The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-09

1 SaOAAa oi'stt hAlfigg iii It's sinai
green eyes.
i 80 you won't allow your daughter
to marry Frank Remson," it croaked in
a voice as hoarse as a voice could very
well be. s'And he's rascal, because he
hasn't made fortune while his hair is
yet unturned and his years number less
than thirty Why, you were not so very
much on time yourself, old manr'
Mr.. Castleton Caruthers drew himself
up to his full height, and his outraged
| dignity was something impossible to con-
template
Come, now" said the frog, turning
a somersault into the fire and landing on
the silver bar again, .'you don't remem-
Der little cabin in country lane, do
| you? and a barefooted boy with an un-
tidy tow head. who used to roam around.
helping himself freely to the contents of
fruit orchards, and whom the pestered
| villagers used to call little Bill Caruth-
| ersP''
| The form in the chair softened its dig
| nlhed aspect a little, and an actual
smile lowered around its lips All, no
days could ever be like the childish days
| of yorei
.'Good!' croaked the frog. Now be-
hold the wild urchin, grown a shy awk
''e%AN Aeeeis Sb1tA out iuGO lHC "OIio "
| carve his own fortune He comes to a
great city, begins work in an office, and,
by patient application, advances step by
step to clerkship. and wins the conf
dence of his wealthy employer by his
honest integrity and line business capa-
| bility"
The smile faded from Mr.. Caruther's
face, and look of gratified pride shone
there instead
''One day he is thrown into the COM
pany of his employers daughter, and he
loves her. She is rich; he comparative
ly poor, but advancing. He goes like
true man to her father and states his
case. What does the parent say? He
saws:
William Caruthers, money is good
thing, but it will sometimes take to it
self wings and flee away. You have
honest hands and a good business head,
and the possession of those are equiya-
! lent to any fortune. Take her and be
happy
rect
''On the death of his employer, the
once clerk became head of the firm and
took his wife's maiden name of Castle
ton to precede his own; and years went
4 on"
MI. Caruthers leaned forward and
gazed into the small green eyes before
him, as if completely fascinated
But success married the nature of
this man instead of elevating it, and he
became despot over n small kingdom;
and his subjects consisted of two delicate
women and couple of half-grown boys.
These he tyrannized over. to his
hearts content, till his presence, instead
of being welcomed came to be feared
and dreaded
All the hoarseness suddenly died out
of the creatures voice, and it took on a
stern accusing tone.
''And what is the result?
The wife, who gave up wealth and
position to marry a poor. man, not
knowing that she would regain both in
the future, is timid shrinking woman,
starting at the very sound of her lords
autocratic voice.
His only daughter knows nothing of
a fathers sympathy, and the lads are
beginning to hate the elegant home
where no boyish freedom is allowed
them
I'm sure, stammered Mr. Caruthers,
shrinking to half his Size, sEI-"
''Silence, sir!"
The tone was so exact an imitation of
his own that he actually started.
Why" he repeated, I"
Don't you dare contradict me, sirt''
The frog turned one of his favorite |
somersaults into the fire.
How long would you remain in a /
home, if you, high-spirited lad, were
spoken to like that by fatherP"
Mr.. Caruthers sat with shamed look |
on his face and wisely said-nothing.
l.
nothing but the bed of glowing Goals.
Listen" said voice so sweet and
sad that the dreamer thought it must be /
messenger from the spirit world |
s'Some day there will lie in the stately |
parlors below a wan face whittier than
the satin pillow that it rests against.
''And Castleton Caruthers, strong man
as he is, will weep TO think that no low
ing word that he can utter now will |
ever penetrate those dulled ears that
listened eagerly for such words in life, I
and listened in vain. And the fine lads
will turn away from him and 90 out into1
the gay world again, and in pleasure
and dissipation strive TO gain the happi-
ness that was denied them in their home.
The daughter will look at him with ae-
cusing eyes, eyes very like those the
sods are so soon TO cover, but his grief
will not he her grief AS he sought hap
piness alone, must he bear SORROW
A Sudden crash caused Mr.. Caruthers
to spring to his feet, and it seemed to his
bewildered senses as if the walls were
about his ears. He had over
turned the light table with his elbow,
and tray and decanter Law in fragments
on the carpet. He did not trouble to
pick the pieces up. Not that he was
still sleepy, oh no. Castleton Caruthers
was thoroughly awake if he had never
been at any other period of his life.
When the door bell of the stately man
sion gave forth sudden peal, the little
figure in the dainty blue dress, sitting SO
demurely in the parlor, shook with a
nervous tremor, and the misunderstanding
woman resting in one of the easy chairs
glanced up with worried expression in
her eyes that frightened wonderfully
when she caught sight of Frank Rem
SON manly face.
.'Ho, no, fine sir, what brings you here
at this hour?' said deep voice IN the
hall, and Castleton Caruthers walked in,
to the CONSERVATION of all present.
Il might as well tell you, sir, :" said
Frank, Il have come to ask you for your
daughter.
Then, Remson," said the other re-
CARELESS of Carry's tell-tale roses, IF in
two wears you can show me proof that
you can maintain my little girl in
you shall have her for your
own.
Il was not always rich man myself.