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

don't want her for daugntefih-i""
7 puess Won won't have any,, enueu
Lem glOomily.
Mrs Stone was silent for long time.
UI was hopinc YOUR going to see her
was only a fancy. didn't think II
vor,d amount to anything" she muir
INJURED at last. -.
"Its amounted to this-if 1 cant
marry Evaleen don't want anyoouy'
and LENS mouth was set haro.
.I never could bring myself 10 sP,
nrove or your marrying her. Lem eiaT
7 guess I'll have to tell you the reason
whv" cried his mother herceiy.
II believe you ought TO tei' me-
er. It's only my due. ,,..
"weu, I was engaged to sam bisS
once. and he Tilted me to marry mo
Tolles-therer' Mrs. stones race wa"
aushed crimson as she made TINS uu
initiating confession. -
Tem iumped to his feet and ieantu
across the table. ~"GoOd Lord. motn-
err he exclaimed. do you mean
that you're holding that over us-EVa-
Iaen and meP Why, we haven't oone
anything" -. h.a
81 know it only couldn't nave
Nsouv's dauphter around. I'd he think
inc Of II, l hate Sam Biggs-a ui-
ding, shaller Individual" crieo MIS-
Stone violently.
( "Ma." said Lem soberly, 81 can't I'M
derstaud how you feel this way ai1er
so mony wears. I should think youu
be mighty glad to think you'd got rid
OF marrying such a trifer as you say
fhinKI III YOU u
married Mr.. Biggs you couldh nav
married pa. and he was the nhes' n""
that ever hvedr'
That's right. Lem, only somehow
! can't give in to your marrying EVH-
leen," she said obstinately, for she
had been a Stone and married stone
and came by temper and will on ooth
sides Of the family.
"Very well. mother. You mean that
as fnalY" Lem was very white as No
turned to the door.
Eyes" she said huskily. And with 1
out another word her son left the
room and went upstairs to his own
little bedchamber under the roof. she
could hear him moving around, and
she knew that he was dressing to go
over to Evaleen Biggs' house and tell
her that his mother would not well
come her as a daughter.
What would their life be after that?
Would Lem go away from home and
leave her alone? Might not things be-
worse than If he married Evaleen and
brought her there?
Mrs Stone shook her head, Nothings
could be worse than to be confronteol
with the daily sight Of the daughte'
of Molly Tolles and Samrel Biggs, thu
faithless one, and to- realize that thu
girl was married to her son, her pride
her Lem!
So she allowed Lem to leave the
house a half hour later, although she
knew he fingered a little, hoping for
some sign of relenting on her part.
But she gave no sign.
The next day he was grave and ST.
lent. and for many days after that he
. was the same. Mrs. Stone was very
miserable and unhappy and did not go
$ into the street. She was afraid she
e might meet Gussie Biggs and she was
a fearful of that lady's tongue.
q One June day at sunset she found 1t
necessary to go across lots to AFFIRM
S in the neighborhood. Thv fieTds were
@ knee high with daisies and buttercups
q and her skirts made a sweeping path
I through them. The field skirted pin
II grove and, as Mrs. Stone passed alol s
Q here she heard sound that brouf
d her to a sudden pause.
e 1t was the sound of weeping. J., 81
l Sh6rSlid not turn her head either
l. at fist, for the sound carried her ia
twenty-five long years 20 time
V she was young girl and had thu W
l. herself down upon the brown pine net
e dies In that very spot to weep out be I
sorrow because Sam Biggs had jilt q
d her. Ever since then she had wine
n at the smell of pine needles-or 81
l, sight of swayfng daisies-or the soul
It Of a wood'thrnsh at sunset.
r All these sights and sounds wers
> mingled now together with a girls pas
sionate weeping. So she had WEEP
:. years ago, and now she was a middl <
O aged woman who despised Sam Bigg
n and was heartily glad she had not MAJ
d ried him. only she could not forgiv
' him. This grief stricken girl was tn
Z reincarnatiOn of her own self. Sh
I turned her eyes and saw what she ha >
expected, for these pine trees bordere
D the Biggs place. Poor, pretty Evalee
2 was prone upon the pine needles. am
d she was crying and uttering little br,
n ken prayers.
b "Oh, Lord" she was saying.
n would be so easy for you to make thi
n right for me We could all be so hal
/ by if She
o \ Mrs. Stones face shone with som
inward light and. her haE~ eyes soft
t ened wonderfully. Vfaga1n T-coula
e they wear the cold teeentme OF tn
+ bitter years. Ste STEPPED through gap
in the fence and knet down beside )
8 Evaleen Riggs.
Come Evleen," she sid 70 the star
e tied girl, come home With me
a let us talk with Lem about the.
Sing because I've found out-I do -.
[ daughter after all"
Il I'm IN a pn~~