Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-25

as ever, as proud and vain -.
cockF She rose suddenly - ~
Little Jimmy; let rs 90 ont Il =. 90
He rose with her. There -
iety In his voice. "
"Oh, no. thank you,n he ss,a =
~, Josephine. cannot har.
er engagement this evening"
NONSENSE she repeated 80
Jimmyl You mustr' a'
II cannot r.
She put her hand ND 70 n. :.
and turned his face toward he,.
See here. Little Jimmy a. !.
do you still love met.
81 have always loved your
"Of course; you cannot helm n =
Is why / came. We are two on
pie left alone In the world n.
umphs are past. Our work /. !
Our friends are dead. Why ,ho,,s
sit apart and mope7 Come no
a good boyT
''I cannot r.
Then. with a change as swfft a. ~.
ming. the artist in her-all tbs -
bined tmpulsiveness and dramste 4.
Of her nature-came over her.
How dare you say thaty" sbs =. F
"Who are you. pray. to refuse !, |
vitation to dinner? Have I NOT a.
dined with you? Well. now you :
to dine with me. You underx,,,
Come. Where IS your coaty
She sprang to the tumhledovu 49,
robe, pulled out an old ulster =
pressed it over him. Then. VITA !,
imperious gesture, she waved hin !.
Of the room into the hall. holdiu, {
faded silk hat In her hand.
He obeyed her without word q,
in the cab he said:
Dear me. Josephine, the Year, M
not changed you, have theyi | oves
not to be doing this! Why, ny ar
/ have never dined as the guest q
woman in my life. 1t has alwayyh ~
a part of my code not to do sor
Nonsense! You are too old nov
have any code. Young sports Nh
no longer need a code. II is HIN IN
that some one took you IN hand D
sides, I am not doing It for you. Du,
you know that I have always h4
selfish? You are a good comparr
There Is none better, am sure Al |,
am not all alone and Lonesome, I.
is I. therefore, that you must ban
I need your
The lights in the restaurant Il
laughter, the sudden return to rs
vanished existence, acted upon Fin
bert like a tonic. His face grew II
years younger. They sat In far 81
ner, remote from the music. No o.
knew them-two artists who once b
ruled their world.
Her old habit came back upon y
swiftly. She ordered the dinner WI
out looking at the card-a thin scz
q small duck. a salad, bottle Of VI
from the sunny vineyards Of the Rhn
It was wonderful, under the spell
their surroundings. to see them M
relax. Story after story came M
him. His observations Of life. d
old wine, had a favor all their own
At last she lifted the glass, D.
empty, to her lips.
Come" she said; "let Us drlnk
at drink, mademoiselle, to your Y
to your beauty. to your genius ,
these are to me as fresh as ever.
"And drink to the artist Fiann'
than whom there is none greater; y
I drink to- She looked at him sIeh
Ily. f1xcdIy, with that wonderful ~
In her eyes which yet remained
dimmed at nearly threescore and =
little Jimmy" she said, 7 ormA
Us two. Let us never part assn :
earthy'
He lowered his glass. !,
"You know, my dear" ne sa'1
am quite poor"
'I have enough for both.
He laughed.
"ReaIIy, mademoiselle. ! cculo pi'
y pay the clergyman. ri.
Dear me! know one wno VIZ
pleased to do the slight sef'H
"You are in earnestF
"SureIy. And you consentF
She put forth her hand -
Josephine, have always '0se''
But
"Your hand"
He gave IT under the spell q
yes. They arose from the taole
threaded their way out OF tne
ant. The attendant helped ~
With his shabby ulster. Tne ~
opened for them. They STOOD "
Instant alone in the vesunu's'
He bent over her.
Josephine" he said. "prons
me thing. I know I am We.
,uess I'm growing old But -
ne that you'll never hold II up
neg xss
ION who could hold it up aeaira
or am 1 not the temptresss -. IA
ny dear. it is Just as IL So .,,s
I was my fault In the oesanh
r.sI who ae,aved matters
Then he stopped and kfssec = a
As he put her into the call's S,...<
N the ease and grace of the "a
Il old he turned TO the ce
sHome," he said proudly