Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-15

Miss Challoner's memory"
20 yes, o yes."N
More than that, that. you are ready
and eager to help us. Your very looks
show that"
You are right; would do anything
to help you. But what can n girl
like me do? Nothing; nothing.
know too little. Mr. ChaIloner must
see that when you tell him I'm only
the daughter of foreman"
And friend of Mr.. Brotherson."
supplemented Sweetwater.
Yes" she smiled, "he would want
me TO say So But that's his good.
ness. l don't deserve the honor"
His friend and therefore his conf.
dante" Sweetwater continued. He
has talked to you about Miss Chal
loner?"
He had TO. There was nobody else
to whom he could talk; and then, l
had seen her and could understand. !"
Where did you see herr"
In New York l was there once
with father, who took me to see her.
think she had asked Mr. Brotherson
to send his little friend to her hotel
If ever we came to New York"
THAT was some time ago."
I'VE were there in June"
And YOU have corresponded ever
since with Miss Challoner?"
She has been good enough to write.
and I have ventured at times to an
swer her"
Smiling a little, but in a very ear.
nest fashion, he pointed to the letter
she still held and quietly said:
Remember that I'm not speaking
for myself, Miss Scott, when 1 seem
a little too persistent and inuuiripg.
You haye corresponded with Miss
Challoner; you have been told the
fact of her secret engagement to Mr..
Brotherson and you have been wit
ness to his conduct and manner for
the whole time he has been separated
from her. Do you. when you think of
it carefully, recall anything in the
whole story of this romance which
would throw light upon the cruel trag-
it? Anything, Miss Scott? Straws
show which way the stream flows"
She was vehement, instantly yehe-
ment, in her disclaimer.
81 can answer at once" said she,
because I have thought of nothing
else for all these weeks. Here all
was well. Mr.. Brotherson was hope
full and happy and believed in her hap
piness and willingness to wait for his
success. And this success was com.
ing so fasti Oh, how can we ever tell
him! How can we ever answer his
questions even, or keep him satisfied
and calm until he is strong enough to
hear the truth. I've had to acknowl.
edge already that l have had no letter
from her for weeks. She never wrote
to him directly, you know, and she
never sent him messages, but he knew
that letter to me was also a letter
TO him and I can see that he is
troubled by this long silence, though
he says / was quite right not to let
her know of his illness and that |
must continue to keep her in igno.
rance of it till he is quite we'll again
and can write to her himself 1t is
hard to hear him talk like this and, not
/ look sad or frightened"
I Sweetwater- remembered Miss Chal.
toner's last letter, and wished he had
II here to give her. In default of this
he said
I Perhaps this not hearing may act
! in the way of a preparation for the
/ shock which must come to him sooner
or later. Let us hope SO, Miss Scott.
Her eyes filed.
Nothing can prepare him." saiC
! she. Then added, with a yearnlng &C
/ cent, Il wish were older or had more
/ experience. | should not feel so help
less. But the gratitude owe him viii
/ give me strength when / need it most
Only l wish the suffering might BIZ
mine rather than his"
Unconscious of any self-betrayal
she lifted her eyes, startling Sweet
water by the beauty of her look.
Il don't think I'm so sorry for Os
wald Brotherson," he murmured t.
himself as he left her. He's a NOR,