Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-11


zled her. She could never make up her
mind what to think of his treatment OF
her
dozen years passed. at the end OF
which Irving was beginning to feel
that life without a home was scarcely
worth living. At this time his affairs
began to pick up. and within another
year or two he had accumulated enough
TO own house. This was his condi-
ton at the time Linda Greer received
the letter containing a proposition OF
marriage.
James Irving closed his desk and put
on his hat. He bundled together some
documents and tied them up with
red tape and placed them in his safe.
He locked the door Of his dusty law
Office and made his way down into
the street
A little crowd in front of the post
office denoted that the evening mail
was in. and groups of giggling girls
and smart youths watched Mr.. Irving
as he opened his letter box and took
therefrom a number Of letters.
Thrusting them into his coat pocket,
he took his slow way homeward to his
boarding place He paused a moment
for another glance at Miss LiEda's gar
den, and he did not see her tender eyes
beaming at him from behind the par
Tor blind.
Up in his quiet room he sat down by
the window and opened his letters
Two of them pertained to business.
several were from old friends in dis
tant cities. and the last one was
small envelope addressed in a prim.
ladylike hand with faded ink.
A faint. delicate perfume as of dried
rose leaves assailed his nostrils as he
carefully opened the letter:
Glendale, April I, 1908.
Dear Mr.. Irving-I received your note
this morning. You press me for an i'm
mediate answer to your proposal of mar
rage. / have never dreamed that you
cared for me at all, but will say that
my answer will be what you wished me
to say Yours truly,
LINDA GREER
Mr. Irving read this letter with mani.
fest establishment His eyes were dis
tended with surprise and unbelief, and
flush of anger overspread his fine
features.
"a scurrilous trick on somebody's
part" he muttered fiercely as he scan
ned the letter for the third time. Then
he relapsed into deep thought
| He wondered who could have insult
ed the gentle little lady by forging her
! name to such a letter. Some village
wit, doubtless, had conceived the coarse
Jest. He hoped that Miss Linda would
not hear Of it
AS he dressed for supper q sudden
thought assailed him. Was 1t possible
that some joker had forged his name
to a proposal of marriage to Miss Lin.
da and she had taken the matter seri-
ousIy and that this letter was really
from her?
! He turned hot and cold at the bare
| thought. He would so and see Linda
Greer, and perhaps he might gain some
clew as to what had really occurred.
1t was a delicate matter-a very deli;
cate matter.
He finished dressing. and without
waiting for supper he made his way
down the village street in the sweet
April dusk and opened Linda's garden
gate.
He walked slowly up the path, inhal.
ing the spring odors of garden and
field, and turned around to the side
door.
This was the first time he had ever
entered that garden, but for years he
had stood afar. wistfully gazing at the
one woman in the world for him and
whom his poverty had prevented him
from seeking out.
AS he mounted the steps to the porch
the door opened hurriedly, and Linda
Greer precipitated herself out of the
entrance.
"Oh, You" she breathed hurriedly.
Ibid you receive a letter from me?"
she asked, with a certain fierce excite
ment which sat strangely upon her.
IL believe did," stammered
James Irving, taken aback by her sud-
den question.
81 want It back again" she cried
fiercely. "It was a mistake. Hulda
Lansing has just been here"-she
paused and choked down a little sob
land she says it was a trick Of some
of the girls and boys. Oh, OH
Linda broke into angry sobs, and in
a trice James Irving's shyness vanish
ed, never to return.
He took Linda into his warm EN-.
brace and kissed the top OF her brown
head with tender. lingering touch.
Don't you believe one word that
Hulda Lansing says" he soothed gen
tly ''You are the only woman I evel
loved. Linda. and your answer to my
letter has made me the happiest mar
in the world
"Your letter!" r1urmured Linda
amazedly.
James Irving lied without a tremo-
of conscience.
"My proposal Of marriage was gen
uine," he said gravely. Il have loved
you for years. and you will not kecI
me waiting long. dearT'
NO" sighed Linda happily.