Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-10

sHE SAW REFLECTED FROM THE GLASS
THE FIGURE OF MAN.
remarked one of the girls, since Aunt
Sarah has brought her to G.. purposely
to meet Joe Wilkins in order to make
a match between her and him."
Thanks very much" the girl refer
red to put in. Neither Aunt Sarah
nor any one else shall choose a hus-
band for me. That privilege l reserve
for myself. l have never seen Mr..
| Wilkins, and it is no more likely that
| shall like him when | do see him
than any other young man, and there
is no reason why he should like me-"
Hes very nice" spoke up one of
the party.
And since Kit Is very NICE" re-
marked another. land since the meet
ing between her and the man intended
for her is to take place on Hallow-
cen, it stands to reason that he is the
man fate intends she shall marry"
when and where Is this important
introduction to take place, Kit?" ask
ed a girl.
81 don't know, and l don't care" re-
piled Miss Cummings impatiently, not
relishing this discussion of her private
affairs.
II do" put in another. Hes to be
at the Halloween party tonight. We
shall all see him there and all have
an equal chance at him. You don't
claim him. Kit. do you?"
''No by any means. It's a free for
all I'd; .tch."
'Ir other words. some one of this
party on this Halloween may in Joseph
wilkins meet her fate. Now let's see
who shall get him."
"Humph, Instead of leaving 1t to
fate 1t seems to me you're leaving it to
the best angler"
This girls chatter went on till one
of the party noticed a storm cloud low
ering in the west, and they concluded
that 1t would be better to get home.
Since they lived in different parts Of
the town they scattered. Miss Cum
| mings, after descending a part of the
way with two Of the girls. turned into
a road leading down to her aunt's
house. pursuing her way alone.
! II was now after o'clock and since
| the storm cloud shut off the twilight
the darkness was falling-indeed a
few drops of rain battered on the
ground. Miss Cummings hurried on, but
not quick enough to escape a shower.
| Just as 1t began to pour she came to
the house that has been described at
the beginning of this story Since she
was a stranger to the place she had
never heard OF the Hammond house.
| She saw an ample porch on which she
| might obtain shelter and got under its
roof just In time to escape a drench-
ing.
/ 1t is not usual that a thunder storm
comes in October. but this storm was
! accompanied by vivid flashes of
! lightning. Moreover. the wind was
driving the rain against the porch and
| there was soon not a dry place on IT
/ The girl finding that she must either
/ take a soaking or get into the house
+ began to look about her for an en-
I trance. She tried the shutters of sew
| eral windows opening on the porch
| and at last found one In which the
| blind was so rotted that she could
/ open It pane Of glass was broken,
and inserting her hand she was able
/ to turn the catch OF the sash. Throw
\ ing up the latter she had no difficulty
in getting into a window whose sill
was but few feet above the porch.
There was still glimmer OF twilight
by which she could distinguish OBJ
! jects. The room she stood in was the
dra wing room and had been furnished
sumptuously. There were damask and
lace curtains of pattern long out Of
date; sofas and chairs Of mahogany,
1 the satin upholstery Of which was
rotten with age. There were mirrors
with gilt frames of an old pattern. II
one corner stood piano that had been