Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-15

as the first. fourth or sixth MANI
Hezekiah gravely nodded her pretty
head
And while you were engaged in THU
sisterly labor. Cecilia has been afrait
that you were seriously interested II
him."
That is like Cecilia. She's fine. ant
wouldn't cause me trouble for any
thing" and there was no doubt o.
HeZekiah's sincerity.
But now that see the light and un
derstand all this, how can we max,
sure that Wiggy will he on the spot al
the right moment? While we sit her,
he may hc the sixth man, ! might
take care Of WigEy by asking Cecilis
10 marry me- being careful TO have hin
appear Johnny on the spot when hat
been duly declined"
TN, ! shouldn't take any chances i
l were YOU" she replied. feigning Il
lock at an imaginary bird in tree top
for II You had counted wrong and
We're really the seventh man she woult
have to accept you"
"Hezekiah"
"Oh. l really didn't mean what YOU
discuss il any more That's the ordca
I've arranged for YOU" she answered
and set her lips sternly.
But. my dear Hezekiah. by what
means can this he effected? I don't
dare tell him the combination he's
PLAYING against or sit on him until his
hour strikes"
certainly not; you mustn't tell him
! or anybody else. You know the plan,
/ but you're not supposed 10, and no
/ body must know I've meddled. Mean
while Cecilia must expose herself tc
proposals NJ all times Aunt OCtavia's
heart would he broken if she thought
Providence had been tempered with
She likes WigCy we'll enough. except
that his ancestors were all Tories. and
he can't he Son Of the Revolution"
She rose and pointed to her coat.
Drop II into the boat for me. Chin.
neys We meet in funny places don't
we? Para expects me for luncheon
and I must row back and get my hi
cycle You? No. YOU can't 20 along
you've got n lot Of thinking to do. and
you'd better be doing it."
few minutes later. rs I swuns
along the highway toward the Pres
colt Arms. saw Cecilia Hollister rid
ing toward me Mt lively gallon
She crossed tho bridge without check
ing her horse. and then. with Il hurried
J glance over her shoulder. she pointed
with her crop 10 n byway.
! hurried after her and found her
waiting for me in n quiet lane She hal
dismounted and seemed greatly dis
turbed as addressed her.
Il hadn't expected TO meet you.
thought you rode of with your aunt to
ward Mount Kisco."
I'VE did. but on our way home Aunt
Octavia stopped 10 call on "a friend AND
as didn't feel in mood for visits thi-
-. morning. l rode on alone. I was walk
ing my horse in the road beyond Ped
ford. Just after ! left Aunt Octavin
when who should ride up beside me hut
Mr.. Virgins He had evidently beer
following me"
She expected me 10 express surprise
and with the Information that Feze
kiah had lust impaired fresh in my
mind | dare say she was not disap-
pointed IN the effect of her words.
was thinking rapidly and fearfully. II
my friend had sought her in the high.
way and offered himself in some fresh
accession Of ardor he might even now
be rejected and hopeless. man, but
was unwilling TO believe that this had
happened.
Wont you tell me what happened
in the road when Hartley rode up be
side you
oh. nothing happened, really. moth
ing. Nothing could have happened for
the excellent reason that ! ran away
from him. IT wasn't what he did OF
said. it was the fear Of what be might
say"
IF it had been Mr.. Dick who had
Joined you in exactly the same way IL
the highway. you would not have
minded in the least. Miss HOLSTER
Isn't that the TRUTH"
80 Be cuntinued)