Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-02

rltauon In her voice
Is he your beauT Anne ASKED b.
In a dim corner OF the library.
The men were smoking on tba -,
cony. which overlooked the Italian oa,.
den. sa'-
I'm not sure" Margaret said. With
catch in her voice. I'VE are NOT sn.
gagged, IL you mean that"
HAS he ever kissed your Anna IA
manded. ue-
Out Of long silence Margaret wb,s
pered: 1''-
"If he had, what thenT
Because that would show the. 1.
wants to marry you. Dave kissed me
this mornin' on the mountain, ana .ha,
means that I'm hisp
You dear" Margaret said ou,cv,,
and turned the subject to other things
But that night when little Anne vas
In bed in the pink and yhite roorn
Margaret came in. looking very bean.
tiful, with her long braids FRAMING tha
white oval of her face and hanr,ng
dark and glossy against the siIEs0
folds Of her scarlet gown.
Tell me about Dave" she com.
manded.
1t was a simple little tale. but n
breathed Of youth and love.
MARK wants to Icarry me-" Mar.
garet said slowly. He asked me to-
night after you came up"
Little Anne sat up in bed. \
''Then it's all settled"
of Mark. He knows that have mon
ey and that father has influence. and
he is an ambitious young lawyer. Oh.
little Anne"-she threw herself down
beside the wondering child-"I am
afraid it is not love he gives mew
Little Anne, puzzled by complexities
which had never disturbed her pellucid
mind, reiterated:
HE wouldn't have asked you If be
didn't love yous
In spite of her doubts Margaret was
comforted by that simple faith
Next evening little Anne again wore
the white gown. After dinner she sat
alone on the balcony with Mark. while
Margaret played for them. Below the
balcony the garden was asleep under
g silver moon. From beyond the stone
walls came the soft night sounds of
the city streets.
do you like it here. little Amer
Mark asked.
81 like it, but L miss mother and
Dave" she told him.
"DaveT
~ "
You're much too pretty to marry a
countryman."
He threw his cigar away and sat
down on the marble coping which en-
circled the balcony. His change of po-
sition brought him just behind her, SO
that she had to turn to look up at him.
lie bent toward her suddenly.
"Such waste of sweetness" he
murmured and kissed the parted lips.
She flung him from her and stood
very still and silent in the white
moonlight
IF you were up on the mountain
Dave would surely kill you for that"
she said at last, and he shrank from
her primitive fierceness.
ped.
Come here" Margaret called, "both
of you"
Anne went to her swiftly, like bird
flying to cover. Mark followed slowly.
When they stood beside her Margaret
talked of plans for the next day-a
matinee and dinner at Bartin's or the
"You-you needn't plan for me" III
tie Anne said. Pm goin' home"
Margaret stared at her in amaze
ment.
"You promised me week"
I'm sorry. but I've changed my
mind F." little Anne insisted obstinateiy.
Mother needs me-"
But that night she crept into Marga-
ret's room.
ITS Dave want" she confessed.
They chung together for a moment In
the darkness. Then Anne whispered:
Don't you marry Mark. Margaret.
.sWhv not?" was the sharp demand
"Because-oh," she whispered with
sense OF the secret she
must NOT snare, WdiI IA'i
loves you like Dave loves me- Marga'
ret"
The next day Dave, driving TO the
mail train, found more precious
freight.
A soft rain fell on the mountain ana
made the forest road thing OF moist
fragrance and misty vistas. Dave
drove the old horse to the place where
he had stopped on the morning OF NJ
lie Anne's departure. Then be let Tue
relns drop and held out his arms to ms
sw eetheart.> She yielded this time
without resistance.
IT amt ever goin' away from you
again. Daver Her face was hidden III
his rough. wet coat. II amt ever goin
, way again.
He laughed with triumphant sense
Of possession.
1T knew them city fellows couldn't
take YOU from me-" he said Tben'
with sudden savage certainty, ne
added. I'D "a killed them II they
ladw
IT. . - A ynerica1