Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-08
The Daily Story
Sweet sixteen-By Aurania Elerbeck
,.o,zr,gb,ea 1914 by Associated Literary Bureau

lieving her eyes. Now she felt -.
WINGED. '~
| 81 saw you downtown last p,,b.-
came from Virginia's lips in frazS-
tone. unlike herself.
"Where?" demanded Dean. spsb,.-
darkly.
Center street, between First a..
Second West, In an alley"
'Virginia, you didn't wasn't ,h...
Some ones been talking. Just lef -
CATCH
81 saw you myself Don't lie to n.
again.
1t was an undreamed of Virginia IN.
| confronted him,
IL only went in with the boys-..,
look on" he defensively offered insts,s
Her sternness put him at a dlsadysn
tage. but anything TO hold her!
''You said you were at the bovll,,
alley last night and you weren't"
Stampeded, confused. Dean hun,ss
with the truth.
"Well, then-ITl tell you. Only yo4
mustn't be too hard on me. A fel,o,
hit me here with a billiard cue In
place on Columbine alley. And then
there was a fight"
"Oh, Deanw Shuddering under the
destruction of hope and faith-a shat.
tered ideal-Yirginia hid her face in
her hands and sanl: into a chair.
Look at me-" he pleaded, falling On
his knees beside her and attempting to
raise her chin.
But her head only sank lower, and
she pushed away his hand. 81 can't
look at you any more-you lied to me.
1t wouldn't-be-the-s
Dean stood up. He looked around
the big, familiar room, suddenly grown
strange and hostile, and then at the
dark head bent because OF him.
She was like a flower still, but life
less, bitten by the frost. A sob clutch
ed his throat, and he tried the hardest
thing of all.
virginia, I'm not fit to touch your
hand-but-can't you forgive me, Viz
gie-please?' he implored, bending owe:
her with trembling lips and heart smit-
ten with remorse.
But her one vulnerable spot had been
pierced. Pain had quenched the fame
of her love, and the ashes lay Ike
stones in her breast.
81 don't know. 1t isn't that. Wheth-
er l forgave you or not, it could never
be the same" she repeated duly.
Sixteen and twenty, but the lightning
had struck.
Dean Strengthened his shoulders. "Do
you want me to go?''
yes" with a suggestion of eager
ness. "And you had better take this
with you"
Rising, Virginia handed him his sig
net ring.
The tragedy was complete. This last
concrete instance of their parting was
as the closing of the casket in funeral
service
The front door closed, and n man Of
twenty stumbled down the steps.
Virginia, didn't you hear the din
ner bel?' peremptorily called her ia
Their from the dining room.
"No-I-I don't want any dinner
replied Virginia from the hall where
she stood, outwardly calm as statue.
inwardly nauseated with the pressure
of unshed tears.
Nonsense! Hurry in here! We've
got noodle soup. Where on earth Is
Dean?" demanded her father. looking
up from a steaming tureen. lade
poised in the air. as Virginia crepi
alone into the dining room.
.'He-didn't stay" she quietly re-
marked. slipping into her place at the
table.
whats the matter? Didn't he ask
you to the dance?" Intercepted her
mother. righteously indignant.
"Yes-but-I'm going with father Il
I co. was the astounding reply.
Certainly you may so with your
father" largely consoled the judge
with a comprehending wink at his
wife.
"Of course. That's the very incest
way TO go! And what are you THINK
ing of wearing?" pursued Mrs. Farke'
with tactful enthusiasm.
II think-I'll wear-Td like TO wear
my old white began Virginia. Ont
at the thought of that dress and IL
intimate history she could no Longer
keep back the tears. Choking WIN
sobs. she buried her face in her nap
kin and CROPPED her way from the room.
mo, mother" advised the judge a
Mrs. Parker made Il movement 10 lo'
low. LET her have her cry out alone
That young scouudrel-he didn't ass
her to that dance at all. Confouud
him.
~ suppose not. And those th'nss
mean so much when one is JUST siA
teen. You don't imagine it was any
thing elSe?' she suggested.
"Of course not-just spat' hen
call up again tomorrow" and the JUDGE
began on his soup with relish
"And yet-we We're about then
when we had our quarrel reneWeS
Mrs. Parker and heard herself WE.
alarm. Thirty years ago. and tins wa
the first mention of it since thar oa'
Mrs. Parker had been able 10 lott"
when she decided TO forgive
~ know. mother" said the ]uuse,
reaching over TO pat her hand aerVSS
the table. But. as Won say. tDe'
children. We were-diffcIent'