Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-29
A NEW YEAR REUNION

l.
"What comfort is my son Jack! His
treacherous mother left no trace Of her
In him. He is all mine! Another year
will see Jack through his medical col
lege. Then, with my son my partner, I
can look outside of business and perhaps
can love again"
DR.. Stielson's sister entered-Niiss Sue,
"A man is down stairs, brother, with
| box for you. He is sinister and mysteri-
Gus and will not give his name, but must
see YOU"
mo subject peddler? have got over
that. Let him come up. Stand, sister,
outside the door and listen"
a man like n robber, with swelled fea-
lures, came in with n parcel.
"Well."
els that Your name or initials?" asked
the man, producing a surgical instru-
ment of silver.
Undoubtedly. How did you come by
II took it in trade from q young man.
think see his picture on that mantel."
''Slanderer! Deceiver!" exclaimed Dr..
Stielson. THAT is my only son."
Take your hand from my throat,
doctor. lam afraid of you. If should
cry Murder" what would become of
that young man? See herer'
He opened his package. and it con-
tanned full set of costly surgical in
struments in DIR. Stielson's specially, of
late not much used, but he recognized
every article.
"Yourreputation," said the illicit deal
er, lis such that put the clew upon my
bargain at once. Iasked the young man
for a receipt when paid him the money.
Iswear that l see his photograph there.
Can You swear this is not his handwrit-
ing."
| The doctor looked and groaned and
sank into his chair.
''Sue, settle with this person. o my
God!"
The sister did rs she was hidden, dis
missed the fence shopkeeper and came
back.
Jack is thief, Sue. He has robbed
his father. What is to be done:'
Nothing. 1t is bad enough already"
II can never trust him again-never
recommend him. Our ways part from
this moment. Let him never see me!'
Brother. it is New Years eve"
1.-The night l married his accursed
mother. Have l toiled and spent the
hours OF sleep in storm and midnight con-
sultation to gain a national fame only to
come to this pang-I have no SOM"
He tainted. who had 4 nerve of steel
and could cut to the very membrane be-
tween life and death. His sister was ex-
| perienced and gave him restoratives and
heard him continue to moan and rave.
''Be still." she said at length. do you
suppose this afflicts me not! What have
to love but Jack? II you throw hin,
off, will so with him. Now beware!'
"Oh, if he had killed some one in an
affrayl If lie had set the city on fire! II
he had been anything but a thief"
Enough. He is a thief. That is all
of it. A thief was forgiven on the cross,
where you and are now. shall for.
give him."
II never will"
"Then you are bad man. Perhaps
you have stolen yourself some time.
| Look below your hard heart, Pierce
Stielson. and refectv'
She heard a key in the door below and
left her brother, sick herself of the mis-
cry which had come upon that house.
"New Years eve!" exclaimed the doc
tor, and he threw himself upon the floor
not for the first time in his life, to know
the ache of the broken heart.
He had come to Philadelphia from
Delaware, out Of an apothecary's shop, Il
study medicine. Excessive ambition from
boyhood ON had annealed his real sensi
bilities with the fire of energy till he wa
like boiler full of fire, his rivets of lif,
, ever screwed up, his leisure nothing bu
cold exhaustion. His was a name of FAM
now without personality.
All knew that he had separated from
his vito soon after their marriage ant
was soured, but his son seemed to fill tn
vacant place. His own integrity wa
everywhere understood, and a very few
knew that this man Of indifferent man
ners and hurry and intensity had sec
ond nature beneath the first that was lilk
. an undeveloped childhood.
Pure misery he felt now. the ittl
thing he had not watched-filial truth
taking him like an assassin upon hisow,
threshold.
He could not cry; he could not reason
His absolute nature and faith had beel
for the second time destroyed.
There were bottles on his mantle
which could kill. They had often &C
CURED to him as instant reliefs from q
much living and 80 little resulting. II
: felt like dying now by his own act N
fear Of tho grisly had he. but be was De
terred by pride.
II he could almost wish his son woul
rod Of his fathers suicide and becom
penitsnt, rheFe was . woman who Nigh
think the love q her had caused Il IN
wI1ti
How h2wShle, b thought, had bes