Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-17

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months before he had written her and
sent his address, but till now he had
heard nothing.
OF course the mail had to be distrib-
uted before he could read the letter, SC
il lay ON the board shelf before him as
he worked. But soon the last bag was
thrown over the counter, and the nail
man had snatched it up and hurried
into his big three seated wagon, chirped
to his horses and wGs gone. AID Lis
beth was handing out to the waiting
ones all the letters that lad not been de-
livered as they came to them in sorting.
Alec tore open his letter. while 'Lisbeth
glanced at him nervously, wondering
what the letter could mean.
1t was brief. 1t said that Alec's ia
Their was dead, and he must como home.
1t also Enclosed Il check for 500, bid
ding him pay NJ his debts ard buy some
clothes so as to come looking as decent
as possible.
Indeed! Evidently they thought he
had been vaiiowing III the gutter CD
here. How could he ever go back to
such home as that, and how could a
mourning mother write such a cruel
letter? 'Lisbeth could not have done it,
with all her hardness. Impossible!
He hurriedly told 'Lisbeth that his
| father was dead and hurried away to
think He must ut least go and follow
with the mourners to his fathers grave,
and after all lie loved his fathers mem
DRY, and he would always cherish it.
He had been good man, but mercenary
| and hard
His plans we're made to go in a week,
but now he changed them and decided
to go the uext day. 'Lisbeth told Hand
at supper that night, and Alec spent the
evening in packing his bag Mrs. Hig-
gins came to his room and begged him
DOT to leave them He said he would
come back, and even gave her a filial
kiss thar comforted her. Then Jim and
the little ones came and stood respect
fully by as he packed his few belong
| ings.
That night he tossed restlessly in bed.
Never before was his heart so full Of
problems. What should he do? What
|
no voice seemed TO tell him. Aud yet
perhaps in the book OF fato it was all
decided long ago. With that thought lie
fell asleep.
The next morning he was busy in the
store till nearly the time for starting.
There were SO many things to talk over
with George Marston
And his mind kept wandering back
to his father. Ho did honor him. He
really loved him. Had he been left
alone he would never have driven his
son from his house Perhaps he would
excuse his stepmother's unkiudness and
forget what she had done But he final.
" felt how impossible il was ever to &c
back except to follow his fathers body
to the grave Poor father. He. too. had
struggled and conquered. and Alec was
proud of having followed liz his foot.
J steps.
He intended to walk over TO the rail.
wav station because it was such pleas.
ant morning, and 'Lisbeth could not con
/ veniently go to drive him and bring the
horse back. He went to say goodby Il
Lisbeth, who was in the kitchen.
"Where is Maud:" he asked.
81 think she's gone out," replied
, 'Lisbeth. But when she saw tho blanl
look on Alec's face she added, "She sait
, you would never como back and wen
, down that path toward the woods
Alec walked to the door and looket
stupidity down the path Maud had taken
After moment he turned suddenly ant
! asked:
, "What's the matter?" Something il
, the manner Of 'Lisbeth seemed mys
? terious, and he coald rot guess it
meaning.
, "Don't you know" replied 'Lisbetl
|. slowly, while faint smile gathere,
round the corners Of her lips.
q Then Alec understood everything
!. Without 4 word he turned and flew
q down the path. On he sped into the COO
4 woods. over the slippery pine needles
q stumbling on TIE rocks and branches il
= his path Bat he lad not gone ran,
o rods before he stopped short, fer Their
! she was, lying at the foot Of grea
/ pine tree. stretched upon the ground
with her face buried in her folded arms
q while sohs shook her whole body. n
stopped abruptly, then cautiously az