Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-28

But | never knew what be had in
tended to say. for Billy suddenly swell
ed up like little turkey cock and cut
out with his switch at the judge.
Git man, git, and let my Molly
aloner' he said in a perfect thunder
tone OF voice. but | almost laughed.
for it had such sound in it like DR..
Johns at his most positive times with
Billy and me-
NO, no, Billy. the judge Is just look
ing over the fence at our flowers! Don't
you want to give him a rose?" l hur-
ried TO say as the smile died out Of
Judge Wade's face and he looked at
Billy intently.
How like John Moore the youngster
is" he said. and his voice was so cold
to Billy that it hurt me, and I was
afraid Billy would notice 1t. Goodness
in peoples voices always makes me
feel just like ice cream tastes. But
Billy's answer was still more rude.
You better go. man, before 1 bring
my father to sic our dog on you," he
exploded, and before could stop him
his thin little legs went trundling down
the garden path toward home.
Then the judge and I both laughed.
We couldn't help 1t. When two people
laugh straight into each others eyes
something feels dangerous and you get
closer together. The Judge leaned
farther over the fence, and / went q
little nearer before knew It
You don't need to keep a personal
! dog. do you. Mrs. Carter?" he asked
with twinkle that might have been
spark in his eyes. and Just at that
moment another awful thing happened.
| Aunt Adeline came out on the front
porch and said in the most frozen tone
| of voice:
MARY. wish to speak to you in the
house." and then walked back through
the front door without even looking in
Judge Wades direction, though he had
waved his hat with one of his mothers
own smiles when he had seen her be-
fore did. One Of my most impossible
habits is when there is nothing else to
do laugh. ! did it then and it saved
the day, for we both laughed into each
others eyes a second time, and before
we realized it we were within whisper
ing distance.
NO, l don't-don't-need any dog"
I said softly. hardly glancing out from
under my lashes because l was afraid
to risk looking straight at him again
so soon. / could fairly feel Aunt AIDE
lines eyes boring into my back.
ut would take the hydra headed
monster of-may bring my mother to
call on you and the-NIrs. Henderson,
he asked and poured the wonder smile
all over me. Again / almost caught
my breath.
II do wish you would. Aunt Adeline
is so fond Of Mrs. Wadev' / said in a
positive fiutter that l hope he didn't
see, but l am afraid he did. for be
hesitated as if he wanted to say some
thing to calm me, then bowed merci-
fully and went on down the street
He didn't put on the hat he had held
In his hand all the while he stood by
the fence until he had looked back and
bowed again. Then felt still more
futtered as I went into the house, but
received the third cold plunge of the
day when l reached the front hall.
Mary" said Aunt Adeline in voice
that sounded as If it had been buried
and never resurrected. "if you are 60
ing to continue in such an unseemly
course of conduct I hope you will re-
move your mourning, which is an emp
ty mockery and an insult to my own
widowhood."
Eyes. Aunt Adeiine, I'll go take II
off this very minute" heard myself
answer her airily to my own astonish
ment. i might have known that If
ever got one of those smiles it would
go to my head! Without another word
| sailed into my room and closed the
door softly.
wonder if God could have realized
what a tender thing he was leaving
exposed to life in the garden of the
world after he had finished making 4
woman? Traditionally, we are Great
ed out of rose leaves and star dust ant
the harmony Of the winds. but we neet
q steel chain netting to fend us. Slow
~ unbuttoned that black dress tina
symbolized the ending of six years o.
the blackness of a married life. from
WHICH udu Deel pO"eEleSS 10 reno
myself, and the rosy, dimpling thin.
in snowy lingerie with tags of blu,
ribbon that stood in front of my mir
ror was as new born as any other hou
old similar bundle of linen and lac,
in Hillsboro. Tenn. Fortunately. al
old, year before last, white lawn dress
could be pulled from the top shelf o.
; the closet in hurry, and the Molly
that came out Of that room was ready
for life-and lot of it quick and fast.
; And again. fortunately, Aunt Adelin
!, had retired with u violent headach
and black Judy was carrying her in
, hot water bottle with broad grin oil
her face. Judy sees the world from
the kitchen window and understand
everything. She had laid large thicl
, letter ON the hall table where couldn'
: fail to see it.
l took possession Of it and carried
to bench in the garden that backs a
against the purple sprayed lilacs ant
. is flanked by two rows of tall purpl
and white iris that stand in line read.
for a Virginia reel with a delicate row
of the poets narcissus across the broa'
| n. fh I lOvp my dowarc Inya fbau