Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-10


Perseversnce's FIRST assignment was
one never to be forgotten. The foul and
depraved sights she witnessed nauseated
and frightened her beyond measure.
Her escort was kindness itself and pro-
tected the girl with as splendidly pat
ronizing air rs did Pendannis the pref
ty Fanny Bolton at Vauxhail.
Bring your COPY in early tomor.
row." he said as he babe Perseverance
good night at Mrs. TerryTown's door,
for it had been arranged she should
sleep there that night lest her tardy
coming should undermine The founda-
tions of the home, as its rules for reason
able retiring were absolute.
"what did he mean by copyF' Perse-
verance asked her mector, vino in charm
ing dishabine received her. Must
make an extrn copy OF this nasty stuff"
Mrs. Terry-Town shriekcd with laugh
ter. ooh, you adorable little goose, {"
she cried, copy is the stuff, material,
article, story, piece. you would call il.
But, tell me. how do you like the news-
paper business?"
at was dreadful evening. The on
" pleasant memory will be Mr.. Dun
ning's Kindness" said the girl sbyly.
Mrs. Terry-Town looked at her
thoughtfully moment. Teen q soft
smile leaped in her eyes.
"Yes, he is q nice chap" she said.
"But come, 90 to bed, dear."
For six months Perseverance tried her
hand at newspaper work. Thanks to
Mrs. Terry-Tovn, who looked after her,
giving her points and tips on the rou
tine, technique and vernacular of the
newspaper Office. the girl made no seri-
Gus breaks. She made friends in the
office, was looked upon as ga nice little
girl" and got en- very well with "the
boys" especially with Harold Dunning.
the young reporter who had accompanied
her on her first assignment. DunninS,
who had the face of an angel, was yet
an experienced and sophisticated youth.
He had come TO The Cyclone from the
| staff of western newspaper, and the
metropolitan work he had done had
been marked with originality and a
breezy vigor which had speedily at
tracted attention. The boy had received
SO much fiattery and praise that it was
small wonder his head had been turned
| bit or that he counted himself quite
irresistible. In spite of all these Adde'S
cent characteristics, he was good fell
| low at heart and possessed both sense
| and discrimination. He could not fail
to admire the pluck of this little coun-
try girl who had struck out so bravely
for herself. Something Of her history
was made known to him by Mrs. Terry
Town. The rest he drew from her bit
by bit. Sympathy stirred the crust Of
cynicism which this youngster had tried
to form over his naturally kind heart,
and we all know to what sympathy be-
tween a handsome young man and o
lovable girl is liable to lead.
Dunning fell in love with pretty,
plucky Perseverance. He had, however,
all the end of the century ideas and
fancied he could not marry until he had
money enough to give his wife the lux.
uries which his own sybarite nature de-
manded. So he drifted along, seeing the
| girl as often rs he could, keeping a
watchful eye ON her, helping her in her
work and making himself as much as
! possible feature Of her life.
A new world had opened to the sim
pie country girl-a world which fasci-
mated her with its picturesque and fever
ish life. She plunged into this existence
heart and soul. The daily assignments
which sent her one day to poverty
stricken tenement, the next to the lux
urious rooms of PCT of the mimic
world, she accepted with absolute relish.
Mrs. Terry-Town, her guide. philoso.
pher and friend, looked on with a Ian.
guild interest. Its new to her. poor
child!' she said to herself. "She's lust
smelling printers ink and thinks it's
altar OF roses. Only another illusion
Bah! How she'll hate il one Of these
daysr'
| Mrs. Terry TOwn was not slow to see
Dunning's admiration for Perseverance
and did all in her power to promote the
affair. shes too pretty and too inno-
cent to be knocking aboat the world. :"
said that lady 20 Dunning one day
"Why don't you marry her and take
her out Of this feverish existence? You
know perfectly well that one Of THESE
| u"ys shc VIII -. q DlcW tn1t VIII kboS'
ger her and smash all her fine airy cas-.
ties. Why not save her from it!''
II would if bad any money" said
Dunning savagely.
"Pouf!" said Katherine lightly.
What you are blowing in on cocktails
and cigars would run q little fat in
Harlem"
"Oh. hang little fat in Hariem.'
That's just it. !" returned Mrs. Terry.
Town. You want an establishment,
turnout. box at the opera. Oh, what is
this age coming tor
IAN end" growled Harold.
Think how pretty Perseverance
would look in high necked apron
making pie. I'll wager n box Of Turk.
ish cigarettes she can make o cherry pic
quick az a cat can wink her eye" con.
tinued Mrs. Terry Town, who was in
one Of her voluble moods.
II won't have my wife making
cherry pies. said Dunning, with the
air Of grand seigneur.
VERY well; l warn you. You'll dis
cover one of these DAYS that your sweet