Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-12


EE RS. MASoN'S welcome 20
nS4 WaitstiIl was unexpectedly
H hearty, much heartier than it
would have been six months
before. when she regarded Mrs. Boyn-
ton as little less than harmless luna
tic. OF no use as a neighbor. and when
she knew nothing more OF Ivory than
she could gather by his occasional
drive or walk past her door with
civil greeting.
Ivory made himself quickly at home
and helped the old lady TO get a room
ready for waitstiIl before he drove
back for a look at his mother and then
on to carry out his impetuous and TO-
mantle scheme OF routing out the town
clerk and announcing his intended
marriage.
waitstilI slept Ike the shepherd boy
in The Pilgrims Progress" with the
herb called hearts ease" in her bos-
ON. She opened her eyes next morn
ing from the depths of Mrs. Mason's
best feather bed and looked wonder
fngly about the room. with all its I'M
accustomed surroundings. She heard
the rattle of fire irons and the clatter
Of dishes below. the first time in all
her woman's life that preparations for
breakfast had ever greeted her ears
when she had not been an active par
ticipator I'm them.
She lay quite still for a quarter of
an hour. tired in body and mind. hut
incredibly happy in spirit. marvc.in=
at the changes wrought in her during
the day preceding. the most eventfui
one in her history
The image OF Ivory had been ali
through tile. night i'm the foreground or
her dreams and ia her moments OF
wakefuIness. both made blissfui by the
heaven OF anticipation that dawned
upon her. Was ever man so wise. so
tender and gentle. - strong. 80 com
preheldinGz What uattsred the alb
sence OF worldly goods. tile presence OF
care and anxiety. when a woman had
n steady hand TO hold Il Steadfast
heart TO trust. man who would love
her and stand 10y her. whate'er befei:
Then the face Of Ivorys mother
would swim into the mental picture:
the pale face. rs white as the pillow
il lay upon. the fare with its aureOle
of asheu i.nir. and the wistful blue
eyes that begged Of God and her chill
d-en some peace before they closed on
life.
The vision Of her sister was a joyful
one. and her heart WAS at peace about
her. the piucky little princess who had
blazed the way out Of the oGre's castle
She saw Patty clearly aS future
fine lady. in veIvets and saIins and
furs. bew.tching everybody 10y her gay
spirits. her piquaut vivacity- and the
lovin. heart that lay underneath all
the nonsense and gave Il warmth and
color.
The remembrance of her father alone
on the hilltop did indeed trouble Wait
still Self reproach. In the true aense
Of the word. she did not. could not,
feel.
When she was thankfully eating her
breakfast with Mrs. Mason little
later and waiting for Ivory TO call for
them both and take them 10 the Boyn-
ron farm. she little knew what was
going on NJ her old home in these Tery
hours. when. 10 tell the truth. she
would have liked TO slip in. had il been
poSsible. wash the morning dishes.
skim the cream. do the weeks churn-
Ing. make her fathers bed and slip
our again into the dear shelter of love
that waited her.
The deacon haG passed good part
IF the ni=.t in s:hemiug and contriv-
Ing. apd 9 hen he drank lis self made
cup o, muddy coffee at = y0rlUck beK1
morning he had formed several plans
that we're to be immediately frustrat-
ed. had lie known il. by the exasperat-
ing and suspicious nature Of the ladies
involved in them.
At S he had left the house. started
BIZ Morrill, at the store and was on
the road I'm search OF vengeance and
Old Mrs. Atkins Of Deer
wander shifted ut the wages offered.
Miss Peters Of Union Falls. an aged
spInster with weak lungs. had the i'm
pertiBence TO tell him that she feared
she couldn't stand the cold in his
house; she had heard he was very par
ticular about the amount OF wood that
was burned. There was not another
free woman within eight miles. and
the deacon was chatting under the NOR
tihcation OF being continually obliged
10 state the reasons OF his needing a
bousekeeper. The only hope. IL seem
ed lay in going 10 Saco and hiring a
stranger. plan not at all to his Xix
ing. as IL WAS sure 10 involve him in
extra expense
Nuttertng threats against the uni
verse I'm general. he drove home by
way OF Milliken's mills. thinking of
the unfed hens. the unrnflked COW the
rnwashed dishes. the unchurned cream
and. above all. OF his unchastened
daughters. bis rage increasing with ey-
cry step until IL was nearly at the
white heat or the night before.
long stretch OF hill brought the
tired old mare % a slow walk and en-
abled the deacon 10 see the Widow
TLlman clipping the gersniums that