Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-13

they wished for information they must
get 1t from another source than Ell
len, for she proved to be very close
mouthed. She had not been consider
ed so before she sought Browns AT
tentions. and every one was surprised
at her retiCence. Can il be-" they said.
that this impenetrable man makes
any one with whom he comes in cou-
tact impenetrableY'
Ellen Wykof~s efforts 70 break
through Browns shell continued. in
creasing the while up TO certain
point, when it seemed that she had sue
ceeded. At any rate. her efforts ceased
and apparently from the fact that
Brown seemed to have yielded. After
that the two were often seen together,
even to taking walks in each others
company. and Brown no longer threw
away any posy the girl gave him.
But here arose another cause for
tongue ciatter. Was the condition be-
tween Brown and Ellen Wykoff that
OF lovers or of friends? There were
those who held to the former and those
who held to the latter opinion. All
efforts to draw an admission Of any
kind from Ellen failed, and. as to
Brown. no one ever thought of asking
him any question whatever.
One day something occurred which
led Browns fellow townsmen to think
that the mystery was solved He was
not seen on the street as usual nor the
next day nor the next Then came a
woman, a coarse. disngreeable looking
creature. who made inquiries about a
man, giving 4 description resembling
Brown.
If Mr.. Brown was the man she
wanted he had doubtless heard of her
and taken a timely departure. She
left, and the next day Brown reap
peared. Brown was told that a wo-
man had come into town and looked
for a. man answering his description,
but the news didn't seem to trouble
him. He said he'd been called away
to look out for a legacy he had re-
ceived, and it was not long before
there were indications that he had
really had a windfall.
The woman who was looking for
him or some one Ike him did not re-
ness. Indeed, her appearance evident
ly had not changed the situation. He
was the same mystery as before, and
as time wore on many came to believe
that she had been looking for another
person.
Then came a man worse looking
If that could be-than the woman
who had been there who was hunting
! for one whose description fitted her
| exactly. He did not seem to know
| Brown, and it was at once inferred
! that Brown had nothing to do either
! with the fl favored man or woman.
! He said he hadn't, and there were
| good reasons why he should be be
! lieved.
Every evening at o'clock the stage
drew up at the tavern on its way
through the town. One evening while
the crowd was awaiting the usual dai-
| ly excitement the coach appeared ut
the other end OF the street and Brown,
who was present. was seen to change
color. Several persons who noticed
him looked knowingly at each other
as much as to say: His enemy is com
ing. Look out" The coach came on.
and sitting on the seat beside the
driver was n comedy woman OF TWEEN
ty. Seeing Brown, her face broke into
q beautiful smile, and when the coach
! stopped she stepped down on to the
wheel and jumped into Browns arms.
! The news spread throughout the
town that the Brown mystery was
solved. But the curious citizens were
doomed to disappointment. Neither
Brown nor the new arrival gave any
! explanation Since they went to house
keeping together without any mar
rage ceremony IL was Inferred that
they were man and wife. But Brown
was new man. He became perma-
nent resident OF the place, and he and
his wife-especially the latter-grew in
the affections OF their fellow towns
men. But neither ever lisped a word
as to the story that every one believed
; was connected with them.
This much came from Ellen Wykofr.
She averred that she had formed a res
oIution to get Browns secret For the
J purpose she pretended to have fallen
: IN love with him. She found him a
very honorable man. who felt IL his
duty to shut off a love that could not
be returned. On her promise not to re-
! veal what he said he informed her that
he was a married man. But the rest
of the mystery she could not get out
: of him.
Miss Wykoff learned, however, the
! cause Of his looking up and down a
! street before crossing It. He was blind
, In one eye and to avoid accident had
formed this habit His starting came
J from the same cause. q shadow on his
; blind side being the most frequent
cause.
1t was soon after Mrs. Browns ar
+ rival when the Interest IN their story
/ q story doubly interesting from re-
naming untold-that the town was
named. Browns legacy PROVED 10 be a
bona fde one and sufficiently large 70
enable him to do a great deal for his
, adopted town. And doubtless this was
another reason for its being called
Brunouia
i Iune IA - q r11arJcaa