Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-23
A SELF MADE MAN.


ct, and closed the case, Unfolding it once
more in it's layers of soft paper. There
was in the room heavy sole leather
trunk with brass clamps and a combi-
nation lock. This Anthony opened and
deposited the case inside, amid hetero-
geneous collection of miners clothing,
specimens of ore, bowie knife in a
worn sheath, lariat in coil, broken
rife, pair of Mexican spurs and
couple of revolvers One was an Eng
lish bulldog" the other an ordinary
Colts navy and both had look of use
and service. Something in the sight of
them seemed to stir old memories-and
memories of a wild and reckless sort, to
Judge from the light that came into his
half shut eyes and the lingering, almost
raressing way in which he raised and
handled them.
When he rose from his stopping posi-
ton the English pisto was still in his
hand. and he held it to the light and
turned it and polished it with his hand
| kerchicf and examined the chambers to
see whether they were loaded He held
it after he had closed and locked the
trunk, and finally, ooeying some old in
1uence, he slipped it into the breast
Docket Of his coat.
II had been months since lie had laid
aside this pistol, which for years he had
worn habitually. During one of his
visits to Mrs. Beverley in the weeks sub
| segment to his return TO Virginia he had
allowed little Ran to draw the weapon
! from his pocket and was thoughtlesslv
beginning to explain its mechanism to
the child and to instruct him in its use.
when Mary, in wild alarm, descended
1pon the pair and almost snatched the
revolver from the boys hands. She en-
treated Anthony never to como near her
sons again with pistol in his pocket. as
there was no telling what CHASTITY acci-
dent might be the result.
He had been amused at her terror
which he considered suparauous and
foolish, but he had been moved by it to
lay aside his pistol Tonight, however.
the old feeling of comradeship for the
weapon, the old Hing for the feel of it
against his brea# returned with the
memories and asSn, ations called up by
the sight of its faIri lar stock and barrel
and he slipped it iu,tinctively to its old
place.
Leaving the door If the house on the
latch, as was his custom, he started
briskly across the L zine to the quaint.
pretty parlor, wher, he expected to find
the party as he had left 1.-THE girls at
the piano, with Dan and perhaps the
young fellow from Richmond in attend
ance, Mrs. Beverley in her favorite low
chair near the heaTthrug and the chill
dren mercurially revolving about, as
was their wont before the waning of the
evening dispatched them to the nursery.
The air was still oppressive, although
little fresher than at nightfall; there
was no breeze stirring, nor any sugges-
ton that breeze might spring up later
The moon, a silver bow, rested on the
topmost branches o. the dark old cedars,
its power of illumination feeble still,
but on the increase. The silence of ma
ture was so profound that extraneous
sounds were inten@ fed and made more
penetrating.
As Anthony lC'ped lightly across the
brook at the DO IN of the ravine the
sound of music stoIe down to him-soft.
slow music, with tender, hushing ca
dence, as of mother wooing slumber
to her babe-sOme one was singing a
cradle song.
Through the garden he went, between
the stiff box borders and past the old
rose trees, bowed down with weight of
blossoms. He struck at them with his
cane as he passed along, sending the
pink petals and the little buds to the
ground in showers. The gate swung
to softly after him and he crossed the
yard with his heart as light as a boys,
his thoughts busy with anticipations
As he neared the window through which
he had gazed that evening in November,
nine months before the same impulse
seized him to approach and look on
them. himself unse on: and some buEish
idea of a practical Joke. sUch as striking
suddenly on the window ledge ur vault
ing in among them. presented i,syif.
The window was wide open and the
long lace curtains hung straight, I'M
swayed by the motonless air. Anthony
parted them with his hand and looked
IN. The room was still, the light clear
and soft, the music whose sound had
reached him as he crossed the ravine
was hushed, and ins tead of the gay party
he had expected to surprise, there were
only two figures in the room-a man and
a woman.
The woman sat in low chair and the
man bent over her; her head was thrown
back. her eyes raised to other eyes which
gazed down into them with a look easily
interpreted. No need to tell him who
she was-who both were; he knew only
too surely. The knowledge was burned
into his brain with the fire Of that bit
terer knowledge which came to him like
a revelation.
With an oath so savage that it seemed
as though the very air must shudder to
receive 1t he dropped the curtain back
INTO its place and turned away.
lTo BE CONTINUED
Doubtful Compliment.
The following story, even it possesses no
other merit, has that of being true. One
evening n short while ago an old domestic