Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-02

ty Agatha, her niece.
"It's my duty by a motherless GIRL"
said Tabitha defantly to her con-
science, and she turned her good ear
close to the curtains sagging against
the open window.
Tomorrow night. then" said Fred
erick with long sigh of relief
Yes" assented Agatha timorously.
''At II o'clock. SurelyT"
Eyes"
I'll drive you to Milton. and the |
minister there will His words drift !
ed into an indistinct murmur as tho !
wind rushed through the garden and
stirred the syrinGa bushes.
Tabitha, arose and went into the sit
ting room, where she blinked at the
lighted lamp. She was q little, hard
featured. black eyed woman with
white hair and sprightly movements
that made her appear even younger
than her fifty years. Now her black
eyes snapped with anger as she sat
down in a rocking chair and picked
up some knitting.
Agatha came in and locked the front
door. When she appeared in the sit
ting room her blue eyes were very
bright and a pink flush stained her
usually pale cheeks.
II thought told you wouldn't have
Jacob Lees boy running here" snap
ped Tabitha.
Agatha was silent.
Has he got job?" pursued Tabitha.
Eyes. l told you his father had taken
him into the bank" replied Agatha
t spiritedy. Frederick is-is-nice. /
don't see why you dis-dislike him so,
Aunt Tab
Il have my reasons"
IF you would only tell me, Just tell
me what it is you have against him,
Aunt Tab, might understand"
Its all in the past" murmured Ia
bitha somewhat vaguely. Her cheeks
Redeemed as if at some unpleasant
memory.
Its not fair to keep me in the dark,
and / shall never believe one word
against him unless you prove it, so
there" Agatha whirled out OF the
room and up the stairs into her own
little room overhead.
What Agatha did not know was that
once upon a time Tabitha had been a
black eyed beauty engaged to marry
Jacob Lee. But Jacob had proved a
tickle lover. and when he took bride
to his home it was a handsome girl
from Milton who had money In her
own right. That Jacobs wife died and
left him with little Frederick three
years after the marriage did not move
Tabitha Campbell to pity. In the
meantime her hair had whitened and
her face grown sharp and peaked
Now she became the village dress
maker. and when Agatha came to live
with her every one said how nice It
was that Tabitha would not be alone.
Now Agatha was planning to elope
with Frederick Lee.
Tabithas eyes burned strangely in
the darkness as she thought of these
things.
The next day passed quietly, as usu-
al. Tabitha sewed busily in her sharp.
jerky way in the room devoted to her
work. Several customers came and
tried on garments and looked over the
!
examined the tissue paper patterns
pinned on a tape along the wall Aga
tina did the homework deftly and be-
tween whites stitched on the sewing
machine in the corner.
AS evening drew near the two wom-
en- became distinctly nervous. Tabi-
tba cut Mrs. Demmet's gray cashmere
into a three piece skirt by n twenty.
two inch waist pattern when Mrs.
Demmet measured thirty-four inches
and was proportionately massive. 1t
was characteristic of Tabitha's mood
that she first threw the mangled cash
mere across the room with the scissors
flying in its wake Then she picked
them up and, tucking the cashmere I'M
, der her arm, went grimly forth to in
terview Mrs. Demmet.
When bedtime came Agatha came
and placed her arms around Tabitha's
neck. The astonished spinster did not
move, but silently endured the en-
brace, and if there were tears in her
hard eyes the girl did not see them
|. She went to the door and turned a
: wistful gaze on the older woman.
, I'm sorry you don't like him." she
said painfully, and went slowly up
stairs.
Tabitha put out the light and went
silently about her preparations. She
: went upstairs and closed the door OF
: her bedroom and then returned to the
sitting room to envelor herself in 9
long gray cloak ard tie a white chit
, fon veil over her face and hair. She
slipped out Of the side door and went
across the grass to an opening In tn,
> lockwood hedge that bordered the gar
den. Standing outside there on tn,
+ path in the shadow of the maple trees
she awaited the coming Of Agatha.
lover
Clouds were drifting overhead. ant
now and then the msJn peeped out
The little house lay in deep shadow.
Presently the church clock struck II
and at the same instant came tn
sound Of hoofs on the sandy road.
covered buggy came slowly along, ami
u the horse stopped in front Of Tabitha'
gate.
% In an instant she had reacneu IN
d vehicle and had climbed into its dar