Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-26


But your father promised that you
should take me there" 1 said, and
that is a debt of honor you must pay"
Very WELL" she laughed. as If pre-
pairing TO go. but you will go without
your breakfast. and, what is worse,
Bud will call you out for making him
lose his. for he comes from the fields
hungry and out of temper sometimes"
Il would not mind going without
mine" said. but heaven forbid that
so fine a fellow should go without his"
Tears came into her eyes. but she
soon brushed them away and with
smile said:
You touched a weak spot then Bud
is the salt Of the earth, and he deserves
TO find diamonds in this dull soil in
stead of fighting out his life for few
pounds Of cotton"
| started down the road which she |
had pointed out, wondering what had |
come over me when my life in Boston |
had seemed a thing forgotten in few |
hours and my work and literary career |
become a secondary matter with me. |
/ passed through an old orchard, where |
the opening apple buds lent their fra
GRANGE TO the air. and by my side II
seemed to me that the unseen presence
of Miss Ellen walked.
The dogwood was poisoning down
by the branch, and when l reached the
pine trees their crisp needles, stirring
in the breeze, seemed singing some
blithesome air instead Of watltng
mournfully. as they had done the even
ing previous l saw her little rose
garden and, picking the only flower
then in bloom. hid it away beneath my
waistcoat- There was an impassioned
picturesqueness in the unkept lawn,
and out of the cedar and underbrush
might have expected to see some dryad
come. | found the bridge by the path
/ Miss Ellen had pointed out and for
an hour sat reclining upon its ivy
/ colored arch conjuring up such scenes
as | imagined had been enacted here
| when its owners lived in af1uence and
/ when women in silks and satin and
powdered hair sat in the oaken dining
| hall and danced the stately minuet on
/ rich carpets and under many lights.
/ In my mental vision ! thought | saw
one with the features of Miss Ellen
who glided past all others and stood In
| gay colored brocade waiting to be
wooed like a princess. The picture
faded. and / saw the real Ellen, none
the less regal. but in place of the scorn
the other wore upon her lips there was
a gentle patience. and about her form
there hung a simple cotton gown more
| 81 ~ ~
in my dream picture. l must have
been asleep. then. after all. l thought,
looking at my watch. for 1t was past
the time when she told me to be back.
Hurrying home the way l came. l
found them seated at the breakfast
table. and pleaded guilty to an early
morning nap among the woods.
And your dream?" she asked. as If
reading what was in my mind
"Was OF a beautiful woman clad in
silks l said, land she stood in an old
hall waiting for prince to come"
"Ah. what a sad awakening" she
said. laughing sweetly.
But wait until | tell you of the
change that came DER the spirit of my
DREAM" I added.
And I will some day show you the
first scene Of your picture" she said
softly.
"And the last part?"
81 do not know what it is, and you
have not told me-"
But I will some day, and" looking
into her deep brown eyes and almost
speaking in a whisper II like it better
than the first portion of my picture"
did not see Miss Ellen alone again
that day. Squire Hawkins called In
the afternoon and stayed to dinner.
He was a kindly looking man. not over
fifty. / should say. and he wore a pros
porous air. and he seemed to me to
have seen a good deal Of the world.
Miss Ellen did not play for Us that
evening, for she and the squire took q
long walk in the moonlight, and when
she came home she went to her room,
only stopping to say good night as she
passed us on the porch. The squire
stayed awhile longer and entertained
us with stories of his university days
In Germany, where he had been edu'
Gated He seemed to treat Miss Ellen
when he was with her In such a gen
tie. fatherly way that I laughed at the
idle gossip that l had heard about his
counting her l enjoyed his company
and laughed heartily over his stories
which were good and we'll told. He
had some good cigars, which Bud and
| enjoyed. but the colonel would not
smoke one. for he said they would up
set his nerves and make him banker
after the feshpots OF Egypt" TIT
squire tried 10 banter him out Of his
resolution. but the colonel was obdu
rate and stuck to the pipe.
studies were completed. Was there
more courage in New England. | won
dered. and was it not the blood OF the
cavalier that was telling now! She
had given me her confidence without
restraint. for she believed me then to
be one with the Kentucky PalRers
and l, weak creature. dared not dis
abuse her mind for fear OF losing that
confidence and friendship which this
fictitious relationship had inspired.
And now. Mr. InQuisitive," she said
IF you have finished your catechism