Rock Island Argus., 1913-06-24

plant tone turned now to one Of deep
compassion And you, my Peter
the girl said quickly-"they have made
you suffer. Because of cruel, wicked
mistake they have placed you here
behind their great locked doors.
"'He is married in this country the
men tell me, but l ask them how can
that be. 1t is foolish, for is not my
Peter my husband, and have not here
our printed records? But the interpret
er is very stupid. and he will not un-
derStand, and he tells me over and
over again, Peter Olaf is married. so
come away angry"
The girl tossed her head. 'Be brave,
beloved" she said, "and all will yet be
we'll.
do not grieve that must so
back, for so they have ordered. Re
turn at once TO your own country the
stern man said, rs though that were
punishment to me. I am glad-glad
10 go.
Here the people are so strS1-e and
| fine and grand; here no cccE cares
Mari caught her breath sharply. Tears
welled in the golden black eyes. She
waited, wondering at his silence, and
| then, with a sudden hopeless gesture,
! Peter stretched forth his arms.
| Mari" he murmured brokenly, ''it
! could but touch your hand"
'Have / not, then. the same long
'Ig?" she answered tremulously. But
) when they have learned their mistake.
! Peter, when they know of their wrong,
then they will set you free, and you
! will hasten back to our happy home
! land.
| "There will be to welcome you and
see in the garden our fruits and flowers
are growing and upon the hills our
! sheep. So you will be content and hap.
i py forevernore, so you will never care
| again to wander"
'"Mari," the boy cried out in despair,
"how may then come to you'll who
am so unworthy?"
/ An attendant laid kindly hand upon
the girls shoulder. Times up," ha
reminded. Mari looked back through
the screen with rcproachful eyes.
You unworthy, Peter?" she said ten.
derly. "You"- Then obediently Mari
followed on up the stair. Outside be.
fore the jail a dark faced italian paus.
ed to adjust the golden harp which he
! carried. At his side, in bizarre cos.
tune, tripped red Tipped girl. With
swift sidelong glance ut the man sho
fiirted her beribboned tambourine.
Il go in there, Toni" she said. 81 not
play ON the boat today" The Italian
stood looking down upon her with q
sort of dogged devotion.
"You go to see him, Bianca," he said
-"he who was not your husband. He
fool you and lie to you, yet you can for
give?" The girl shrugged her shoul
ders.
|, "What do forgiven" she asked pert.
ly. HE leave her for me. If he leave
me for her'-Bianca's eyes narrowed
"but Petro he not do that" she said
Halfway TO the impressive entrance
she turned back to smile at him. "You
wait for me, Toni?" she called, and the
> Italian answered with sad resigna-
tion:
always wait for you, Blanca"
She smiled at Peter also, showing her
pretty white teeth, as he drew near tho
forbiddinG screen.
"Hello!' she greeted him gayly.
''Hello, but cannot shake hands"
would your" Peter asked her gravo-
ly. Would you If you could?"
"Why notT'. laughed Biancn. "YOu
will be free" she added quickly. II ask
the man at the desk if they send you
to Jail, and he frown, and he say he
think not. They send you back per-
haps where you belong. But, Petro,"
she whispered softly, when you ara
free you will come back to me? Prom
Use. am your wife"
The boy leaned wearily against the
screen. Through it came the fragrant
breath of roses in her hair.
Promise, Petro," the girl caressing-
ly implored him.
Il will come back to you, Bianca,"
he answered evenly. She laughed a
little as she turned away.
"GOodby," she said. And as she
came out again into the light and
found the italian still waiting in pa
l. tient hOpelessness Blanca anticipated
the burning question of his eyes.
NO" she said, slowly shaking her
head; mo, Toni; lie never come back
TO me; never, any more" The MIN
leaned forward. unbeIieving.
"He told you thatf" he asked eagerly.
HE not tell me-" Blanca replied,
with shrewd little smile. "He not
need to tell me; know"
Beloved" the man entreated and
spoke no other word. For O moment
the singing girl swayed her tambou-
rine teasingly before her mOcking face;
then, suddenly serious, she gazed at
him across the tinkling bells.
your kind, Toni" she said gently:
''the slow kind. 1t Is the best"
And far out upon the pier another
girl sat, her upraised face gloriled in
the light Of the setting sun, her dark
eyes flied with dreams. "Deported,"
murmured n plying voice. but the i'm
migrant girl was smiling happily es
she followed the long line into tho
great white ship. Mari had entered
upon the Journey into her promised
land.