes as he fingered his hat
There was something / wanted to
say to you, Bess. / wonder if l bet
ter say it now? 1 guess you know
what it is He looked steadily at her
Elizabeth did not hesitate. She was
angry with him for his rustic ways
and provoked at herself because she
was too narrow minded to overlook
them
Il don't believe you better say it."
she said deliberately, her eyes on the
small shoe that tapped the carpet
His face whitened underneath the
bronze, and there was a stricken look
in his eyes. II hardly dared to hope
much since I heard you were coming
home, but before you went away
He choked a little and asked her
question. "Will you tell me why,
Bess?"
She looked up at him with a strange
hardness in Der heart. DO you really
want me TO tell your she asked
"Yes. yes!" he said eagerly.
That's ii, Norman Ryderr' she fash
ed Its your Bufrum county twang
and your everla sting 'yes-yes' and no
no. and you know better toor'
He stared at her, bewildered for
a moment, and as the import Of her
words struck home be Redeemed deeply
and all the tenderness fed from bis
eyes. so that's the reasonP' he said
grstingly. We'll, Bess. there's no
chance for me, then, because II you
don't love me enough to overlook a
mere habit OF speech you don't love
me as much as 1 want you TO. 1 sup
pose I don't shine very brightly COM
pared with the city fellows you've met. |
but I've loved you better than anybody /
else In the world ever could" He I
crammed on his hat and without an
other word left the house.
Elizabeth stood alone in the pariOr, !
her eyes fixed in a frightened stare on .
the closed door. .er heart pounding in