Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-21

I!ore than that, a. you call it. There
would have been those he folded his
hands and laughed those,
Maggie. Some OF them you know. Some
Of them you don't know. Now tell me,
Maggie, Lay friend Maegie''-she began
TO feel the old magic Of his voice; she
vas afraid TO look at him on account Of
the magic Of his eyes-''hOw you came
to be the messenger Of evil"
Had it not been for me you would
have been arrested on coming out of the
cathedral-a newly made priest-and
taken before magistrate on the
charge of forgery, with another charge,
not criminal, yet it should be, as the
motive"
"Oh. really! Now, this was vindic.
tive. Only little $50 thing too. Was
1t really SO arranged"
"Ycs. was only able to stop it at
the last moment by promising to declare
an impeachment in the open cathedral.
Better that than prison. Remember,
Paul, if you are capable Of feeling any
shame ut all. that you were as near u
prison rs any man ever was, and as
near "a just sentence Of penal servitude. "
1T is like an escape on q glacier,
isn't it? Gives one q thrill Just to re-
member it. On the edge Of precipice.
Might have gone over it. So the vicar
took the money and gave up his revenge,
did hep
Here is the dreadful thing. You had
better destroy it at once" She threw
him n paper, which fell fiuttering at
his feet. 1t looked like q check.
mot at once. like to be reminded
of things sometimes-perilsa and dangers
Of the deep" He pulled out his pocket
book. 1T was vindictive to exact that
condition, very vindictive. You said
something, Maggie, about-about an
other charge" He turned his face and
looked into the fire. "What has become
of-of the other charger
THE other charge as you call her,
has run away from home. Perhaps in
order to be with you
with me? Oh, dear, no! assure you
not. The incident is closed-I wish it
closcd-and forgotten. My address for
tho moment will be best kept a secret.
l think, however. that it was extreme
~ scnsible-thOughtful overland con-
siderate beyond what is generally found
i'll such cases for that person to 60 clear
out of the way. l trust that person will
keep out OF the way altogether. 1t
smoOths go many difficulties, you see,
when ono of two parties keeps out of
the way. am very glad. Maggie, that
you did not interfere with that other
party. II might have panied and dis
tressed you. am glad that you have
been spared. Some Of our too tender and
sensitive sisters allow themselves to be
excessively pained-needlessly pained-
by assuming that other persons share
their ideas
Paul, is it impossible-quite impos-
siblc-to awaken anything like con-
science i'll you:''
81 like to he quite open with you,
my dear Maggie, because you are Ger.
, tainly the best friend-just for the mo-
ment even the only friend-that have.
And therefore venture to reply that l
do not think anything would give me
what you call a conscience. What is
your conscience? Something that objects
to your having what you want and do
ing what You would like to do. 1t is
convenient. Look at me, for instance. I
wanted money week or two ago. l
very often want money. Another man
had, / found out, money in the bank.
So borrowed some of it. He would not
have lent me the money for the asking,
so put his name on bit of paper and
get what needed out of the bank.
Most foolishly I went openly and in
| person to cash that check, and l was
known to the pay clerk, who sings in
our choir, SO that it would have been
useless to deny possession of the check,
and know of 10 one whom l could
charge with giving me the check. 1t
was Il foolish. hasty, bungling job, 1
admit. Then you appeal to my con-
science. You ask me why I I'm not
! prickcd by conscience. You say there is
y commandment, aud that it is broken,