Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-01


they filed the time with making love,
But long as the days were they were
not long enough for their lovemaking.
At least the hours between their wax
ing and going to sleep seemed made
Quate to the purpose.
The most fervent lovemaking Is usu-
ally between those who have no right
to love or cannot afford to love. These
two belonged to the latter class. He
was not yet of age, would have no
fortune when he came of age and thus
far had made no move to secure even
competence.
But Rogers was full of pluck and
enthusiasm and felt that for her he
could make several fortunes. He re-
ceived an offer of a position on the
Pacific coast anu accepted it. She was
to wait for him.
"Goodby," said Rogers. Remember
your promise. You are TO wait for me
| till am ready to come back for you
at will wait for you, but as to your
coming back for me that is very I'M
certain. You are going clear across
the continent. You say yourself that
you do not deem it safe to marry be-
fore you have an assured income be-
sides something laid up. l agree with
| you. For US who have nothing to mar
~ on and attempt to bring up family
would be an injustice to that family.
Better not to be born at all than to
struggle among those not equipped to
| fight the battle of life"
you are thoughtful girl" -.
"Goodby."
Rogers went to California. He was
twenty years old, and the girl he ex-
pected to wait for him was the same
age. he had good pluck, was honor
able and would scorn to accept any
thing he was not entitled to from any
one. But he was young, and the young
do not usually see justice as 1t is.
At his departure he expected Della
Jenkins to wait for him to gain a COM
petence that was not likely to come
to him until she had outgrown the age
during which it is best for women to
marry.
This she did not propose to do, but
she did not tell him so. She was one
to act on the principle Never cross a
bridge till you get to it," In a year
after his departure he saw the injus-
tice of holding her and released her,
though at the same time he declared
that if ever he gained what he had
gone for he would return to renew his
proposal.
Miss Jenkins at the time she receiv-
ed her release had another offer,
which she at once accepted. In time
she wrote her first love Of the change
in her anticipation for the future. He
wrote back that he would never marry
unless she should become a widow
and would accept him for her second
husband.
Now all this was very sensible and
very creditable to both sides. Rogers
though it nearly broke his heart to
know that his love passed to another
treated her with every consideration
even to sending a wedding present
She wrote him that, while she was
well satisfied with the man she, was t.
marry, If she should become q widow
and Rogers wanted her she would
; give Hlul uFSI pfeleTenCe.
Della Jenkins became Mrs. Thatcher
Twenty years passed and she became
a widow. Rogers had by this time &C
cumulated a competence and was
abundantly able to marry. He haC
never visited the east since his de
parture for San Francisco and haG
never seen his former love. Never
theless at the expiration of the frs
year of her widowhood he wrote her
renewing the proposition of his youth
Sh" replied that she had been much
touched by his constancy and that Il
D he came east she would do everything
: in her power to contribute to his hap
piness.
Rogers lost no time in making the
journey. On the day of his arrival b,
sent a note to Mrs. Thatcher askini
! when 1t would be convenient for he
=, to receive him. A reply came askin;
him to call that evening. He did 81
e and, being ushered into the drawing
room, which was dimly lighted, saw
woman advancing to meet him.
Now Rogers had exercised his i'm
I agination so far as possible as to tn
probable appearance of his old Low,
after lapse of two decades. But II
spite of himself he saw only the i'm
age he remembered and which wa
the photograph he had taken ava,
with him. Had he seen a woman VIII
had changed as was to have been ex
pected he would have been astonished
{ AS it was. he met with a pleasant SUI
prise. The lady seemed scarcely t
have changed at all. The singular par
Of it all was that he was not con
d sclous of having changed himself.
did not occur TO him that should hi
former love meet him without havin
been told who he was she would no
~ recognize him.
Dear me-" he exclaimed. you hav
l. scarcely changed at all!p
Y Nor you" she said considerably.
"And yet" he went on. holding he
hand in his and looking at her fixediy
you are changed There is something
r, i couldn't tell what it is-that IL dit
ferent from the girl left years ago"
- Have 1 lost anything OF my-m
good looks?"