Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-01
The Argus Daily Story
Second Courtship-By Henry Williamson.
Copyrighted. by Assosrated Literary

love right into his arms, as he had
done the day he left her, but he had
the good sense to realize that it had
been far different with the widow.
Not only bad she lived long while
with her husband and must get used
to new conditions. but 1t is Noman's
nature to desire q courtShip before a
marriage.
Indeed, the meeting had all the nov
city OF new affair. Whenever Rog-
ers would go back to their past in
timacy the widow would say: You
must remember that in my marriage
my engagement with you was obht-
Grated. Since then it has had no ex-
istence for me, though it may have
been continued for you. This is not
the same connection. Let US treat it
as if we had never met before"
Rogers could not but acknowledge
the reasonableness of this. In one way
1t panied. in another 1t pleased him.
. 1t reminded him that his love had been
possessed by another, but there was
freshness in it that could not be ex-
pected from the renewal of an affair
in middle life with an old flame. His
courtship progressed very satisfacto-
rily. He was an eXuberant lover and
several times came very near spelling
it all by attempting to so too fast.
Then, too, there were the usual lovers
spats. Though more mature, Della was
just as sensitive as to the way she was
treated as during their previous affair,
and Rogers had the same difficulty In
bringing her around as before. But
while he showed an experience of
years In the treatment OF women shA
seemed as Maynard as when a girl.
This surprised her lover. but he at
tributed it to the fact that she had the
experience Of only one man, while he
had been thrown in with a great va
riety of women.
Considering that they had been en-
gagged before, a long courtship was re-
quired for Rogers to win the second
time. Indeed, several times he was
tempted to give up the struggle. Final
", thinking it would he well to as
sumo more Independent attitude, he
said:
other hands temporarily to come here
and renew a proposal which 1 made
! years ago and which was rendered
null through no fault of mine. l did
not count on winning you again, and
did not count on your having, in the
meanwhile, given your heart to an
other. That connection, / see, has
broken the spell between us so far as
you are concerned, and l question If
1t will ever be restored. / am obliged
to return to my affairs. Since you have
changed and cannot return to what
you were in your feelings toward me
|. see no way but for me to leave you
as did before, only this time forever"
This had the desired effect The
lady asked for another day to make up
her mind, and 1t was granted. Rogers
| asked If he could not call for II that
evening, but was told that she would
be engaged examining her heart. He
went away, thinking that he had Il
rival in the dead, but felt assured that
as a living being he had every ad-
vantage and the victory would be his
And he was right. When he called
again the lady, without speaking a
word, held out her arms to him. He
drew her to him and had won.
During this courtshlp Rogers was
Informed that Delia's mother, whom
he remembered well, had grown fee
bic and kept to her room. He asked
to pay his respects to her. but was
told that she could not be induced to
L..
between him and her daughter had
come to a crisis he was Informed that
the mother desired to offer her con-
gratulatlons, and he was invited to her
boudoir.
He saw q woman much changed In
appearance from her he had known
twenty years before from having been
long Ill. She extended her hand with
smile that reminded him of Della
when she was girl. but which, as 1t
was then. he had not noticed in her
since his return. That smile sent n
thrill through him such as her daugh-
ter had not occasioned.
81 wrote you" said the older lady,
that If you would come here / would
do everything in my power to con-
tribute to your happiness"
you wrote mef'
eyes, l. am your former Della;
this, my daughter. is your present one.
In throwing you with her | have Done
the only thing in my power for you.
l am not only past middle age. but I
arl broken down by i'll health. You
are a vigorous man. In the prime OF
life. l can do nothing more than give
you my daughter"
, Though the woman's beauty was
, gone. a pang shot through her former
lover. Had he not stood between the
two women he would have chosen her
, ia preference to her daughter. But
, ner forethought of old came up to him
! and told him that she was right. He
bowed his head and said nothing.
. Then. turning TO look at the younger
Of his two loves. he saw an expression
on her face that warned him against
a blunder. Taking the hand Of the
mother. he kissed IT, Then. turning to
, the daughter he took her in his arms
and kfSsQd her on the Inns