Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-18

ing gIances toward his handsome mas
ter
The recovery Of Mullins was too
much for Alice's composure, for it had
been an exciting morning ever since
breakfast, when her father had made
his last appeal TO her. Now she sud-
denly burst into tears, and, leaning her
head upon Mullins ugly ears, she sob
bed brokenIy.
"Oh, what Is the matter? I'm sorry
It happened, you know. Is there any
thing L can dor pleaded Rags master
incoherently.
mo. 1t isn't the dog. That's all
right You couldn't help 1t, and I'm
much obliged to you for bringing Muf-
fms back. It's something else," soboed
Alice through her white veil
eff you are in trouble The stran-
ger hesitated, looking from the girls
handsomely groomed dog to her own
dainty and costly apparel.
"Oh. thank you'll It's nothing you
can do. I'm feeling hateful this morn
ing anyway, and so would any one IN
der the circumstances You see, my
fathers going to be married"
Ans ANU yO0 AA1A0k6AS O1JO~Ns
This came after q little startled pause.
who wouldn't? don't want a step
mother. I know I shall positively hate
her. though everybody says she b per
fectly lovely. I'm going away from
home. When they come back won't
be there"
The stranger 3aughe6-shortiy. IT'S
almost funny, but I'm in the same
boat" he confessed
Alice looked up and, dried har tears
How ia that7 L. yoTfather going 10
be married also"
mo, but my mother Is. and=toFa man
I've never seen. I came back from q
long stay In the west and found that
she was going TO be married. We've
always been great chuus, and she was
afraid to tell me about It. so she was
going to get married hrst and tell me
afterward, but came home last night.
and when the poor mater confessed
was so mad walked out OF the house
and haven't been near her since.
Beastly Of me. wasn't itf But some
how couldn't help st." He frowned
into the distance and quits overlooked
the surprise in Ance's brown eyes.
JOd hhC IAC yO0L
mother is going to marryr she asked
after awhile.
Never saw him or heard Of him
till last night and have positively de-
clined to meet him. I'D like to
punch him. he added vtndict1vely.
when Is it going to be-the wed
dingT' pursued Alice.
This afternoon at a. he was be-
ginning when she interrupted him.
your mothers name is Pomroy p
she demanded.
He nodded speechlessly.
"Then she's going to marry my
father!'' cried Alice dramatically.
"why, don't see how you can OBJ
ject to him, for there never was a
better or dearer man than Henry
Ransom"
81 can believe that now" he said
slowly, "but you know you seem to
have a prejudice against my mother
You can't blame me under the circum-
stances"
mo; cannot blame you" said AL
fee slowly. Then all at once they be-
gan to laugh.
With jealousy gone there remained
pity and love for the middle aged
couple who were making a new ven
ture in life. They talked about the
loneliness of the bride and groom and
how there would be no son or daugh-
ter to lend a loving presence at the
ceremony. Their strange meeting that
morning was another marvel in a day
that was always to be marked in their
memories for its important happen
! ings.
I'm going home to dress" said
Alice suddenly. and Philip Pomroy
called a taxicab for her and left her
at the park entrance, while he went
home to make peace with his mother.
| Henry Ransom found peace when he
walked up the aisle Of the church and
saw the loving face OF his only
daughter smiling upon his new found
| happiness.