Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-15

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grand and beautiful he WINS. with his deem
mighty chest and SHOULDERS. and his limbs
like pillars of some TEN Nile There were no
laws for such men as he. the hottest and
purest of women love toN mako thensel ves
base and common things % win smiles from
his proud eyes, and men fok,9et their venoe-
ance, and only remember Nov small and
mean they seem before him. Mint who could
look at his melancholy face lsnd the calm
dignity that rested upon him ALWAYS, and be.
lieve he could be vilel Yet PERTAINS nothing
was vile or low TO him, and even sin was
glorified in his eyes when it suited hois canrico
TO sin.
Philip had come TO the very edgA NJ the
platform and beckoned friend to- him.
''Do you see the man talking-the MAX with
the auburn hair curling about his neckN no,
don't look YETI his voice was husky with
excitement "Get behind him while ben Il
talking and stop him before he goes out Y i
must see him and speak with him; woulSj
rather $4,000 than lose him. Quick, now.
As Philip sat down again and watched his
friend trying to make his way through the
close packed crowd he heard Curans voice
again What was there changed in iti 1t
had lost its old ring, there was queer drag
in it sometimes, and when he used to raise
his voice till every nerve tingled for SYM
V,
long sonorous sentences died down at the
end like a muffied bell.
"If others were like him" he was saying,
"the refoIal ] would die for would come
soon, would be upon u.s."
How slow his friend moved Philip actu-
ally hated the people who were too stupid to
| get out of his messengers way.
Had Curran finished, was this all that was
| left of his eloquencei Yes, he was stepping
down and moving toward the door. Philips
| friend was almost there, the man must not
escape thus, and plunge again with the wo-
man whose life he had blasted into the OBJ
| scurity he seemed to love. Philip leaped to
| his feet and almost shouted to the people.
| All turned their faces expectantly toward
him, Curran with the rest his pale worn face
Philips friend was come almost to him now
| If Curran could only be detained for one
| moment more.
| alt will of course be for the interest of all
| of you,n he knew he was talking weakly, but
| it was no matter, "to earn the most wages
you can, to lose the fewest days, to turn off
| the most piece work. OF course, he spoke
| too stupidity Curran turned on his heel and
| moved toward the door. Almost instantly
| then Philip Breton gave IA sudden short bow
to the audience and disappeared back of the
| platform. He bounded down the narrow
| stairs four at a time, and rushed around to
the front of the building like one mad, to
| stare for n moment in the faces of the escap-
ing crowd. Then, wilder than ever at the
thought that Curran might have gone out
among the first, he ran back and forth
after one group and another but all
| in vain Then he forced himself to
stop and think, and forthwith made
| inquiries for Curran's boarding place He
reached the place at last and ran breath
| lessly up the stairs. In another moment he
would know the truth if it killed him to bear
| it, He must remove the poisonous shadow of
suspicion that was polluting all the hottest
| precincts of his nature. Certainty was bet
| ter far, for the nerves can brace themselves
| against the clearly defined features of ever 80
| hideous a monster; far better certainly than
| this crawling Shiny terror that made him
ashamed of a manhood that could cherish it.
| He dared ask Curran for the truth, he did
not shrink from it, If the man were inno-
cent he might strike him down for the insult
| to the purity of his wife. Philip thought
such atonement would seem just and proper.
| But if he were guilty, ah, if Bertha was
guilty through him what death was terrible
| enough for his penalty
A portly woman, with the unmistakable
| expression of the expectant boarding mistress
| on her face and in her attitude, met the pale
faced young man at the top of the stairs Sht
| did not recognize the proprietor of the Bro
| ton Mills i'll his slight form. She would have
| looked for a man of lofty stature and com
| handing mien, and not IA mere lad whom
| nobody would glance twice at on the street
| where is Curran' IL want him."
"Why, he's just gone; he drove Off to Lew
| iston"
ITO Lewiston3 Are you sureN Why, this
must be some important parsonage after all,
he was so peremptory. Poor people can bully,
but there is a shamefacedness or an over af-
fectation of authority that betrays them;
| their self consciousness lets the whole secret
| out.
| EITHER Lewiston or Raleigh; can't tell,
really, sir Shall get you a carriage, Mr.
Mr.gr
1.-TWO horses and buggy; driver, too.
| Tell them it is for Mr.. Breton; and" he
shouted after the woman, ''if they give me a
| poor horse he will be dead before they ever
see him again.
1t seemed an hour before the horses drew
up before the boarding house door, and an
other hour before they had left the village
behind Then the little patience Philip had
forsook him. He caught the reins from the
astonished driver, and at the threatening
snap of the whip the horses took their fastest
| gait.
1t was little past o'clock the next morn
| ing that Philip Breton, pale from sleepless
| night, knocked at low studded door in an
| ill ventilated tenement house, where they
told him Curran lived. Within was Bertha,
| the high bred woman, wonted to the costliest
Injuries Of wealth. And she was willing,
then, to live in such squalor as this to be
with the man she loved Could change have
been cruel enough to have touched herf Per-
haps an infant hung hungrily on her bosom,
and Curran, fallen back into his vulgar tradi-
tions, lounged in red flannel shirt sleeves in
her presence. Could he bear the sights But
she might be alone; his heart beat faster with
terror and hope. She would lift her sweet
eyes pleasantly to him--so easy it is for wo-
men to forget the agony they have caused.
She would hold out her shapely hand to him,
but it would be stained and worn from hard
ships. Should he fall at her feetf Would he
be able to remember she was another's-dead
to hims
He knocked again, possibly no one was at
home.
"Come in" 1t was a mans voice.
AS Philip opened the door he saw the man
he sought by the window, eagerly looking up
and down the street. as if waiting for some
sign. There was no guilty fear or shame in
the calm face that was turned to his visitor.
Breton" He gave him his hand with
hearty good will. Somehow l could not
speak last night, but you have begun a noble
work Why, l had rather feel the proud sat-
isfaction you must have, | would rather be
in your place than the greatest man in the
whole world.n
Philip was afraid to look about him. Per-
haps Bertha had no wish to speak to him, or
else she was not here; there was no atmos-
phere of woman's love and care in the
place, somehow. But Curran went on in his
quick, eager way, THE rich men have the
most glorious privilege ever men had. Each
man of wealth can let the fountains of light