Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-19

| TO the assembled LaQleS Alu society.
Fourteen needles were suspended In
midair, and twenty eight eyes sought
EIsie's countenance.
Not the girl that was found sitting
by Willow pond last month. the one
who couldn't remember her manner
questioned Mrs. Deacon Oliver.
81 guess it's the same one-poor.
michin' looking critter.'' replied Mrs
Sayles hriskly. Looks like she had
consumption"
Il saw her the day we went up to
the poorhouse TO entertain the pau
pers.'' broke i'll Angelina Petty. Il
thought she was real pretty. She had
nice blue eyes"
"Angeline's always looking at peo-
pies eyes remarked Fanny Lawson.
What do you think, girls-somebody
! told me something one Of the old men
Mt the poorhouse said after we'd gone
away that day"
What did he say" asked Mrs. Dea-
con Oliver Il knew they was real
pleased at our taking the trouble TO
| entertain them.
! Fanny laughed maliciously.
| HE said they felt sorry for us-the
Ladies' Aid. mind you, girls--and that
they were coming down to entertain US
some day.
why is he sorry for us?'' asked
Angelina curiously.
He says we're 'pauper minded
Fanny exploded this bombshell and
folded up her work preparatory to 60
ing home.
.'Pauper minded they shrieked in
..yy hot ha
Give it up. Goodby, ali.'' said Miss
Lawson, with an airy wave of her
hand.
do you suppose she made it up?'
asked Elsie Sayles after Fanny's trim
figure had passed through the front
gate.
'She amt smart enough. She don't
know the meaning of pauper minded
snapped Mrs. Oliver GROSSLY. She had
been the one to inaugurate a monthly
day of entertainment for the benefit
of the inmates of the county aims
house and she had real grievance
not only against the aged man who
had voiced the unhappy opinion. but
against the institution and all its in
mates.
IF that's all the gratitude them pau
pers have got l guess / won't take no
notice of Selma Dustin's poorhouse
girl" she added severely.
Angelina Petty moved indolently in /
her chair.
I'm going to call on her and ask /
her to come to Sunday school," she re- |
marked.
Anybody want to come with me to .
call on the poorhouse girl?" she asked.
tucking her work into the ample black /
bag in her lap and rising to so.
Mrs. Petty shifted audibly.
"Angeline. you'll so on your own re-
sponsibility," she protested.
I'm not afraid retorted Angelina
quietly. None of my relations died in
the almshouse. I amt bit sensitive
about calling on that girl. She's young,
and she's nice. even if she is poor and
not exactly right in her head. 1t amt
her fault that she can't remember her
name. is it,"
Oliver stiff1y.
Mary Jones. Well. I've got to go
all alone. see. Ma, don't look so sick
over it. faint as if 1 was going to
elcDe." Angelina waved a plump hand
ut her family smiling parent and wad-
lied comfortably out of the room and
Town the path to the gate
At the gate she paused for a few
and looked uncertainty up
md down the road, and then. as if sud
lenly coming to decision. Angelina
,rossed the road and plunged into the
ootpath that led through the oak /
woods to the crossroads where Selma
Dustin lived in q long white house half
hidden among locust trees and lilac
pushes.
In Selma Dustin's front yard Mary
ones was sitting on the circular bench
nder the largest locust tree. She was
elicately fair. with deep blue eyes
nd little white hands that looked as
they had never done a days hard :
FORK. The hands were idly folded on
&c lap of her blue cotton dress. ,
shes f1eshing up and growing pref :
er every day" said Angelina TO Sc
ma Dustin. who was sitting on the
de porch. :
II amt the only one who THINKS So" ,
lurmured Selma. with a satisfied ;
nile at the graceful form under the :
zee.
What do you mean:" asked Ange- .
ma. sinking into chair :,
Il mean that Raymond Ellis is sweet :
l her. Don't tell any one. Angelina" :
eaded Selma softly. IF you 10, sure :,
J fate some OF them old tabby cats :,
Ill talk about her, =
Raymond Ellis repeated Angeiine >;
azedly. why. Selma. he's never .,
ken notice of a Little River girl be. q
re. He's So lofty and proud =.
Hes been here Il dozen times :,
ang up to the front door. ana asked
r her like II gentleman. Nothing !,
eaklng and undetermined about Judge .,
lis boy" said Selma warmly II .,
wed her TO entertain him in the par
:. and she played on the old pianner -
ID sang TO him IN rne sveercsr voice