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

It'll VIE there IS q contagious thing
IL in this world It is embarrass-
NT-sol ment. l never felt anything
4xsz9 worse in all my life than
the shame that swept over me in a
great hot wave when that look came
into his eyes and made me realize Just
exactly what had been saying TO him.
about what. and how | had said it.
stood perfectly still. shook all over like
leaf and wondered II 1 would ever be
able to raise my eyes from the ground.
A dizzy. nauseated feeling for myself
rose up in me against myself. and
was just about TO turn on my heels and
leave him. | hoped forever. when he
came over and laid his hand on my
boulder.
molly" be said in a voice that might
We come down from heaven on dove
.Gs. you can't for moment feel or
nix that don't realize and appre-
cate what you have been to the moth
erless little chap. and for life ! am
yours at command. as he is. really
thought it would be a relief to you to
have him taken away from you for just
little while right now. and still
think It is best. but not unless you con-
sent You shall have him back when
ever you are ready for him. and at all
times both he and are at your service
20 the whole OF our kingdoms. Just
think the matter over. won't you, and
decide what you want me TO doy"
Something in me died forever. ]
think. when he spoke TO me like that
He's not like other men. and there
aren't any other men on earth but him!
All the rest are just bugs or bats or
something worse. And I'm not any
thing myself. There's no excuse for
my living. and wish wasn't 50
healthy and likely to go on doing It.
II was all over. and there was nothing
left for me TO live for and before |
could stop myself buried my face IN
my hands.
Billy asked me to go with him on
this awful whale huntr' ! sobbed out
20 comfort myself with the thought
that somebody did care for me. regard
less Of just how | was further embar-
RAISING and complicating myself in the
affairs OF the two men I had thought
] owned aud was now finding out that
] had to give up ! wish ! had been
looking at him. for felt him start.
but he said In his big friendly voice
that is so much-and never enough for
me
We'll. why not you and Al come
along and make il a family party, II
that is what suits Bill. the bossT
II men would Just buy good. sharp
Kitchen knives and cut out women's
hearts in n businesslike way u would
be so much kinder OF them. Why dc
they prefer TO use dull weapons that
mash the life out slowly? Everything
is at an end for me tonight and that
blow did II. II was a horrible crue
thing for him 10 say 10 me. ] know
now that have been in love with John
Moore for longer than my honor lets
me admit and TINT I'll never love any
body else. and that also | have offered
myself TO him served up in every
known enticement and have to be re
fused ut least twice day for a year
A widow can't say she didn't under
stand what she was doing. even 10 her
self. but--my humiliation is complete
and the only thing that can make m'
ever hold up my head is TO puzzle hin
by-by happily marrying Alfred Ben
nett-and quick!
or course he must suspect how fee
about him. for two people couldn't boil
be So ignorant as not 10 see such al
enormous thing MS my love for him is
and was the blind one. But be mus
never. never know that ever realized
st, for he is so good that 1t would dis
tress him. ! must 90 on In my foolst
way with him until | can get away
I'll tell him I'm sorry | was so indig
nant tonight and say that | think Il
will be fine for him to take my Billy
away from me with him. | must smile
NJ the idea OF having my very soul am
putatcd. insist that IL is the only thinl
10 do and pack up the little soul in 6
steamer trunk with the smile. JUS
smile. that is all. Life demands smile.
from a woman. even IL she must crust
their perfume from her own heart
and 81" generally has them ready.