Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-09


would have been an eagerness on one
side or the other to make a home just
for themselves. AS for herself, Noah
Rand had been her first admirer and
she deluded herself with the belief
that she loved him. Theirs was one
of those long periods OF keeping COM
pany." as il is known In Little River,
followed at last by an engagement,
which was proclaimed by a small
moonstone ring on Eunices slim brown
finger. Every Wednesday evening
Noah called to see Eunice, and every
Sunday afternoon he took her for a
drive in his buggy, and afterward he
remained to tea and spent the evening.
If Noah's actions were any indica-
ton of his feeling for Eunice the girl
now concluded that he had come to
care as little for her as she did for
him. She arose after awhile and went
about her duties with bitter resent
ment in her heart. an day long she
brooded over the trouble, and as the
hour grew near for Noah's appearance
her thoughts bore fruit. in that she
put on white dress and ran ACROSS
the road to see Mile WATSON.
Let him knock and knock again."
smiled Eunice triumphantly as she
stole through the orchard toward the
WATSON house. The apple trees were
| bending under their rosy burden or
! blossoms. and she paused to let fra
! grant branch brush her cheek. Then
her heart stood still at the dark shadow
! which almost touched her in its swift
| pace.
oh" she cried sharply. and the
| shadow paused and put out warm
! hand that closed around her arm. &.
! She stood motionless
/ who is it," asked the voice OF Bob
! WATSON. Miles brother. You needn't
answer. l know. / couldn't help but
! know. Eunice." he said in queer
voice, and his hand did not relax its
hold To Eunice's terror he drew her
closer until his arms infolded her
gently.
"Oh. Bob-Bob WATSON, let me goi
You have no right" half sobbed Eu-
nice with n sudden realization that to
be in Bob's arms was the most bliss
full sensation in the world.
IF you were free, Eunice, would you,
could you-oh. OF course, i know I'm
acting like a mean cur. but I've loved
you and wanted you ever since l came
home and first saw you grown up. But
Noah has always had n first mortgage,
only he's been so tarnation long about
foreclosing that I've been falling deep
er and deeper all the time"
"Oh. Bob" sobbed Eunice in accents
n,hf Cal
but only succeeded in making tender.
"Eunice," he cried sharply. this is
no time for quibbllng. Before you run
the risk OF making both yourself and
Noah unhappy for life tell me. do you
love anybody else-meY He pressed
her cheek to his and was thrilled be-
cause she did not resist
81 thought | had heart disease" qua
vered Eunice. II used to feel so funny
around my heart. You remember that
night when you sang at the concerto
You sang Because l Love YOU and
and"-
81 was singing to you, DEAR" whis-
pered Bob tenderly.
The scented apple boughs brushed
their young heads and scattered drift
Of petals down upon them. whip
poorwil was throbbing his strange
song from the old fencepost.
Footsteps swished through the long
grass and stopped close beside them,
and they lifted startled. guilty faces
TO see, standing near by and quite I'M
aware of their presence, Mile WATSON
and Noah Rand.
fare -IfF nfek
was enclrcled by NOah's arm, and his
, fair head was bent above her dark one
, In an unmlstakable attitude of tender
, ness. He had never spoken thus bold
, ly to Eunice Rockwell.
Its no use. Mile, DEAR" he was
saying. 81 asked Eunice to marry me,
and I'm not going to throw her over.
but don't see that she cares especially
for me. and. although she is the sweet
= est girl. / can't help loving you best,
: he groaned dismally.
, Throw her overT CALCULATED the en-
ergetic Mile IF you ever mention
such a thing. Noah Rand. I'll never
speak to you again. But don't know.
This is very dishonorable. you see,
= Noah You 90 right home and never
tempt me again. You belong to Eunice
:, Rockwell. whether she cares for you
or not, and feel the meanest girl In
the world"
: Looks lot as if Eunice cared for
: Noah. don't it. Pussy?" Bobs quiet
I voice broke like bombsbell behind
the two. and they turned to see Eunlce
in his arms.
"Wh-a.tw gasped Noah.
"Oh. how funny laughed Mile hap.
PLY. Don't you see. Noah. you blind
old bat? No wonder neither OF you
0 wanted to get married. You're both In
love with other people"
81 guess it's all coming out right 10
/ the end" Grinned Bob WATSON.
J. Just like them old fairy stories we
used to hear tell about" added Noah
as he wandered away hand in hand
with Mile.
81