Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-05
The Argus Daily Story
A Country Library-By F. A. Mitchell
Copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

but have duties at home as well as
here"
why did you not call me before"
l asked. looking mp at her half dazcd
Il found some odds and ends that
could as well attend TO- and l did not
need 10 call you"
Nonsense. You were too good to in
terrupt me-"
4 slight flush was all the reply re-
ceived. | left her piuniny on her hat
and went out feeling that my doctor
had sent me TO the right place. In the
library l would find rest and refresh
ment. In the hooks would find
friends. while in the librarian | would
have an ever present companion. both
in the eish and in the spirit.
l went 20 the library every day and
stayed each day TIL was asha med to
stay any longer. The librarian was
very good TO me. and when | made
excuses 10 draw her into chat instead
or doing her work she did not repuIse
me- found the quiet Of the place with
It's presiding divinity restful rs we'll as
delightful. I disliked to have any one
come in TO break the seclusion. And
when now and again some mans so
norous voice resounded from the walls
and rolled through the slcoves It seem
ed very much out OF place.
remained at B. as long as was
able to be absent from the city. then
babe sdieu 10 the library aud the IL
brarian. l told her at taking leave of
her how grateful was TO her and II
for the rest had received and exacted
a promise from her that II she ever
came TO the city she would let me
know Of her arrival My transition
from the quiet l had enjoyed 20 the
turmoil Of q metropolis grated on me.
but I soon got used 10 II, aud within
twenty-four hours after nv return
was again immersed in business. Then
the library and the librarian were for
gotten except after the work Of the day
was over and l laid my head upon my
pillow for a nights sleep.
During the winter | received a tiny
envelope containing a card with the
name engraved on 1t OF Miss Mildred
TrRsk aud an address Who was Miss
Trask? Where had met herr
could not remember. However. l call
ed on the lady and was received by
the librarian.
l had long looked forward to this
meeting. but now II was realized was
disappointed Miss Trask did not
seem TO be the same person. | was not
able In the new surroundings to resume
the relationship that had existed be
/ tween us in the retreat at B. in which
had passed SO many dreamy hours.
! My remarks were perfunctory. and her
replies were equally so. | noticed that
she, too, showed disappointment 1
fancied she blamed herself for sending
ME her card This when began to get
up some degree of cordially put II
danper on my effort.
To make matters worse, was obliged
to leave the city the next day to be
! gone during the whole period OF her
visit and was thus prevented from
! showing her that attention l would
| have liked to show her. As I took
leave OF her her hand lay passive and
without warmth IN mine. | tried to
say something genial, but she did not
help me- l wished she hadn't come or
hadn't sent me her card
| found il impossible to let the mat
ter rest and wrote Miss Trask a letter
saying -untruthfully-tba l was not
very well at the time of her appear
ance in the city. and since my enforc-
ed absence had prevented my showing
her any attention | wished she would
come again She replied that there
able to leave her duties at the library.
The matter troubled me to such q de
gree that when the next summer came
on I determined to spend my vacation
at b. I desired to re-esta blish my
former relationship with the librarian.
not with MISS Trask. for she and the
librarian did not seem to me as one
and the same person, but the girl of
whom | had dreamed In the alcove
One day | made my entrance into
the library just az l had made II the
year before. The door closed noiseless-
~ behind me, and | advanced to the
desk. The librarian, sitting at her
table. continued her work. but l
thought l saw her start az though she
OWNED the entrance OF some person
of moment TO Der. She arose from the
table turned her face to mine. and our
eyes met. smile of welcome brok Q
over her features. which was returned
by me in kind.
why were you so repellent" she
asked, when sent you my card: You
asked me to do so"
u could not have answered that
question til this moment. II was
meeting you in this delicious place
Perhaps that was what was the
matter with me"
ITO be sure II was"
Never in my life was there so quick n
transition as upon nv second entrance
10 the library. There had been some
thing dormant in me OF which had
been unconscious. but which sprang 10
life the moment re-entered the place
where Il had been born
Come with me-" said. into the al
cove"
She went with me There was No
ore besides ourselves in the building.
took he in my arms
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