Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-21
CHAPTER TIII.
(Continued.D

Oh. the vanity of youth! I had
never been so happy as then.
f"I don't believe I'm brave" l
said, blushing as we walked along
beside the wheat-felds that were
lust turning yellow. Il was ter
ribly scared that nfght-honest
was!"
But you didn't run away"
81 didn't think OF it or guess
would have"
After a moment of silence I ven
tured:
Il guess you've never fallen in
love"
Eyes, 1 have"
"Who with?"
"I don't think dare ISL yo1,
she answered, slowly, looking down
as she walked.
"I'll tell you who l love If you
wish" l said.
Who"
you" whispered the word and
was afraid she would laugh at me,
but she didn't. She stopped and
looked very serious and asked:
What makes you think you love
me?"
"Well when you go away I shall
think an think about you an feel
as 1 do when the leaves an the
flowers are all gone an I know it's
going to be winter an l guess next
Sunday Shep an will go down to
the brook an come back through
the meadows, an I'll kind o think
it all over-what you said an what
T i H. he oh
an how purity the wheat looked, an
guess I'll hear that little bird
singing"
We stopped and listened to the
song of bird-I do not remember
what bird it was-and then she
whispered:
will you love me always ana
forever?"
Yes" I answered in the careless
way of youth.
She stopped and looked into my
eyes and looked into hers.
May kiss your" I asked. and
afraid, with cheeks burning.
She turned away and answered
81 guess you can if you want to-"
Now l seem to be in Aladdin's
tower and to see her standing SO
red and graceful and innocent in
the sunlight, and that strange fire
kindled by our kisses warns my
blood again.
1t was still play, although not
like that of the grand ladies and
the noble gentlemen in which we
had once INDUCED, but still it was
play-the sweetest and dearest kind !
of play which the young may en-
joy, and possibly, also, the most |
dangerous.
She held my hand very tightly as
we went on and 1 told her of my
purpose to be a great man.
My mind was in a singular condi-
ton of simplicity those days. 1t was
due to the fact that I had had no
confdant in school and had been
brought up in a home where there
was neither father nor mother nor
brother.
That night 7 heard a whispered
conference below after I had gone
upstairs. I knew that something
was coming and wondered what it
might be. Soon Uncle Peabody
came up to our little room looking
highly serious. He sat down on the
SiuC VI Ills Dcu VIII Ills ndnIS
clasped firmly under one knee,
raising his foot below it well above
the floor. He reminded me of one
carefully holding taut reins on
horse Of a bad reputation. I sat,
half undressed and rather fearful,
looking into his face. AS I think Of
the immaculate soul of the boy, I |
feel a touch of pathos in that
scene. l think that he felt It, for I
remember that his whisper trem-
bled little as he began to tell me
why men are strong and women
are beautiful and given to men in
marriage.
You'll be falling IN love one o.
these days." he said. IT'S natural
ye should. You remember Rovin'
Kate?" he asked by and by.
Eyes," I answered.
Some day when you're a little |
older I'll tell ye her story an you'll |
see what happens when men an
women break the law o. God. Here's |
Mr., Wright's letter, Aunt Deel ask
ed me to give It to you to keep