Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-16


about the temples
Did you speak to me?" he asked.
rising to his feet
Yes" said Jane. little breathlesS-
ly. You see, heard some one was
selling cookbooks. and wanted one,
and was afraid you had gone past.
l happened to see you sitting here"
He smiled patiently and brought the
book to her, opening the pages. dis
playing the pictures and drawing her
attention in half hearted way to the
excellence of the type and the new
arrangement Of the classified recipes.
81 want one" said Jane in bust
nesslike way. drawing out her little
purse How much is it,"
"One-fifty.'
He accepted the money and gave
the book to Jane. thanking her in a
tired voice
rs this the last one you have?" she
asked.
Its the first one" he smiled I've
got dozen more at the express office.
That one is my sample. You may keep
it. IL haven't sold another one in this
village. and I've been here two days.
l shan't need the sample. I'm through"
You haven't been at it long?"
mo. I'm bookkeeper in the mills
at Townton.. I've been sick for ten
weeks, and the doctor suggested my
taking up canvassing with the idea of
keeping me out of doors all summer.
l couldn't afford to be idle any longer,
My job will be ready for me in October
if I'm strong enough to take it again."
Il am sorry" said Jane. thoughtfully
| turning the leaves of the book. I've
been thinking that these cookbooks
| would make splendid Christmas pres
ents for women know. l do believe
| I'll take the whole dozen, and then
won't have to puzzle over what to get
my twelve cousins next December
DO you mean it," asked the man in
! a relieved tone
"Of course. If you will bring the
books here some time this afternoon !
will pay you for them"
Thank you. l don't know what to
say. 1t seems too good to be true after
such a run of bad luck l will get the
books here before shutdown. You are
very kind"
Jane evaded his wistful glance and
hurried back to the house. Once there
she looked at her reflection in the
kitchen glass. Jane Wade, you're a
ose-goose-goose" she said deliber-
ately, but a little smile crinkled the
corners of her lips.
At o'clock that night Paul Sherman
gave the twelve cookbooks into James
hands and went away with SIS tucked
in his pocket, not knowing that it rep
resented James taxes for the year.
James eyes, James smile. the touch of
her hand, fingered with him and per-
hans had to do with his securing job
to drive a delivery wagon for the Sum-
merviIle grocery the rest of the sum-
mer
Often when he drove by Jane s
house she would be at the window or
on the porch and would give him a
smile and he would take off his hat to
her in a courtly way that did not at
all coincide with his work. One after
noon when he drove by he stopped and
told her that he had made all his de-
liveries. He wished his wagon was a
buggy and he would take her to drive.
At this she said there were a horse
and buggy in the stable that he was
welcome to use any time he wanted to.
He said Saturday afternoons in sum-
mer the store closed at noon and he
would consider it a favor If she would
, let him drive her out the next Satur-
day.
She assented. and the next Satur.
day he called, dressed in a very diff
ferent suit of clothes from what he
delivered goods in. AID they went to
, drive together. When they returned
Jane asked him to tea the next even
ing Sunday, and this was the begin
, ming of a number Of drives and Sunday
evenings passed together that lasted
for the whole summer.
, By this time it was noticed by the
, Dentons and others that Jane had
taken up with the cookbook man. bu
none Of them dared tease her about Il
During the fall she was seen with hin
as much as ever. and the village wal
agog to know " there was anythin;
in 1t, but Jane said nothing. and n,
one cared to ask the man in the case.
1t was December before he fount
courage to ask Jane to marry him. B.
5 this time he was back at the mil
: grown brown and strong and hand
some.
: "All due to you. my dear" he SAID
with his arms around Jane. She ha
! said Yes" You put new courag
E. into me that day. I was down an
q ont. By the WY. where are tn
q twelve cookbooks. Jane?'
o Jane blushed guitily and did not al
: swer.
b II was wondering. because. you Sc
I've discovered that you haven't e
f a cousin in the world nor any relate
: except Aunt Hester"
4 Whatever explanation Jane had
}. make was whispered so softly that I
one save her sweetheart heard it. ar
q 1T appeared to be entirely satisfactol
o to the cookbook man."