Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-08
The Argus Daily Story
A Parallel Casey Agnes G. Brogan.
copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

ed to be possessed or hunger for hu-
man companionship, and after several
unsuccessful attempts at conversation
with fellow passengers In the smoker
he stepped out on to the observation
platform and stood drawing long
breaths of fresh air, as though the
proximity of the trees along the way
side stifed him. Then, turning alb
ruptly, he entered the car. Its occu-
pants still sat absorbed In their own
affairs as his towering figure passed
down the aisle. Then as Boynton
| sank into his seat his glance fell upon
a girl who sat opposite. He had not
noticed her before, but now his bored
/ expression gave way to one OF frank
| pleasure as he gazed admiringly into
her charming upturned face.
There was an indefnable air Of joy
BUSINESS about the girl which curved
the corners Of her lips and twinkled
in her laughing eyes. She regarded
the westerner with good humored in
terest for a moment, then returned to
her survey of the ever changing seen
cry. But to the man her very pres
ence had changed the dreary atmos-
phere like a breath from the sweet,
wild prairies. He saw as he covertly
watched the girl her unaffected de-
light in the new surroundings and
was possessed of a sympathetic desire
to enjoy with her this passing piano.
rama. He longed 70 tell her of the
wide reaching lands Of his own be-
loved country and the deep purple of
the sky which bordered all. She
would understand, he was very sure,
what 1t must mean to a man to give
up all this and start life afresh In a
distant land among a strange, new
people.
1t was indeed a great honor to be
numbered among the company's stock
holders and to be named as their bust
ness representative In the southern
city toward which he was travelling.
Boynton tossed his magazine aside
and stared gloomily out Of the win
dow. The train would go rushing on
like this, eating up the miles between,
until a certain station would be called
then the girl opposite would arise and
smilingly pass out of his life forever
And she was so different-oh, so
ideally differentLrrom any woman he
had ever known.
IF you please" said a voice, a low
sweet voice, may I take your maya
zine for few moments? 1 would like
to see that story"
"Take it?" he answered heartily.
"Well, rather guess you can! You
won't care for the story, though" he
added
MOP" The girl smiled up at him
sis it such a poor story?"
Poor" he exclaimed disgustedly
Talk of fiction; there's where you gel
: it. I wonder the magazines publish
Henry Hobbs twaddle. This thing Is
one of the worst he has ever done
Couldn't possibly happen and wouldn't
: interest any one if it could"
"A "Indeed?" The rising infection IL
the soft voice invited further informa
ton, and the westerner, swaying un
steadily with the cars motion, slipped
into the seat at her side.
:, YES" he continued, its awful rot
Couple meet on a railroad train, be
come acquainted the first mile or TIVE
out, fall in love the second and leave
the car a few hours later to procure {
marriage license. Runs like moving
picture. Now, in the first place. wha
fellow but an out and out chumI
would ask a girl to marry him in tina
short space of time, while the girl whit
would accept wouldn't be worth ask
ing unless, of course" he added laugh
ingly, they were both just plain fool
ish."
The girl Joined in his laugh merrily
well" she said, perhaps they were
But the illustration is beautiful, don
;, you think?' She was examining
intently.
Why" Boynton exclaimed, 'it Nigh
be a picture of this very car. Th
girl In the rear seat is like you, too
- small and dark and happy looking
She's a southerner."
His companion nodded. $50 am I,
she said.
A shadow crossed the mans fac
my home has always been in the ia
west" he confided I'm afraid L
find myself mighty different when
try to be one of you"
The girls eyes widened. From tn
"a far west" she repeated wonderingl.
+ "Oh, l would love to have you tell II
what 1t means to live out therer'
a With an almost boyish eagerness
complied with her request, and the
laughter rang out often as the trai
IS sped on its way. The train came to
L. very sudden stop presently, with muc
creaking of wheels and brakes, ar
,e the westerner broke off in the mid
b Of an exciting tale to investigate Il
cause He returned soon with an a
surfing nod to the girl.
le lust a little sand slide ahead"
NJ explained, "but we shall be detain'
an hour or so while they clear Il
tracks"
a. I'VE shall be very late in reachir
our destination. | am going TO slee
You must not talk to me any more
"a she said.
So the big westerner ob~yed. and Il
strong lines of his face softened in
III a great tenderness as he sat watch1I