Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-09

ton at all. l never seem TO be able to
look at him as l do at other people !
We hadn't spoken two words since we
had left the little house in the woods
with that happy faced girl in it. He has
more sense than just man.
1t was almost dusk. and I stopped in
the garden a minute to pull the dirt
closer around some of the bachelors
buttons that had popped" the ground
some weeks ago. Thinking about them
made me regain my spirits. and l went
on in the house to be scolded for what
ever Aunt Adellne had thought up
while was gone to do it to me about.
Judy told me with her broadcast grin
that she had gone down to her sister
in-law's for supper. and l sat down on
the steps with sigh of relief.
Some days are like tin cocoanut graf
ers that everybody uses to crate you
against. and this was one for me. For
an hour l sat and grated my ownself
against Alfred's letter that had come in
the morning. I realized that would
Just have TO come to some sort of de
cision about what was going to do.
for he wrote that he was to sail in
day or two, and ships do travel so fast
these days.
l love him and always have, Of that
am sure. He offers me the most won
derful life in the world. and no woman
could help being proud to accept It
am lonely, more lonely than l was eveS
willing to confess to DR.. John. can't
go on living this way any longer. Ruth
| Chester has made me see that If l want
| Alfred it will be now or never and
quick. ] now know that she loves him.
and she ought 10 have her show if
don't want him. The way she idolizes
and ideaIizes him is a marvel of WON
anly stupidity.
/ Some women like to collect mems
! hearts end hide them away from other
women on cold storage and the help
/ less things can't help themselves.
have contempt for that sort of
( butcher and | love Ruth!
It's my duty to look the matter in
the face before look in AIfred's-and
decide II not Alfred. what then?
First. 10 husband. That's out of the
question! I'm not strong minded
enough 20 crank my own motOrcar and
study woman suffrage. prefer to
suffer at the hands of some cruel man
and trust to beguiling him into doing
Just as | say. like men. can't help
it. and want one for my own. don't
count poor Mr.. Carter.
Second. if not Alfred. who: Judge
Wade is 20 delightful that / riutter at
the thought. hut his mother Is Aunt
Adeline's own best friend. and they
have ideas in common Sar IS so re
ligious that living with her would be
like having the sacrament for daily
bread still. living with him might
have adventures. / never saw such
eyes, The girl ne wanted TO marry
died Of tuberculosis. and he wears Il
Iocket with her in it yet. I'd like to
reward him for such faithfu!neSs with
nice husky wife 10 wear instead OF
the lOcket. But. then. Alfred'S been
faithful too, | look at Ruth Chester
and realize how faithful. and mv heart
meits to him in my breast. My hips
have almost all melted away. too. so [
had better keep the heart cold enough
TO handle If want anything left at all
for him TO come home to
In some ways Tom Pollard is the
most congenial man ever knew. You
have 10 say don't 10 him all the
time. but what woman doesn't like a
little impertinenCe once in awhile? |
favor all Toms daredevil kisses with
l. to- 4, II.
science. and / truly try TO make him be
serious about the important things in
life. like going TO church with his
mother and working all dag even if he
IS rich. ! wish be wasn't so near kin
70 me. Now. there 1 feel n Ruth
Cuesrers way again. One Of the things
that keeps the deTil so busy Is taking
helpless widows To the heights of
knowledge and showing them king
doms OF men that girls never dream
even exist. If all women could have
been born with widow eyes things
would run much more smoothly along
the marriage and giving in marriage
line. And the poor men are. most OF
them. as ignorant as girls about what
to do.
! suppose really would be doing a
righteous thing 10 marry Mr. Graves.
and | would adore all those children
TO start with. but / know Billy would
not get on with them at all | can't
even consider il on his account. but I'll
let the nice old chap come on for a
few times more TO see me. for be really
Is interesting and we have suffered
things in common. Mrs. Graves lacked
the kind OF temperament poor Mr.
Carter did. Id like To make il all NJ
to him. but if Billy wouldn't be happy
That settles it. and | don't know how
%@9d his boys are
And so. as there is nobody else az
actly suitable in town. it all SINNERS
Gown to one or the other of these ar
Alfred. In my heart | knew that
couldn't hesitate minute. and in m.
4 nash OF second decided OF cou-s.
love Alfred and I'll tabe him clad,,
and he the wife he has waited for al
i these SIX lonely years III make CIV
{ erything up Ia him II have TO die
to keep thin for him the rest Of M,
life likely will have that very thin.
10 do. and get weak AT the idea. Be