Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-16

winch tQe castle STOOD. MISS RODD1nS
asked if he was sure he could gain
admittance for her, and he replied that
he would show her over it himself.
Are you "a friend of the earl?"
she asked.
II know him well enough"
what kind Of a man is he?"
ooh, he's a good sort; not much
brains. He and 1 were at Oxford to-
gether. We went there for the student
life"
81 thought you said you were not
fond of study"
I'm not. What I meant by the stu
dent life is the boating and the games
in short, the college life barring the
lectures. 1 pulled one year against
Cambridge"
They reached the castle, chug- chugged
over the drawbridge, under the port
cullis and drew up in the court A
lackey came running up to them. The
young man said something to him in
an undertone, then asked Miss Rob
bins to follow him.
One of the first interesting points
they reached was portion of the wall
built of different stone from the rest.
This part was knocked down." said
the volunteer guide, by an attack
made some time or other, by whom 1
don't exactly remember. 1 must ask
Bob about it,
''Who is Bob. may 1 ask?"
''Oh, Bob's the fellow that owns the
place"
s.TS no at homo to6av2"
81 believe he is. He was to have
gone to the city, but I think something
turned up to change his plan"
You say he is not intellectualT'
mot a whit more than l."
81 would like to see at least a por-
trait of him. Possibly you may be
able to show me oneY
"a portrait of Bob! Why, he
wouldn't have that mug Of his put on
canvas at the kings command"
t.Ie's not handsome, thenF
81 should say not"
''Has he a famiIy?"
t'Mother and sisters"
''What are his sisters Ike"
"Oh, they're good girls, but they're
a different sort from Americans, espe-
cially those who come from Boston"
SIN what respect|
"Why. If one of them should have a
cob splintered around her she'd faint
and even if not a bit bent would be
in bed after it for fortnight"
'Indeed,'
If there was anything historically in
teresting about the castle the guide ap-
peared to be unable to bring it out !
When he had finished showing the old
pile of stones, as he called it, he took !
Miss Robbins In his auto to the station /
and before parting with her asked her /
if he might call upon her in London. |
She gave him sermission and her ad- |
dress He called the next day and |
bore an invitation from his friend |
Bob, as he called him, or, rather, Bob's |
mother, to luncheon at the castle.
Great were the regrets of the mem |
bers Of Miss Robbins party that they |
had not gone with her to Abercrombie /
that they might have shared in the in
vitation. Miss Robbins took a train |
and was met at the station by Lady |
Tidminster and one OF her daughters. |
They had a great deal to say about |
what they considered her remarkable |
presence of mind upon having a cab |
knocked from around her. and Lady
GwendoIin, who was nearly Miss Rob-
bins age, asked:
What did you do without your
smelling saltsT'
After reaching the castle, Just before
luncheon was served, the young man
who had caused the accident and
q fterward acted as guide bolted into
the room and approached the guest,
looking very much ashamed OF him
self
BEG pardon" he said. "for going
about with you as another fellow, but !.
you see I was so amazed at your ac
ton when / ran you down and so
ashamed Of myself that didn't Ike TO
admit who was. Hope you won't lay
IT up against me-"
please forgive me-" pleaded Lady |
Bob is a sensitive boy
and very retiring"
Retiring, did you sayT remarked
Miss Robbins. Judging from the
rapid way he turns corners in his au-
tomobile. should call him advancing"
The result Of this first visit was an |
invitation to Miss Robbins to spend a
fortnight at the castle and that re-
suited IN letter from the earl, or Bob.
as he called himself. making her a
Of marriage
Ii Is not usual for an American girl