Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-13

come to supper"
Henry" she said. addressing her
husband, ''eat your supper quick and
be about what 1 planned. Tonight at
( o o'clock-everybody. you understand"
Mrs. Spinning nodded and frowned and
smiled at her husband.
I'm see 10 II. Maria" he chuckled
softly. Then. addressing their guest.
he said, when you going TO leave
Little River. JoelT'
Tomorrow night" said Joel, helping
himself to another biscuit.
Wish you was going to stay" said
the deacon cordially. You'll be miss
ed, Joel"
Missed scoffed Mr.. Tykesbury.
forgetting his difidence in his aston.
ishment who'll miss me?"
Everybody IN Little River" said
the deacon quietly. There's few here
but what you've done a good turn for
some time or other. You've forgotten
'em. suppose. but folks haven't!
They like to see you around, and If
you wasn't so bashful you'd be the
most popular man I'm the village. not
even excepting the postmaster. Eth,
Marian"
/
stern, Joel, that It seems to some folks
that you're a stony pillar Of the church
| in deed as well as name"' Mrs.
Spinning laughed heartily, while Joel
smiled in a surprised manner.
Me bashful?" he stammered. "Why.
I never thought about that. 1 guess
thought folks wasn't cordial enough
when they thought wasn't"
30 NnIIr H,0NA
in everything. 'Tain't fair TO expect
some TO do all the being pleasant and
sociable. Well. Maria, I'll go on that
errand II Joel will excuse me. See
you later!" With that the deacon dis
appeared. and Joel helped Mrs. Spin
ming clear away the dishes.
do you recollect my niece, Char
lotte Wayland?" she asked as she step
ped into the front parlor and lighted
the prism hung lamp on the center
table. "She was visiting me ten years
ago."
Joel flushed hotly. Indeed. he did
remember the pretty girl at whom he
scarcely dared glance in church, yet
to whom he had irrevocably lost his
heart Much Of the silence and lone
Illness Of the past ten years might be
laid at the door Of his heartsickness
after pretty Charlotte had returned to
her distant home. He heard after
ward that she had married.
az Semember," he said family.
"She's In Little River. Come to
visit my sister. Charlotte's q widow
and as pretty a one as ever saw. l
declare, it don't seem proper for a
widow to be quite so good looking as
our Charlotte" Mrs. Spinning smiled
innocently as she thrust a photograph
into Joers hand. That's Charlotte.
She's coming around tonight. and
you'll have to see her home"
At that instant the bell rang clamor-
ously, and, with a slight chuckle of
delight. Mrs. Spinning fastened to an
swer 1t, while Joel devoured the pic
ture with his eyes, now hopeful, no
longer shy or dif1dent. Their depths
contained a new purpose. a new light,
new courage. Here was something
TO fight for and win-CharlOtte Way
land that was.
The door opened, and into the room
streamed n merry crowd Of men, wo-
men and children. All the folks in
Little River seemed gathered together
under Deacon Spinnlng's hospita BILE
roof. Surprise. Joel Tykesbury"
they cried in unison as they crowded
around him.
In that brief moment of excitement
OF meeting all these old acquaintances
in this genial atmosphere they drop
ped the old guise and became friends.
! Joel swallowed n sob as he realized
that they had gathered to say goodby
TO him, to say how sorry they were
he was leaving Little River, TO give
him a sendoff and to say 10 him that
every latchstring in Little River was
always out for Joel Tykesbury.
That was the beginning OF the hap
! niest evening Joel had ever known.
| Before it ended he had forever drop
| ped his cloak OF reserve. and he found
! that his fellow townsmen met him
more than half way. 4 strange new
! Joy sang in his heart for the widowed
! Charlotte had blushed beautifully
when their eyes met and he had ask
| ed the pleasure Of her company home
and been accepted. All at once his
] plans changed with lightning rapidity.
! He would remain in Little River. He
| would buRd the house, and Charlotte
| be would win her. He was glad that
/ his inheritance was still a secret.
Joel Tykesbury seems TO have
found his tongue at last" said Miss
Fanny Pollard rather acidly. Seems
| like he's all took up over that Eighty
| widow. l guess Maria Spinning
knew what she was talking about
when she said he was going TO marry
a widow"
Mrs. Spinning overheard the remark
! and smiled mirthfully. 81 didn't know
a thing. Fanny. Charlotte's coming
| now was a dispensauop OF provi-
| dence."
"Dispensation Of providence. assist
| ed by Maria Spinning smiled Miss
| Pollard. quite unconvinced