Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-21
The Argus Daily Short Story
Thorley's Heart Trouble-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrghted. 1s1l Associated Literary Presa

There amt no hotel here" he said
aggressively. as If questioning Thor
ley's right TO thus throw himself on
the hospitality of RosedaIe.
ANY boarding houses?" demanded
Thorley. ANY farmhouses that will
take a bOar6er:"
The man shook his head "Ain't
heard OF any" he said indifferently.
ThOrley turned on his heel and
walked down the sandy road which
led away between tall growing oaks
and chestnuts. The afternoon was
advancing. and he was hot and tired
and hungry. He chided himself for
falling in with DR.. Gregory's ideas.
1t would have been far better if he
had sought a railroad guide book and
picked out some good stopping place.
Nevertheless there was a certain ele-
ment of interest in the fact that he
did not know where he was TO lay
his head that night. For the rather
spoiled young man this was a novel
experience.
He passed a frame house freshly
painted in a pinkish lavender. with
green blinds. and he closed his eyes
and shook his head.
The next house he came to was n
broad and comfortable one painted
white. with green blinds. Graperines
were trelliscd all about the house, and
there were an old fashioned flower gar
den and rolling slopes of finely kept
lawn. In an adjoining pasture n herd
of JERSEYS showed dun colored against
the green grass.
Thorley fingered in front of the gate
eying the place wiStfully. Here ives
the very place for him TO recuperate
his strength, and yet there was littIe
likelihood that they would let him in.
for it evidently was the home of a
prosperous farmer-One who had no
need TO board an invalid young man.
no matter how handsome and charm
ing he might be. and l'horley was both
of these.
Still, he stood there watching the
chickens scratching in the gravel and
hearing the soft mufled nip OF the
Jerseys as they cropped the clover.
Then came a surprise. A sunbonnet
came down a shaded path that wound
among thick syriDga bushes and bob
bed TO staudstiII before him. They
at Cdiu Oluels SllIEhEu WIN SUI"
prise.
''WeH:" said the girl at last. for she
was the prettiest farmers daughter
Thorley had ever seen. and be had
held her brown eyes in his own de
lighted gaze.
Well" echoed ThorIey. "you see
I'm looking for board at a farmhouse.
l rather like the looks Of this one"
You do. do you?' she mimicked him. 1
with dancing eyes. Shall | run and 1
ask Uncle Nathan IL he wishes TO take
a boardcr:'' I
You wouldn't be so kind" he cried .
excitedIy.
wait" she called over her shoulder
and was gone. Presently she returned .
and beckoned him into the house. {
where. in the cool Iecesses OF a dim
parlor. he concluded a most satisfac-
tory bargain with the girls aunt. AIRS.
Beck. a kindly. white haired woman.
who took much interest in an account
Of his Illness. The Beeks sent a wagon
after Thoriey's trunk. and he was com
fortably installed in a large front
room. with a ire OF hickory logs
Frightening the cool twilight.
He saw the sunset glory above the
mountain peak. He heard the song OF
birds and the gentle lowing Of the
cows. he slept in the hammock for
hours. lulled by the sweet breeZes that
swept through the pines. He walked
longer distances every day. regsiping
health and strength as the summer
advanced
In the meantime the pretty niece OF
the Beeks-Margie they called her
fitted around the place ike a slim.
bright eyed bird Sometimes she read
to ThOrIey as he lay In the hammock.
and sometimes he read TO her. but the
themes he chose led by devious ways