Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-04-22
A BRAVE SURRENDER.

When Howard Corson married at %
his friends said that he was taking an
unwise step for so young "a man. whose
bank account was yet unborn and
whose profession Gournalism) was so
capricious. But when they met his
wife they understood and pardoned
his unwisdom.
When his first child appeared on the
scene he did more audacious thing.
THAT ends this lodging house ex-
istence," he said. ''Pll quit Bohemia,
and get home for me and mine"
And he bought u neat little place
not far up town. and furnished it ION
time" binding himself to make week
ly payments on the furniture and
semi-annual ones on the house.
Hes acquired u stock of worri-
ment to last him the rest OF his days, \"
remarked Boyce. a reporter who had
struggled tor three months to pay for
a floor full of furniture on the install
ment plan and had finally beheld
most of his goods hauled back to the
store from which they had come.
Il haven't got in the way OF saving
yet" Corson said TO me one day, over
an after-luncheon mug o. beer. But
thatll como when the house is paid
for. Then I'm going to let up bit
on hack work an do something cred
liable to myself. l don't bother about
fame yet Once I'm on Easy street
though. I'll begin to let my best abh-
tiles have q show and try to build up
reputation.
And he confided to me an idea which
he intended to embody in a novel en-
titled "A Brave Surrender. a conc iii
that surely would win celebrity for
any man who would treat it artlstical.
ly Why don't you begin it now?'
l asked
oh, / haven't time yet to do any
thing that isn't sure to bear pecuniary
fruit at once. | can't wait for late
harvest The thing would probably
give me standing with literary people
and magazine editors and would lead
to laurels perhaps But for itself
there ism t the money in it that there
is in the sort Of rot I'm doing now. ="
He spoke the truth. Therein is en-
planned the existence OF host of bril-
liant hacks.
The sudden killing OF Haskell the
artist in railroad acciden'. was like
a flash Of lightning to Corson. When
he heard of it his face raled and q hor-
rible awakening shovel in his blue
eyes.
"A man never knows what may
happen to him." he said in II low
Il 1,,1 tl,.t In
thinking: IF had been on that train
Debt still hanging over the home!
Blanche and the babies" He added
aloud: III write to that life insur-
once man to call tomorrow.
Three days later-it was on a Sun
day. dined at his house. His wife
was q charming Observation-Disclosures
and gayety persouified. The children
reflected her brown eyes and her amia-
bility. Their home YVES maniIestly
that of an art lover made so with such
economy as womans ingenuity renders
easy We had a merry afternoon.
When left at evening Corson walked
with me to the corner We stopped
beneath an electric light.
How happy you. ought to be. my
boy" said.
Yes he replied, quietly.
But you work too much. Surely
you can afford 10 reduce the pressure
few pounds"
NO; | found out yesterday that ]
must increase il"
His soft eyes met mine. There was
hidden sadness there and his face
was without its wonted animation.
The electric light gave it an almost
CHASTITY look
What do you mean?" asked.
Simply this They wouldn't in
sure my life. They found have con
sumption and also liability to valvulal
LESSONS of the heart. Whether / OK.
ert myself or not the doctor won
give me more than four years to live
BY loafing ! might gain few months,
but then | couldn't clear the home o.
debt. can pay it OFT in nine months
IL | hustle shan't know II mo-
ment's rest until l do If there.
nothing else you know. when I'm
gone. Blanche and the Youngsters car
let the two upper stories and live or
the rent"
but your great idea-your Brave
Surrender your bait for fame"'
Ill have to drop that. It's a liv
ing for Blanche and the children tina
must look for now | mean to stay
in the ring till every cent Is paid, II
drop dead the moment after Don
mention it to anyone old man. Sh'
mustn't know 1T. I'll have to say
good night how. I want to do comic
song for Renshaw, the comedian. be
fore sleep. l hunted down funny
idea in bed last night Itll be worth
Is stanza II It's good"
looked after him as he walked
back. hurrying homeward to begir
that race with death.which more thar
one man has run and many q man ha'
lost
Any attempt to influence or 10 per
suade him from his course would have
been futile He had st!ifened his lip