Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-08

| hands.
Ben, do you mean that you s,S.,.
recognize me?' asked RosalInd -s'
| tears in her eyes, because Il w,s
| good to see a face from hone SO
more. Are you going homer
II am. And you are, toor' he a....
eagerly, his eyes never once lsv,..
her lovely face.
Yes, just for the week end -,
me where You have been and what II.
have been doing" answered Rozsl;,s
feeling an odd embarrassment in a.
jamin Halls presence.
Benjamin told her, his eyes stusv,..
her face as II he would read in fts e..
openness some record Of the th,s-
years since they had parted.
He told her that he had left Putxo,.
few months after her own departus
The death of his parents had left Mn
free to start life anew. He had ~
some woodland and had rented "a.
homes to strangers. He had ron.
west and bought an interest In a min.
which his uncle controlled. He hss
prospered. He was going back to Pr.
void. He was going back to the lsps
which his ancestors had TILED.
I'm homesick for the farm" be told
her. I've been west, and I've studIss
the way they do things out there, and
shall know how to make 1t pay. NV
tell me about yourself, Rosie"
Rosallnd told him briefly. The,.
seemed so little to tell In her naero~
life of hard work.
And you are going back?' be asksd
Yes. l suppose So" said RosaIind.
flushing warmly.
rs this true?" asked BENJAMIN quie,.
ly as he took a newspaper clipping
from his notebook and gave 1t to her
Rosalind read 1t with down bent
head: 1T is rumored that Miss Ross.
lind Mereton, the lovely little ingenus
in the popular comedy, Layende2
Flowers, is soon to wed one Of our
most energetic young miIlionaires.'
as it true, Rosie:" asked BENJAMIN
Rosalind shook her head.
mo. not yet" she said impuIsiYely,
and then blushed scarlet at her self
betrayal
Benjamin looked at the violets and
orchids at her breast and sighed sharp
ly. He had hoped to be in time to Of
fer Rosalind many things. but he was
too late. He wondered fiercely what
SORT of chap this man was. Did Rosa
lind love him or was she dazzled by
the millions? Who could blame herr
he asked himself fercely.
Adroitly he changed the subject, and
when the meal was over he accompe-
MED Rosalind back to her seat In the
day coach. Sitting there beside her
with the rugged scenery of New Hamp-
shire blurring into the dusk. Benjamin
felt growing confidence in himself.
He was nearing his own hills; be was
on his own ground. and the girl be
had always loved was beside him.
wearing another mans orchids, per.
haps half promised TO this rich man.
"Rosalind," he said suddenly, ARE
you engaged to this man:"
NO" said ,Rosalind quickly.
do you expect to beg he demanded
bluntly.
HE has asked me-" admitted Rosa
lind.
DO you love him?" went on Benja-
min relentlessly.
Rosalind hesitated. She wondered.
because she felt no anger against Ben
jamin and his questioning.
His hand touched her arm, her hand,
and held it warmly.
do you love this man. Rosalindr
he asked quietly.
Rosalind looked up into the gray
eyes and. looking. could not Withdraw
her gaze.
mo. no. nor' she said intensely.
"Ah. Rosalind. l have always loved
you" he said chokingly.
And !, oh, Ben. believe ! have
That's why I've longed for Putwod
and the old farm, and father ana
mother will be so glad, and. Ben. some
one viii see you"
: 81 don't care" said Ben boldly. "Ine
whole world can know. how happy
am in winning the girl love-"
And he kissed Rosalind.
did you send word to your mother
that you were coming?" he asked ~
they neared Putwold.
Yes. Won't they be surprised 70
see us together, you and !. old play
mates?" asked Rosalind gleefully.
Ben bent down suddenly and press
ed his cheek against hers. "Rosahna'
you are sure-sure that you wont
greet the money and the motorcars ana
Yachts and everything that this man
has offered you? I've heard ne Is
splendid fellow" he added generouse
Sure. Ben" said Rosalind steadiV
There was one thing lacking anu
that was love. We can never De pow
With that blessing"
The train came TO standstiii' ~
Rosalind peered from the window !"
Instant
Ben" she cried breathiessu.
there's father and mother. and tneyr
irving old Becky. How dear they ~
ook.''
So the train rumbled on after pnns
ng back TO Putwold village two
Ter children who had gone out INV
he world TO seek wealth and napp
less only TO come home and nnd
here after all.
T,~ q - A unerlcan |