Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-12


woman Of cultivation. She had read the
poets; Dante and Petrarch spoke from
her eyes. Cecilia was no bad name for
her: she suggested heavenly harmo-
MES, And as for Jewett's story of Wig
gins infatuation, 1 was content.
She was talking meanwhile Of the
day and its buoyant air and of the
tapestries hung in the woodlands in
voice deep with rare intimations OF
VOL chords.
Its very quiet here. 1t doesn't
seem possible that we are so near the
city. Ny aunt chose the place with
care, and she made no mistake about
It Yes, the house was built by Mr.
Pepperton, but not for US. Ny aunt
bought It of the estate of the gentle
man who built it This will be her
first winter here"
Miss Holtister herself appeared. She
greeted me without surprise and much
as she might have spoken TO any guest
in her house. l had sometimes been
treated as though l were the agent of
a decorators shop. or a delinquent
plumber, by the people whom served,
but Miss Holhster and her niece estab-
hshed me upon plane that was wholly
social. / was made to feel that it was
the most natural thing in the world for
me to be there, having tea, with no
business ahead OF me but to be agree
able. The fact that / had come to cor
rect the distemper Of their fues was
utterly negligible. 1 remembered with
satisfaction that 1 had journeyed from
town in a new business suit that made
the best Of my attenuated figure, and
will not deny that felt at ease. Miss
HOLSTER talked briskly SIS she made
tea. 1T is not necessary for you to
take tea II you don't care for it, Mr.
Ames." she said, as / rose and handed
the first cup to Cecilia. IF you will
touch the bell at your elbow you may
have liquids of quite another sort"
You are most generous. Miss Hol-
lister. Tea will suffice for the mo-
ment. 1t is fitting that I should take
! it here, it having been a weakness for
tea as well as curiosity and chance that
| threw me in your way at the Aso-
/ lando."
That absurd-that preposterous hole
! in the WALL
| S&a put down her cup and faced me,
/ continuing: Mr.. AmeS. will not deny
! that If it had not been for General
Glendenning's cordial Endorsement OF
you. and the further fact that l had
met your late father. ! should not have
/ invited you 10 my house on the occa-
| sion 10 wh.ch you refer. My contempt
/ for the Asolando and the things it
stands for is beyond such language as
lady may use before the young.
/ fall back upon the privilege of my age
/ to beg that you will hereafter give the
Asolando wide berth"
| laughed at her earnestneSS. but on
| turning toward Miss Cecilia ! saw that
/ she was piacidly stirring her cup. 1t
might be that one was not expected TO
manifest amusement in Miss Hollis
( ter's utteranres. ana / was anxious to
/ adjust myself to the proper key in my
intercourse, no matter how brief it
might be, with this remarkable old
lady.
In my embarrassment / rose and of
fcrcd the bread and butter to Cecilia.
who declined il. The austcrity of her
rejection rather Uuuerved me.
Il assure you. Miss HOLSTER. that /
have no wish to become habitue Of
the place" l said. And vet you will
. pardon me if | repeat that. but for it,
l should not now be enjoying the hos
pitality Of Hopetield Manor
She lifted her>head from her cup and
bowed. but | was Immediately interest
ell in the fact that her niece was
speaking.
Il think Aunt Octavia is hard on the
ASolando." she was saying. Aunt
Octavia is interested In the revival Of
romance. and romance without poetry
seems to me wholly impossible"
The age is decadcrt. and / know no
better way Of restoring the race to its
ancient vim and energy than by send
ing men back TO the camp and field or
TO sail the high seas in new armadas.
The men of this age have become n lot
Of Sordid shOpkeeperS. and TO my moral
sense the lOoting Of cities is far more
ANlA'A tAbl' IMAM NV NittAtl'Al VI Il ASAS
and the manipulation of prices. though
cannot deny that but for my late
fathers zeal in destroying his competi-
tors in the baby buggy business we
might not now be enjoying the deli
cate fragrance Of caravan tea"
Il assure you. Mr.. Ames." said Ce-
ella. that the Asolando is very
harmless place, and that as a matter
Of fact its aims are wholly consOnant
with those of Aunt Octavia. I myself
served there for time. and those
were among the most delightful days
Of my life. There are times when
miss the Asolando."
Mr.. Ames." began Miss Octavia
presently in her crisp, direct fashion
which had the effect Of leading me ir
my anxiety to appear ready with an
swers to take fauering view of my
own courage and resourcefulness. mfr
Ames, are you equal TO the feat o.
swimming a moat under 8 shatterine
fire from the castle?''
Il have every reason 10 think am
Miss Holhster." I replied modestly.
And II a white hand waved to yor
from the grilled window of the lonely
tower would Won ride on indifferentIN