Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-29

ed the country for many miles that |
day. The sport was new to me on &C
count OF the game we found. l had |
Indifferent luck. however, though the
others filed their bags with plover,
robins. doves and larks. There were
plenty of blackbirds. but we scorned
shooting these, though 1 was told they
make a good pie, which is a favorite
dish with the colored hands on the
farms. / saw something of each mem
Der Of the party during the day and
found them all. to a greater or less
degree. in love with Miss Ellen. Jim
gave me much information about the
others, but added:
''She Just laughs at them all and
won't even let them pay her compli-
ments as they do to the other girls"
And you:" 1 said.
'Oh, me! She would not even look
at me-" said the manly young fellow,
looking me squarely in the face, not
ashamed TO confess the hopelessness of
his love. I made up my mind that If
it ever came in my way to do Jim a
good turn. no matter how my own suit
came out, for 1 was now intent upon
winning Miss Ellen. would do 1t for
his open and honest confession.
We were a happy party as we
lunched at the lodge. We barbecued
our robins and some Of the doves on
little spits over a charcoal fire and
stewed some with rice. We rode home
early, however. more to see Miss
Ellen, l think, than for any other rea-
son. Zach would have left all his
game at her feet, but she would not
have it so, but said she would take
what 1 had killed in part payment for
my board, which innocent remark
brought deep flush to my cheek, re-
membering. as i did, my unhappy
mistake when l first arrived at the
Pines. We described our sport, and
she showed interest in everything we
said and all we had done. Presently.
looking at the sun. she exclaimed:
Come; go home, you boys. for am
not going to ask you to stay to dinner,
and be here early Thursday morning
or will not dance with any OF you at
the party" 1t took them but a few
minutes to get their horses and disap-
pear down the road.
And you. sir" she said. turning to
me as we lost sight of the others
what are you going to do in the way
of reparation now that you and your
friends have put me back in my work?"
set the table and bring the wood"
cried.
Come; you shall set the table. for
the wood has been brought in already"
! followed TO the dining room. where
she threw me the tablecloth.
BE careful" she laughed. 'for it
will not bear rough handling. though
/ dare say father would tell you that
it has lasted since General Oglethorpe
breakfasted off it and therefore will
! last after we are dead"
! And so we set the table. Miss Ellen
running to the kitchen every now and
then and coming back to straighten
! the knives and forks. telling me that
1 men were no earthly good about a
| house. Once our hands touched while
/ placing the plates. and instantly. as II
/ by instinct. we faced each other. and
/ our eyes met. After that she kept on
! the other side of the table from me
and later sent me upstairs to dress fol-
dinner. When | came down there
seemed 10 be glow on her cheek. and
in her hair there was stuck a wild rose
| which | had brought her from the
woods.
The next three days all was hustle.
The boys and girls came on Thursday
each bringing something In a basket
So much cooking / had never seen
One was put to beat the whites OF the
eggs and another the yolks. Some one
was detailed to mix the cake and still
another to watch It after it had been
put into the oven. Margaret Robert.
son was given a squad and ordered to
decorate the hall with greens. The
jelly was made, and some one was
sent with it to the springhouse. where
1t was left to cool and harden. Every
now and then the colonel would ap'
pear at the kitchen door to tell us
what times they used to have before
the war when he was a boy.
bdA hlSht "ucu "ClC SOuC
Bud had fallen asleep in a chair Miss
Ellen and | went on the lawn to look
at the moon.
Miss Ellen I said. II am happy
here. and / hate to leave the Pines"
why Go you talk of going?" she
said, her voice subdued and her face
turned away.
Because ! do not want to outlivt
my welcome" said.
NO one does that at the Pines. Al
you see, there is not much to offer
but our friends are always welcome
Bud likes you, and father seem,
younger since you came"
And your | said. drawing a steI
nearer to her.
"Oh. IT, She gave a little gasp anC
ended with a laugh. 1T is as easy Il
cook for FIVE as ii is for four. so dom
think Of leaving on my account"
That is what hurts" / said. al
you did not have to do this or II
had only known you long enough II
tell you all that is in my mind"
ended bitterly.
She held up her finger and, laughing
In my face. said: But you haven't
you know. So you must stay a Ions
time and then come back some daI
/ and tell me" she added roplishly