Rock Island Argus., 1913-09-06

~ do love you" she said simply.
ming with. tenderness Neither spoke
for long minute. but words were not
needed to tell what the soul was say
ing through the eyes
81 do love you-you know 1 do, Con-
ME. I've loved you from the first day. |
cannot live without you. Connie.
darling, you won't keep me waiting?
You viii be my wife-you will marry
me at once? You do love me. know
I've known it for days and days.
She whimsically broke in upon his |
passionate declaration. saying with a |
pretty petulance: "Oh. you have?
What insufferable conceit! r.
He laughed joyously. II never was
so sure of anything in my life," he
said. You couldn't help loving me.
Constance; I've loved you SO. You
don't have to tell me. dear: know.
Still. I'd like to hear you say, with
those dear lips as well as with your
eyes. that you love me-"
She put her hand upon the back of
the broad one which held the other i'm
prisoned: there was n proud, earnest
light in her eyes. II do love ydu." she
said simply.
God. but I'm happy man. he ex-
ulted. Forgetful of the time and the
place, be half arose and, leaning for
ward. kissed her full upon the upturn-
ed lips.
There was a rattling of chinaware
hn, I'D
both came tumbling down from para
disc and found themselves under the
abashed scrutiny of very red faced
young serving woman.
"Oh. never mind" stammered Gret-
chen quite amiably. Il am used to
that, madam. A great many ladies'
and gentlemen come here to-to-what
you call it?' She placed the tea and
sandwiches before them, her fingers all
thumbs, her cheeks aglow.
Brock pulled himself together Very
sternly he said. This young lady is to
be my wife"
"Ach." said Gretchen. with friend
ly smile and the utmost Difference.
that is what they all say. mein herr"
Then, giggling approvingly. she hustled
away
Brock waited until she was out of
sight. "She seems to be on to us. as
| Freddie would say. But what do we
care? I'd like to stand on top of the
Bandjoch and shout the news to the
world. Wouldn't you, dearest?"
1.-The world wouldn't hear us, dear"
| she said coolly. Besides. it's raining
up there. Just look at it sweeping
down upon us Goodnessm
He laughed hilariously, amused by
! her attempt to be casual and indiffer-
ent. You can't turn ii off so easily as
that. dearest" he cried Come! While
it rains we may plan. YOU will marry
me-tomorrow?"
Nor she cried. aghast. How utter
ly ridiculous!"
"Well, then, day after tomorrow"
mo. no. nor week after next. r.
"See here, Connie. we've got some
one else to consider as well as our
selves. In order to square 1t all up for
Edith we must be able to say to these
people that we haven't been frivoling-
that we are going to be married at
once. That will let Edith out of the
difficulty, and everything will look rosy
at the outset. II we put 1t off the
world will have said things In its ig-
norance that she can never refute. sim
ply because the world doesn't stop long
enough to hear two sides Of a story
unless they are given pretty closely to-
gether. Now, Edith is counting on us
! o,,A
the charitable Carneys to rout with
our own little bombshell. They're say
ing nasty things about all OF Us
They're calling you vile thing fol-
stealing yonr sisters husband, and
they're calling me dog for what I'm
doing No telling what they'll be say
ing IL we don't step into the breach
as soon as it is opened. We can't af
ford to wait, no matter what Roxbufy
says when be comes. We've just got
to be able to forestall even dear ole
Roxbury. Come! Don't you see? We
must be married at once"
Dear me-" she murmured softly
what will papa say?"
MY dear Constance. / will expIair
it all to your father when he gets bacl
| from South America next winter"
1t was now raining in torrents. The,
2 moved back into the darkest recess o.
, their shelter and blissfully looked on
! upon the drenched universe with eye
; that saw nothing but sweet sunshin,
: and fair weather.
3 The gathering Of horses hoofs upol
, the hard mountain road sounded sud
, denly above the hiss Of the rainstorm
> 1t was quite dark by this time. nigh
!: having been hurried on by the lower
{ ing skies. A moment'iater three horse
men. drenched to the skin. drew up Il
. front. Of the inn. threw their reins owe