Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-06

anu SdISpJd anu Sopnld CiInDeU lnIo
their surrey and drove over TO Little
River to call upon their brother, Es-
telle's father.
Jacob Bean was gathering late corn
in the fields that bordered the high
way, and he came over to the fence
| and talked to his sisters while he nib
| bled a straw. He was a big framed
man, and he had five big sons. who
worked the farm with him. 1t was q
! prosperous farm. and EStelle, the only
| girl, was petted and INDUCED. But it
! did not seem to spoil her. They we're
! all fond of Estelle.
! You look worried. Jacob" said So
! phia when their greetings were over.
II am" said the man, with a glance
| toward the distant house. Girls, Ma
ria and 1 think Estelle's going into a
| decline"
What does the doctor sayf" asked
Sarah sharply.
Nothing. He says there's nothing
to say. You know Browns way of
joking. He said that Estelle was pin
ing for her sweetheart. Why, land,
Maria was so mad she wouldn't have
him in again.
NONSENSE cried Sarepta sharply.
"Estelle's only child. If she don't
have beau for ten years yet it will
be time enough"
That's what say" grunted Jacob,
and he returned to his pumpkins.
The three sisters found their niece
swinging in hammock on the shaded
front porch. Her mother sat beside
her knitting a pink wool shawl. Es-
telle was asleep, and she looked alarm
ingly pale and thin.
Mrs. Bean greeted her sisters-in-law
affectionately and called stable boy to
take the horse. Sarah brought in a
basket Of grapes and some Jars Of
ounce jam she had just made. and the
four women sat and talked in low
tones about Estelle's health.
"Estelle's never had any beaus, has
she, Maria?" asked Sophia carelessly.
To Sophia Estelle was child.
mo, she never encouraged any one
except-well, l suppose you've heard
folks mention 1t, though Estelle's
dumb as can be about it-except Mr..
. Gray. But he's gone away now" said
Maria complacently. "He always was
too old for her, but nice as could be.
almost fell in love with him myself"
"Mr. Gray?" asked Sarah blankly,
her mind flying to the letter.
"Mr. GrayT' echoed Sarepta in
stunned tone her mind on the much
discussed letter.
"Oh. Mr.. Gray!" said Sophia in her
blunt way, throwing up her romance
with generous hands. why. there's
q letter over to the house from him
addressed to Miss S. Bean, and there
wouldn't one of US open 1t because we
wasn't sure which one of us it was
for. 1t couldn't be for Estelle, for her
name begins with an e." ended So
phia obviously.
The hammock stirred. and rosy
face appeared over the edge. With
her 6ousled fair hair Estelle looked
more like little girl than ever.
'Aunties, heard all your remarks"
she said TREMENDOUSLY, land perhaps the
. letter is for me.'
"But, dear, your name begins with
E." persisted Sophia kindly.
81 know. but he, Mr.. Gray. called
me Stella He said It meant star"
/ The girl turned glorified face toward
her mother. "Oh. mother, don't you
believe it was for me? If never an
, swered he might think l didn't care,
and so he stayed away"
| Maria turned pale with emotion.
perhaps so, dear" she said in her
heavy way. "If we can get the letter
over here you should let your three
aunts open it and each one read the
2 opening line. Then they could tell
whether it was for one of them. Their
| names all begin with 81 you know"
4 "Of course. mother" palpitated Es-
teIle II wish the letter was here
, now"
Sarah arose. I'll go in and tele.
phone TO Hannah to send Eph over
9 with it, she said decisively. Its
I been on the sitting room mantelpiece
I for five months"
e When she returned they talked Of
, other things until Eph's shining black
:, face appeared at the gate. After he
had given up the precious letter and
S disappeared toward the kitchen Mrs.
b Bean arose and went in to see about
1 supper.
l. EsteIle took the letter. smiled at the
= meager address. wondered at her low
e er's mistake in addressing IL TO West
: brook in9tead Of Little River; then she
tore open the letter and gave the thick
t folded sheets to Miss Sarah.
r you first" she said softly.
:, But Sarah shook her head. and Sa
repta shook hers, and Sophia refused
:. point blank, and they all kissed Es
e telle and said they We're going TO tr!
b to get Mr.. Gray to come back to th,
r church so she would be with them
!. and Sophia said they would talk abou
q her wedding.
:. They went down 10 look at the dahl
, las in the garden. and they smiled a
:. each other and nodded. contented Il
Estelle's happiness. and in theI
, hearts each one knew that this wa
: the nearest she would come to re
!, nance Yet they were strangely happy
|
n Sept. 8 in American