Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-23

people who knew Margaret Gray. He
wanted to forget her. \
Absorbed in his new work. he sue
ceeded in forgetting her to a certain
degree, but one noontme while he
was sauntering around Battery park
he met her face to face as she was
hurrying toward South Ferry.
She was dressed in white linen. and
under her white hat her face looked
very pale.
How do you do?" she smiled up &C
Jimmy. and warm color waved
across her cheeks.
How do you do:" returned Jimmy
dazedly. 'I-er-I should say how do
you do, Mrs. Lee"
Again the color flooded her face. and
this time Jimmy recognized it as the
flag of embarrassment
Haven't you heard?" she asked
family.
Heard? No; I haven't heard any
thing"
You knew that am not married?~,
she asked in a surprised tone.
Mo-
81 am not going to be" Her voice
broke little, but she smiled bravely-
Its best to find out people before
you marry them than afterward, isn't
it,"
Yes. but-ah. say. it's too bad. Mar.
garrett Jimmy would have gladly I'M
dertaken to reform Harry Lee and
hasten that young mans marriage to
Margaret If the deed would have
brought back the sunshine to her eyes
and the smile to her face.
Il am glad; but, oh. Jimmy, I didn't
know that he was so mean; nobody
knows at the Office. They believe it is
because of his habits. But-but he
said to let it go at that. But there
was another reason" Margarets voice
was quaveringI Jimmy slipped hand
| under her arm and pioted her through
the crowd streaming toward the ferry.
When they were on board and had
found secluded corner he said:
Tell me about it if you want to.
! You know I'm not 4 cackler."
There isn't much to tell, only the
day of the wedding. 1t was to be
very quiet at my aunt's. He never
! came"
"He never came" Jimmy growled
! at her.
| She shook her head. HE came the
next day and said he forgot-forgot,
| Jimmy! And then when l told him
that there wouldn't be Spy wedding
he said it would be a distinct relief to
him. He didn't think he was cut out
for a married man"
you loved him a lot, Margaret?"
! whispered Jimmy hoarsely.
81 believed did at first" said Mar
garet drearily, but it was only first
attraction, and | drifted into an en-
| gagement, and then | got to compar-
ing him with some one-with others
and he appeared so mean and con-
temptible. But was engaged TO him.
| and would keep my promise. But it
seems he was tired Of me too"
Never mind. Margaret" said jim
| my. you ought to be glad enough to
get out of it so easy. Did tell you
about my new job with the Cont
mental people?"
Thereupon he told Margaret Of his
rising luck and when they reached
Brooklyn she babe him goodby with Il
ghost Of her old smile lingering on her
lips.
After Office hours he rode up to Cen
trail park and wandered among the
shady trees, trying to figure out in his
mind just what this change of Mar
garet Gray's plans might mean to him
If she only loved him it would be 81
easy. but he did not want to gain hel
consent when her heart was sore from
quarrel with Harry Lee.
He sauntered through Il bowery patti
where solitude and bird songs were il
accordance with his newly stirred sen
sations. Here. In the shadiest corne1
of the most secluded path, he came
upon skinny youth from whose lip
there dropped cigarette. He wa
Longing on a bench.
> "Mr. Lee" raped out Jimmy
"Huh?" The youth leaped to his fee
and faced the other with a queer lool
of surprise. A smile curled his lip. -
guess you're the chap that got my cir
away from me-" he sneered.
nat are sou talking aDout" de
manded Jimmy.
IL guess you know. We had a littl
difference. and Margaret i told he
that she was gone on you. and-wel
oh, she cried and said you was to
sensible to look at a silly thing Xix
her. and then she denied II. and, oil
well. you knew the wedding was of
ehT"
Yes. know the wedding didn
come of. and know why It didn't OF
cur at the proper time So now II
going to relieve my feelings a littl,
Lee. THERE Jimmy Dilrs fists fe-
back and forth as he soundly walloI
ed young Mr.. Lee. And when thu
youth lay on the grass and locke
reproachfully up at his antagoni.
| through rapidly swelling eye Jimm
Dill looked down at his foe.
: II just had to do 1t. Lee. beliey
! 1t will do you good in the end. and no
you'll have To excuse me. I've got
| get a train for Brooklyn"
: