Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-20
1--WE BEEN so LONELY WITHOUT YOU"

which ended in an equally hysterical
fit of sobbing. l was so alarmed that
l shook her roughly
"Puss, stop this minute. Tell me
what has happenedr' 1 said in my
sterneSt tones.
She only began TO laugh again. chok-
ing and sobbing as she said through
her handkerchief. well. then, l just
will tell you what's the matter-so
there She sat up. wiping her eyes.
and began pouring out rapid food of
narrative: You see. Aunt Mary, last
May-the nth of May-Oscar Hender-
son asked me to marry him. You're
the very first person I've told. but
don't care-I had to tell it to some
body, Well. it was the most solemn
thing you can imagine-so different
from just flirting. you know. / felt
that l had come to a turning point in
my life" She brought out the serious
words with a defiant accent, as if she
knew how incongruous they sounded
from her childlike mouth u told him
/ couldn't decide such a terribly impor-
tant thing right off. and he said TO
take all the time l wanted. for it was
n life and death matter for him. |
wanted to go off by myself, think it
all quietly out and make up my mind
seriously. you know, the way girls do
in novels after days of'sOlitary thought.
l never took any stock in that sort of
thing when l used to read about it. but
then | saw all at once how necessary
it is. Why, at home. with father and
the boys and little Maggie to look after,
and the housekeeping To do. and such
strings of callers. and all the girls on
the block dropping in every minute.
and so many engagements for n month
ahead, l didn't have a single instant TO
myself.
Il tried TO get a little leisure there
mt first. but it was no use. II | went
for walk in Central park | WINS sure
to meet somebody l knew or else one
of the boys would want 70 go with
me. and at the house the dOorbell and
the telephone ring all the time. |
wasn't even alone in my own room.
for ever since mothers death I've had
Maggie there with me TO keep her
from missing mother so much. kept
account. finally, and found that for a
whole week l wasn't alone. by actual
clock time. quite three-quarters of an
hour. and you can't decide the Ques
ton of your life in that time.
so l decided I'd go down to our
country house ahead of the family and I
have week there quite by myself
Father thought it was something aw-
full. my going off that way. but finally
he gave in on condition that one OF
the boys should take me down on the
train. Our old caretaker met me at
the station and drove me out to the
house. telling me all the news of the
village. ! went upstairs to my room.
took or my things. and for few min
uteS-for five minutes ar least-l was
all alone. But. when went dnwa-
stairs. there. in front of the library fire.
sat Sallie Prentiss my best chum. You
know-with sach q pleased look on her
face ut the lovely surprise she had Civ
en- me.
'''You old dear,' she said as she kiss
ed me. Your father told me about
how you felt you had to come here
alone 10 put the house in order. and !
just ran down TO keep you company. /
Wen have real good visit and be to- I
gether every minute. just the way we
used to in school,
Now. Aunt Mary. what could | do? (
or course she stayed. and we were /
never out OF each others sight and /
went back 10 New York on the sam, |
train. That evening l wanted to cry, / /
felt so discouraged. but | couldn't even
do that for fear OF soaring Maggie. /
Then the old life began