Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-07-28
A SAD PICTURE.
A Man of Brilliant Intellect ana
Bright Promise Twenty Xears Ago,
Turns Ipa Wreck After the Long

| Bright PROMISE twenty ears Ago
Turns Tpa Wreck After the Long
| Interval.
He was man whose handsome physi.
cal development would at once attrac,
the eye OF admiration. He was tall in
stature, with broad shoulders on which
rested we'll developed head and the face
bore the eraseable lines of refinement
and intellect He paced up and down
the corridor of the postoffice and ever
| and anon cast gances upon the face of a
citizen who was standing talking to an
ARGUS representative. The stranger
wore pair of ragged pantaloons, shoes
that had done such service that they
barely held together, shirt that had
amply served its day and siouch hat
that had done its duty nv its wearer
Wi'hal he had the appearance of tramp,
yet he was not slovenly, nor was he one
who would naturally be looked upon
with suspicion.
The reporter noticed the stranger, but
the citizen was so absorbed in the expla-
nation Of new contrivance that he had
just purchased that he did not, nor was
his attention attracted by the stranger
who had followed him and the news man
upstairs to his office, until rs the citizen
was unlocking his door the stranger ap-
preached with rapid step and said alb.
ruplly,
IF you are going in there l guess IN
go too
What do you WANT was the natural
response OF the somewhat surprised cid-
zen.
Il want to see the - want
to 90 in here and have a conversation
with him.
Il am that gentleman, but | have no
time 10 waste this morning. State YOUR
case quickly"
We'll, to make my story short Eek,
tending his hsnd) l want to, shake hands
with an old friend
The citizen took the proffered hand,
accompanying it with The confession that
he could not remember ever having seen
the stranger before.
Let me refresh your memory a little.
continued the stranger as he accepted
the invitation 10 walk inside and be
seated. twenty-five years ago taught
a ltttie country school over in Mercer
county, few miles from Presumption. In
an adjoining district you traded the ris-
ING offspring of the brawnv son of toll |
w belonged to the same debating socj> |
ETY. out there in the country | then had |
better opportunities for a successful fu- |
ture than you. had then received a |
'oliege education and had come out from
pennsylvania to spend my winters in
eaching the country school preparatory to
he study OF law | had, as may say, my
ntnre in my own hands, you had yours to
make. Now contrast our positions. You
re on the high road to honor and for
nnc, | to shame and ruin. II would be {
DO long a story to tell you what brought
he to this. Suffice it to say that after =
1T that country school | went back to d
where was given oppor> {
unity to tit myself for the law, for the d
Iogg, for science or anything to which h
might turn by talents But an event
my life changed all my plans | gave &
P all and for twenty two years I have t
cen wanderer on the face of the earth. I
think have been on every spot on the r
vilized globe where human feet have e
cd There is difference between us St
NV, in that you are progressing; ! am
You have been good /
ilor, am a wreck on the shores of n
ne n
The citizen could scarcely believe his a
.es as he began TO recognize the man Il
no was addressing him. Ii
a know You, he SAID, ''but cannot
call your name. h
Don't you remember and n
III never would have thought the last 9
ne we met that he would have come to }
III IN such condition but be is mere a
ggsr and comes to you as AL old friend tt
T aid" a
The citizen slipped piece of money
to the strangers hand and he departed
ne citizen saw him to the door and then
Id with sigh; "Twentystwo years
. there was not finer looking man or y
brighter man in western Illinois than j.
at. He was tall, handsome, intelligent, u
II OF energy and industry, while on his II
&C was written letter of credit Now "
Ok at him. a miserable wreck, an actual u
ockery of his former self" and saving "
Is the citizen proceeded to open huge -
lie of letters he had carried up from the =
tofiice. 1t
a Fine Walk.
Mr.. Porter Skinner is putting down te
the Eighteenth street side of his hand h
me block, occupied by the First h