Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-09

night ever Is that has moonlight and
snow. He took Waitstill I'm his arms
again reverently and laid his cheek
against her hair. 81 worship God as
! we'll as | know how" he whispered.
worship him as the maker of this big
heaven and earth that surrounds us
| But I worship you as the maker of my
little heaven and earth, and my heart
is saying its prayers to you NJ this
| very moment.
Hush. my dear. Hush! And don't
! value me too much or I shall lose my
! head--I that have never known n
sweet word in all my life save those
that my sister has given me. must
! tell you all about Patty now"
II happen to know more than you,
] dear met her at the bridge when
was coming home from the woods and
! ] saw her safely to Uncle Bart's door.
/ I don't know why we speak of it as
Uncle Barts when it is really Aunt
Abby's, 1 next met Mark, who had
fairly flown from Bridgton on the
wings of love. arriving hours ahead of
time. ! managed to keep him from
avenGing the insults heaped upon his
bride, and he has driven To the Mills
10 confide in his father and mother.
By this time Patty is probably the
center OF the family group. charming
them all, as Is her custom"
"Oh. / am so glad Mark Is at home.
Now / can be at rest about Patty.
And I must not linger another mo-
ment. for l am going to ask Mrs. Ma
son to keep me overnight" cried Wait
still, bethinking herself suddenly Of
time and place.
81 will take you there myself and ex-
plain everything. And the moment
I've lighted a fire in Mrs. Mason's best
bedroom and settled you there, what
do you think I am going to do? l shall
drive to the town clerks house, and II
he is in bed. rout him out and have the
notice of our intended marriage post
ed in n public place. according TO law
Perhaps / shall save a day out of the
fourteen I've got to wait for my wife.
Mills indeed, I wonder at you, Wait
still. As if Mrs. Mason's house was
not far enough away, without your
speaking of mills"
Il only suggested mills in case you
did not want TO marry me-" said Wait
stu.
Walk up TO the door with me-" beg
Ced Ivory. The horse is all harness
ed. and Rod will slip him into the
sleigh in n jiffy."
"Oh. Ivory. do you realize what this
means"-and Waitstill chung to his
arm as they went up the lane together
that whatever sorrow. whatever
hardship comes to us neither of us will
ever have TO bear it alone again."
II believe / do realize it as few men
could. for never in my FIVE and twenty !
years have l had human creature to !
whom / could pour myself out, in !
whom could really confide. with |
whom l could take counsel. You can /,
guess what it will be TO have com /
pretending woman at my side. Shall !
we tell my mother? Do say yes ! |
believe she will understand. Rod, Rod. !
come and see who's stepping in the /
door this very minute
Rodman was up in his bedroom. at
firing himself deliberately for sentry
duty. His delight at seeing Waitstill
was perhaps slightly tempered by the
thought that flashed at once through
his mind-that if she was safe he
would not he required to stand guard
In the snow for hours as he had hoped
But this grief passed when he fully
realized Waitstill's presence at the
farm ut this unaccustomed hour really
meant After he had been told he
hung about her like the child that he
he had a bit of the hero
IN him. at bottom. too-embracing her
waist fondly and bristling with won
lering questions.
rs she really going to stay with US
FOR always. Ivory" he asked.
Every day and all the days. every
night and all the nights. Praise God
from whom all blessings flow"" said
Ivory. taking Off his fur cap and open
ing the door of the living room. But
we've got to wait for her a whole fort
night. Rod. Isn't that a ridiculous
snail of law"
Patty didn't wait fortnight"
Patty never waited for anything" I
Ivory responded, with a smile. But
she had 4 good reason. and. alas, we ,
haven't, or they'll say that we haven't |
And l am very grateful to the same
lear little Patty. for when she got her,
self a husband she found me a wife,
Rodman did not wholly understand (
his. but felt that there were many
people that were too compli-
'ated for him TO grasp, and it did not
seem 10 be just. the right moment for
questions.
Waitstill and Ivory went into MIRA {
SoyntOn's room quietly. hand in hand. {
nd when she saw Waitstill she raised (
lerself from her pillow and held out I
Ter arms with a soft cry OF delight '
II haven't had you for so long. so 4
ong" she said. touching the girls L
heck with her frail hand. o
You are going TO have me every day (
ow. dear" whispered Waitstiil. with d
sob in her voice. for she saw c
hange in the face. a new Transparent
Y. still more ethereal look than had F
cen there before. IL
Every day." she repeated longingly. "
Wnitstill took off her hood and knelt r,
n the floor beside the bed hidinc, her O