Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-02
The Daily Story
TABITHA INTERFEREs- BY ADELAIDE BURNHAMA
Copyrighted Literary

and tried TO look into her face, but It
was too dark TO distinguish anything
except the pale. cloudy outline of her
veil.
He clucked to the horse, and they
went noiselessly down the road on
rubber tired wheels. At the crossing
they turned into the Milton highway.
Tabitha was somewhat disturbed at
the success Of her maneuver She had
planned to elope with Frederick Lee
and at convenient opportunity, per-
haps In the very presence of the wait
ing minister, she would disclose her
identity and give Frederick piece OF
her mind" Yet. somehow, in spite of
her disguise and the darkness of the
night, Frederick seemed suspicious of
her If he had been sure it was Aga
tina, the girl so soon to become his
wife, would he not, being an ordinary
young man, have placed his arm about
her or at least saluted her with a kiss?
Out of the fullness of her own past
romance Tabitha told herself he would
have done all these things, yet there
they sat speechless, slowly driving into
Milton to be married, or at least Fred
erick expected to be.
where are, we going?" asked the
man suddenly as they turned into a
sparsely settled section on the out
skirts of Milton.
DO you mean to say You don't
know" shrilled Tabltha through the
folds of white chiffon.
"Of course not" His voice was in
dignant You're Tabitha Campbell's
niece, aren't your"
I'm Miss Campbell" whispered
Tabitha, a great fear clutching at her
heart, for the voice was that of Fred
erick Lee, but it held deeper. richer
notes. Perhaps Frederick's would
reach that pitch some day If he lived
long enough. There was only one other
who could have spoken with that same
information, and that other was Freder-
ick's father.
well, Agatha Campbell" said Jacob
| Lee kindly, what do you want? You
asked me TO carry you to Milton.
and when we arrive you will not tell
me where you want to so. Now. there
| is something queer about this. and I'm
| going to take you back to Farmdale
and straight to your aunt" He spoke
with an air of authority and at the
same moment turned the horse about
! and went back over the road they had
! travelled.
| Tabitha sat crushed and stunned In
! the corner, shrinking away from her
old lover. What would he say If he
/ hn- To ho-
him? They rode together twenty-five
! years ago. and since then they had
! passed each other with averted faces.
! Swiftly they rolled along through the
! wooded way until carriage approach
ing from the opposite direction caused
| them to turn aside into the thicket to
permit the other vehicle TO pass.
The other carriage struck Thank
you ma'am," and n girllsh shrek
startled them. Don't be afraid.
Agatha" said Frederick's tender voice.
Then they were gone.
After awhile Tabitha's companion
spoke:
THAT was my sons voice, and he
was talking to Agatha Campbell" he
said sternly. "Now, who are you?
Tabltha stiffened II am Tabitha
Campbell" she said haughtily.
Good heavens" exclaimed the man.
They rode on in silence When they
were in front of Tabitha's cottage the
driver let down the buggy top so that
the moonlight fell on Tabitha's face.
Gently be united the white veil while
she sat in frozen silence When 1t had
fallen about her shoulders in a swirl
ing cloud he leaned forward. and she
saw that it was indeed Jacob Lee
Tell me all about it. Tabitha." he
said gently. You are in trouble"
Tabitha caught her breath-why. it
was all just as though the dreary
years had not come between them. ia
cob was speaking in his old authori-
tive tone.
She told him the story Of the pro-
jected elopemeut
You mean-you mean that you were
set against my boy?" he asked In a
stunned tone.
Tabitha was silent sg
well" he drew a deep BREATH 'if
you've held resentment all these years,
Tab. why, you must have cared, al
though somebody told me that you
were tired of me. Well, that doesn't
excuse me for what did. but I've had
years enough to think it all over and
to be ashamed of the part / played"
Still Tabitha was silent
'If you-why, perhaps you-Tabitha
do you still care after ali these years?"
How wonderfully tender was his
voice!
II don't know" quavered Tabitha,
} but .e been SO lonely. and It seems
good for you to be here"
J Then 1t is all right, Tab" he cried
gayly. His arm slipped around her,
J and she fell naturally into the curve of
1t. I'VE will have some happy years
yet If God is willing. l guess we met
Fred and Agatha in the woods. They
must be married by this time. Shall
we drive on to meet them and tell
Fred how near he came to clipping
, with your He laughed softly.
Eyes. do" whispered Tabitha meek.
ly. "And you can tell him 1 decided