Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-12

were stored there in 4 locker. There
was a lunch cloth, silver, china, 4
smalr caddy Of tea and tiny water
heater, all of which added to my
pack Then plunged through the un-
derbrush into the warm, soft bypaths
Of the woods.
After had lost myself in the forest
as far as l could without coming out
again on the other side put down my
burden and prepared to abandon my
self to despair Is comfortably a. pos
sible. I was rather relieved to ind
that had given up hope Of finding
my way very close to the spring which
l believe have mentioned ~ existing
on the island. At any rate I should
not die Of thirst.
A fairly nat tree stump looked ex-
traordinarily like q table when a cloth
was spread on 1t and places for two.
There was cheerful look, too, about
the teakettle when the alcohol lamp
under 1t had been lit long enough to
make it send out tiny curly spirals Of
steam. And over all a flicker of sun
light romped about the table a. IL the
fairy Tinker Bell were touching the
dishes to make 1t magic feast.
i did not eat, though. Instead leis-
urely brewed pot Of tea. I had never
cared great deal about tea before.
but the aroma Of that particular brew
will haunt me when other perfumes
have lost their SAVIOR
1 drew up two pieces Of fallen tree
trunk to serve as chairs and seated my
self on one side of the table. My trap
was ready.
Presently there was the sound of
breaking twigs in the underbrush near
by. l pretended not to notice. Then
Tootles came forth, frisking and wag-
ging her tail. petted her.
Some one coughed In back Of me- /
turned. Parting the bushes on either
side like the folds Of heavy green gel
vet drop curtain stood the shy spirit of
the wood.
Il had to make you turn around"
she said apologetically, land get it over
with"
Never was a fairer Rosalind. She
held up her head with fine courage in
spite Of the crimson bushes which
chased each other over her face and
neck, and she stood straight in the
high heeled soft kid boots, a slender
figure. almost boyish.
Won't you sit DOWN." I had risen
and indicated the log seat opposite
mine.
"Were you expecting some onc?" she
asked, casting an anxious look at the
seat.
why, yes" l pretended to be hest
tant about conflding in her. II was ex-
pecting some one, a lady. one that |
am very fond Of, but am afraid that
she has disappointed me. Won't YOU
take her placer?
THANK you" she said simply and
slid into the seat.
When l poured her some of the tea
and offered her such food as was avail
able she accepted everything and ate
with unembarrassed appetite. 1t may
sound unromantic to say that we salts
fed our hunger without conversation,
but remember, that there had been
many hours when talk had been oul
only substitute for food. Tootles had
some Of everything, including tea
which proves to my mind conclusively
that she isn't regular dog. But nc
more Of that.
I'm sorry" my vis-a-vis said at last
leaning forward with her chin resting
on the backs Of her clasped hands, I'm
| sorry TO be sitting in the place Of
some one else whom you would psefel
to have here" Then she added, witt
a little sigh, THAT is, II you would
| prefer some one else"
Il would and / wouldn't" / smiled
Il am trying to imagine that you ar.
She"
In these-in this costume"
| 1T is difficult to imagine her dressed
as you are, but not impossible. I ad
NIT, though, that 1t would be easier t,
picture you in her dress than her II
/ yours"
"Why did she not Gomez"
| Il have displeased her"
III she has been angry it must b,
that she forgot for the moment hov
brave you are and how kind"
"She said she never wanted to De,
me again.
And you said you would never ente
her house again. Yet you broke you
word when she was In danger, and sh
was very glad to see you indeed" Sh
reached across the table impulsivel.
and laid her small brown fingers Il
my palm.
What would you do in that caseT'
I'D come and find you" she answer
ed. land when I'd found you, I'd pu
my hands in yours, just like this, an,
I'd ask your forgiveness for being
Is an old maid"
But she isn't an old maid" I hel,
her fingers tightly.
She'll be twenty 1--WE tomorrow.
She laughed. And il a girl isn't maj
ried by the time she is twenty-five sh
cross, cranky old maid"
Then she'll never be an old maid"
declared, because by this time tomo,
row she'll be married-that Is" add
ed, III she'll accept a stout, middl
aged man for a husband"
There isn't one on this island" sh
declared. looking at me with shinin
eyes. you can't claim to be stou