Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-26

NcAl1u- uul "a the pIiSul SUNSHINE VI
a winters day, Gerald bIinked near
sightedly as he entered the softly light
ed tea room
In the left hand alcove. under the
palms" Corneua had said. and he had
FASTENED to this his first appointment
with her since their betrothal with
laundering speed.
There was the rosy alcove with its
background of palms. but no COruelia
He sat down with his back 10 the buz-
zing room full of beautifully gowned
women and quietly attentive men and
watched the reelection of the animated
scene in the strip of paneled mirror on
the wall opposite.
Rosy lights beamed from out of tan
gled foliage. Trim maids stepped to
and fro. There was the tinkle Of fine
china and the faint ring of silver and
glass Gerald Clifford waited with Il
pleasant sense of anticipa ton mingled
with deep cOntentment The girl
who would presently slip into the other
sat IL HIS NNablt lisIt liibillStu IL DiGI-
ry him. Deeply in love as he had been
for many months, he had not realized
the profound happiness that awaited
him unit! he had taken her in his arms
and heard her low voiced confession
of love
The very recollection of that moment
thrilled him like some magical essence,
and for-an instant the mirrOred pic
ture blurred before his eyes. When il
cleared once more he was looking
straight across the width of the room
to the opposite alcove where Cornelia
Lloyd was gazing at him with an eX-
preston Of blank uncOncern in her VIC.
let eyes.
\ rose shaded light fell on her oval
face framed in a mist of golden hair.
and he recognized The large white
beaver hat showered with white
plumes and the fluffy white fur tossed
about her throat. She was facing him.
and Gerald could see the head and
broad shoulders of dark haired man
opposite to her. Across the room their
faces were mingled with Il score of
others sitting at the little tables that
interviewed between.
Suddenly Cornelia'S eyes were hid
den by the downward tilt of her large
hat. and Gerald turned his own gaze
down at the damask cloth before him
His heart pounded jealousy, and his
hands were ciinched tightly.
Had it taken him six months to woo
COrnelia Lloyd only to discover tina
she was a heartless cOquette? VIVA
was he to believe when his own eye:
testified that she had apparently
drawn him to this appointment onl!
to witness her Irritation with an empt!
headed chap like Monty Woodruff
Gerald recognized young Mr.. Wood
/ hullS back with the unerring instinc
of a jealous lover. Why had Cornell;
/ seen fit to insult him in this manner
Had she really been playing with him
and had she already given her hear
to that-that-that-
Gerald'S inward rage chol.ed hin
into furious submission. If Cornell;
expected to see him arise and dash on
of this fairyland of light and color
where silly women and idiotic mel
gathered to consume large Quantitie
of tea and mullins and cakes, sh
would be nightly mistaken. He, too
would order tea and mullins and 81
there until Cornelia herself should tir
of the game and leave with her brain
less escort.
So the maid. who had lowered anx
iously about him, brought Mr. Cliffort
steaming pot of oOlOng and plat
of mullins, and he made a pretense o
eating. By stretching his neck I'M
gracefully he could see Corneha'
white plumed hat and occasionally tn
/ curve of her cheek or the sweep 0
her fair hair. But Monty Woodbury.
head interfered most of the time
That restless young man craned hi
neck and bobbed his head here ant
there. obscuring Geralds vision unit
the latter was consumed with a bite
jealousy that turned his happy hear
into a substance much like ice. II
would leave the tea room and 20 +
his apartment Later he would cal
her on the telephone and ask for a
explanation
He paid his check and arose fror
his seat. noting that Monty WoOdhu
was also rising from his chair. Geral
faced suddenly about and braved tn
scorn of Cornelia's eyes by gain
across the room to assure himself tina
II was Monty Woodruff.
Cornelia arose at the same momen'
flashed a glance OF unutterable lOatf
ing at him and swept down the sid
aisle and ont of the door. When tn
doors had greedily swallowed her fai
form Gerald turned hiS eyes back t
where he had seen Monty Woodruff.
He stared stupidity ut the table Col
nelia had vacated. and stared agai
with unbelieving eyes. There was n
Monty Woodruff there: there was n
4thdication that he or any other ma
had been there, for there was not eve
plate laid on that side of the tabl'
and a chair was tipped against tn
edge Of the table. rs if the seat ha
been reserved for somebody -sOmebod
who never came. for there was hi
one plate and cup and saucer. and the
were The cHcS that Cornelia had use'
Perhaps Monty had not eaten at al
but Gerald lad distinctly recollecte
f-1H T., had