Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-01

/ bly, back In his seat. The book opened
of itself at one Of Eunice Wards
charming little love stories, and Mark
scanned the columns eagerly for the
/ paragraph that introduced the tnevita-
BILE man in the case. He was vexed
with himself even as his eyes fell upon
the offending paragraph.
As usual in Eunice's latest stories
the hero was everything to be ad-
mired-manly, lovable and big and
blond and handsome.
Mark slapped the pages together and
cast the magazine from him, staring
moodily at the neeting scenery He
was rather below the medium height.
dark and pale and square jawed and
! very American. Quite the opposite of
Eunice Wards ideal as depicted in her
stories. OF course the big fresh faced
English type must be the sort OF men
Eunice admired, for her heroes were
all of that description.
The train drew to a stop before
little terra Gotta station, and Mark
gathered up his traps and fastened
out into the October sunshine.
He had cherished a vague hope that
Eunice might be there to meet him
once in the earlier stages of their ac-
! Quaintance she had come for him-but
no, Mrs. Raymond, his hostess, sat
alone in the motor smiling q warm well
come.
"Eunice was coming, too" she said
as they sped along the oiled road to-
ward Windymere, "but at the last mo-
ment Mr. Punderson reminded her Of
a promised walk, SO she went with
him"
who is Mr.. Punderson?- asked
Mark grimly. Not Percy Rainier Pun
derson, the poet chapr'
Yes; and you will like him so
much" returned Mrs. Raymond enthu-
siastically, her dark eyes flashing one
glance at his stern profile.
mo doubt" said Mark dryly. "He's
an Englishman, isn't he?"
"Oh, yes"
Big and blond and something Of q
giantT' There was an unconscious
note Of anxiety in his deep voice.
why, yes-in a way" laughed Mrs.
Raymond, as she gave him her hand
alighting 81 didn't know you men no
ticed each others looks much"
I'VE don't as a rule" returned Mark
deliberately, but we observe and ad
mire poets as we do women, you
know"
You will like Mr.. Punderson," pre-
dicted Mrs. Raymond, as she directed
him to his room.
Mark Ellsworth was sure that he
must detest Punderson the poet. AS he
dressed for dinner his fine forehead
was creased with a dark frown as he
went over the months of his acquaint
ance with Eunice Ward. He had been
a bosom friend Of Dick Raymond's be
fore that gentleman's marriage and
since then had been a'frequent guest
at Wirdymere. Eunice was Mrs. Ray
mond q cousin, and it was at Windy
mere that Mark had met and fallen in
love with her among the winding paths
of that most fascinating Of homes.
The presence of Percy Rainier Pun
derson at Windymere was significant
Mark had heard of him as a dreamy
soulful individual, and he could not as
sociate Mrs. Raymond's description OF
the Englishman with the dropping
anaemic poet his imagination had con
jured.
Eunice gave him a cool little hand
and a fieeting glimpse of sea blue eyes
that were hidden at once by thickly
fringed white lids.
I'VE had about given you up" she
said reproachfully. you've promised
to come down every Saturday for the
past month and now, the first week IN
October, our expectations are at last
, realizedw The mock regret In bel
1 tone quite hid something that MARI
was too miserable to recognize.
! 1--WE been very busy" he said alb
sently, land in town the weeks do SLIP
j away. You have not been dull" His
eyes Involuntary turned toward Pun
derson's broad back.
{ mot at all.' she cried hastily. "Mr
Punderson is quite as ardent a pedes
3 TRAN as l am, and together we have
tramped over every road in Mereton
coming home with the most appalling
appetites."
81 hope you will walk with me-" said
| Nholluhy thhu
he knew.
''Of course" she replied quickly. 81
know the loveliest place In the country,
side. We viii start tomorrow morn
ing while the others are at church"
The prospect of having Eunice all
to himself for several hours put Mark
in the best of spirits and during the
{ course of the evening he came to like
the big quiet blond giant who seemed
a living representation Of the heroes
who marched through the pages Of Eu,
n1ce's stories
AS they struck into a long amber
lighted wood road the next day Mark
! turned and looked at Eunice, she step
ping easily beside him. She wore a
simple walking skirt Of white serge
and white knitted coat. with a white
I felt hat perched on her golden hair.
D She looked very young and very fair
but he thought her voice lacked its
:. usual buoyancy. Then It occurred to
him that Eunice might core for Pun
derson and the poet might be merely
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