Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-25
The Argus Daily Short Story
Yes by Clarissa Mache.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Press

When Elizabeth Gray returned to
Elmwood after n year spent with an
uncle in q distant city, she found few
changes in the quiet village. The morn
ing after her arrival she lay contented
ly in the slant rooted little room that
had been hers since childhood and
listened to the familiar music of ham,
mer and saw from the distant ship
yards.
Just then wood smoke reminded her
that her mother was getting break
fast in the kite hen and with a prickinS
of remorse at her siothfulness. Eliza
beth arose and dressed.
81 thought the wafles would arouse
you, Bess." smiled her mother, as the
girl entered the kitchen, flushed and
sparkling Here is the first batch
take them in and begin your break
fast. r.
Mother miner scolded Elizabeth.
leading the rosy checked, plump little
woman into the dining room. sit
right down and eat breakfast with
dad l shall cook waff1es for both of
you. Not a wOrd"'
She smiled back at the two loving
faces as she passed to and fro from
kitchen to dining room ministering to
their wants.
I'VE can't expect to keep her with
us always sighed her mother. This
last year without her has shown me
how dreary it will be for us when
somebody takes her away"
by somebody l suppose you mean
H.. HraE = Loo
voice. II don't know as there's an
other man in Elmwood, to say nothing
of the outside world. that Id rather
give my little Bess to than Norman
Ryder Perhaps she has met some
body else IN the city-you can't tell
and Norman's only country bred. BesS
probably met some fine danditied
chaps in New York.
I'D rather it would be Norman" in
sisted Mrs. Gray. with a little fright
ened flutter in her voice that went
straight TO Elizabeth's heart. Il
couldn't bear to have Bess marry any
body from the city. We might not see
her from one years end to the other"
Elizabeth FASTENED into the dining
room with plate of waffles scorched
TO a crisp and her fair face flushed
and agitated.
"I've heard every word you said"
she confessed between tears and laugh
ter. bears, I'm not going to marry
anybody. l haven't seen any one in
New York that could tempt me away
from you"
Mr.. Gray squeezed the little hand
she had laid in his broad palm and
L.
How about anybody in Eimwood,
Bess?' he asked.
II don't want to marry anybody"
flashed Elizabeth tearfuIly. Il want
to stay right here all my life"
That evening Norman Ryder drove
over to see Elizabeth Gray, and such
is the contrariness OF womankind.
that he who had always found favor il
her eyes. now appeared TO be awkward
and provincial in manner and speech,
as compared to the snowy youths she
had met when visiting her uncle. AL
though he was bigger and broader
and handsomer than any Of the city
bred youths. almost the first words he
uttered seemed to place him in a differ
ent class.
90 you knew / had returned NOT
man." she asked. withdraw wing her
hands from his close grasp.
Yes, yes" he had cried delightedly.
and # was that characteristic double
affirmative uttered with a slight twang
that drew a thin veil Of discord be
tween them There was something
about the expression that smacked
strongly Of the rustic: that with the
tvsp0 and the equally fsEc-e5 S~--i-1-
negative. NO. no!'' seemed to place
Norman Ryder among the farmers and
dairymen who formed the community
about EImwood
Elzabet hated herself for shudder-
ing every time Norman spoke with g
tTang. but she couldn't help It She
-Ss s1GrE with him for speaking So