Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-28

its throbbing measures the marriage
! ceremony was performed. As the last
| word was pronounced Mrs. Runnels
burst into tears and hid her face
| against her husbands breast. Runnels
himself held forth a shaking hand to
Kirk, then patted the bride clumsily
upon her shoulder.
IT know you will be happy now, Mrs.
Anthony" he said.
With an incoherent cry of delight
Kirk folded his wife in his arms, and
she kissed him before them all.
Come, we must get back. The mu-
sic has stopped again" Kirk turned
to the Judge. Nothing is to be said
until Miss Gar-Mrs. Anthony gives
the word, you understand? 1 can't
thank you all half enough. Now, Al
Ian, see If the coast is clear, quickly
He was still in a panic, for there yet
remained a chance of discovery and
ruin. One more instant of suspense,
then the two stepped out. The door
closed softly behind them, and they
strolled around the corner of the north
wing and into the crowd. 1t had all
happened so quickly that even yet they
were dazed and disbelieving.
MY wife, Kirk whispered, while
tremendous rush of emotion swept over
him. She trembled in answer like
wind shaken leaf. You're mine, Chi
quita, They can't take you away"
His voice broke.
81 am still dreaming. What have
done? Oh-h-they will knowI In my
face they will read the truth. But /
do not care. Senior, 1 do not know If
some time you will be sorry for this
action. but I shall never cease loving
you. I prayed hourly to the Blessed
Virgin. and she heard. Now, I shall
perish until you come"
"when you give me leave-through
steel and stone, through fire and wa
ter"
"Quick! For the one time call me-
that She hesitated, blushing vivid
ly. at will hear it in my dreams"
my wifer he whispered tenderly.
"Hoi Chiquita mia.'' her father
cried as they came to him. There
you are then. 1 have missed you"
His eyes smoldered as he gazed suspi-
ciously at Kirk.
"Ah, but I was too warm" she said
easily. ''Yonder by the door we have
been standing in the night breeze.
And where is Ramon?"
HE is looking for you"
"One would think him jealous hus- |
band already" she exclaimed lightly. |
Then extending her hand coolly tod
Kirk. IT thank you, senior, for the
dance"
Her husband bowed. ct shall not |
u 60 ~ Cd
ed in a low voice: 'I thank you also
for your courtesy. We have been dis
cussing your daughters marriage dur
ing the dance, and it is my one great
est hope that she will never regret it."
The banker acknowledged the words
Love is thing that
comes and goes. Marriage alone can
bind it, Some day you will thank me,
and then perhaps you will honor our
house again, eh p
81 shall be happy to come whenever
you wish" AS he walked away the
banker said, with relief:
HE takes it well. He is proud-al-
most like Spaniard."
Kirk moved through the crowd as
IL in a trance, but he was beginning to
realize the truth now. 1t surged over
him in great waves OF gladness. He
longed to shout his news aloud What
luck was hisi The world was made
for him. There was no such thing as
diversity or failure-Chiquita was his
wife! All Christendom might go to pot
FOR all he cared.
In the midst Of his rhapsody ne
heard bellboy speaking his name and
smiled at him vacantly as he turned
away. But the negro followed him
saying something about a
etter.
at is himportant, sar."
every we'll" He opened the enyel-
,pe and pretended to read, but in rel
Ility the sheet held nothing for him
tut a ravishing, mischievous face with
,ansy eyes. He must have stood star
ng unseeingly at it for several sec
nds. Then the dancing visions faded
nd the scrawl stood out plainly:
williams detective, ST. Louis, arrived at .
,olon this evening on the Prince Joachim
You'd better take Il on the run
It was written upon Tivoli paper.
ut the hand was strange, and it was
ot signed.
Welt" Kirk came suddenly to him.
elf, and a spasm of disgust seized
i'm. what a rotten Inconvenience
e said aloud. But before he had time
D measure the effect of this new COM
lication the swelling music reminded
Inn that this dance belonged TO Mrs.
'ortlandt and that her answer was r
ne. n
She was waiting for him IL the gal Y
,ry and motioned him to the chair adj +
lining hers. 2
81 can't two step and talk at the y
ame time" she said, land here well I,
Q quite private" 81,
Kirk remained standing. what ! n
ave 90 say won't take long. I've