Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-03
The Daily Short Story
A DISCLOSURE.
"Yours always-Marion."

Yours always-Marion."
The photograph on which the words
were written stood upon the mantelshelf.
The young man who read the inscrip-
tipn aloud was described in Debrett as
| Sir Anthony Elliot. Bart. grandson OF
the late Sir Robert Elliot and fifth bar
| onet of his name.
Marion" was Lady Marion Allardyce.
the daughter and sister of an earl,
| ciety beauty and one of the richest heir
| esses in England. They were TO be mar
| ried in the spring, and he was on the
| point of starting in order to join the
party at her country home.
A servant tapped at the door and en-
| tered.
IF you please. Sir Anthony. gentle
man of the name of Crosse wants to see
you"
Crosse? don't know the name.
What is his business? Did he say?'
"Says he's come all the way from New
Zealand on purpose TO speak to you"
He was shown in.
"Sir Anthony Elliot, 1 presumed" he
queried.
yes" said Tony. "wnl you take
chair? 1 am rather pressed for time"
1.-THE business will not take me long to
explain" he said. "In fact, it can be
told in two sentences. / am here TO in
form you that you have no more right TO
the name you bear than 1 have. Your
father was n carpenter, and he sold you
TO Mrs. Elliot for e. note"
There was n moment OF silence. Tony's
cigarette went out. lie threw it into the
CRATE.
"You make very strange assertion"
he said slowly. "Will you kindly explain
yourself?'
"Your reputed father died a year after
he married, quarreled with his father and
became a sheep farmer in New Zealand.
l was his next neighbor and knew all
about him. Three weeks later his only
child died too.
''Then Mrs. Elliott adopted a working
mans baby and left the place. 1 didn't
understand her motive at the time.
comprehended when l learned that the
late Mrs. Elliot had hated her brother
in-law because she believed he had set
the old baronet against her husband and
herself"
Crosse handed him two papers. "You
IAN have 100 more proofs il you like TO
go out to Queensland" he added briefly.
And your object in travelling thou
sands OF miles on n matter which does
not concern you? l presume you have a
motive?"
Certainly" said Crosse calmly. 81
am n poor man and no longer young. l
want comfort and security for my old
age. Give me $500 year for life, and
you can enjoy your fortune in peace and
marry your fine lady. I'll hold my
tongue"
Great beads of perspiration stood on
Tony's brow. His head swan. Then
the carpenters son pulled himself to-
Gether. threw his head up and perempto-
rily ordered Crosse out of his roDms. But
when he was alone cry OF passion and
despair rose from the bottom of his soul.
He wrote to Marion that important
business would detain him in town TO- a
few days and cabled TO a globe trotting
friend.
The answer to his message came. and
that afternoon at dusk she greeted him
in the great hall of the old country man
sion.
I'VE shall have an hour or two alone.
But how white you are, Tony" she Id
ed quickly. There is something wr rs.
What is il 2"
You shall know directly, Mar on"
He took her left hand in both his own
and looked at the flashing hoop OF dia-
monds he had placed there. 81 have
something TO tell you-something that
will change the current of our lives. But
before tell you / should like to be with |
you just for half an hour. TO enjoy for
one brief half hour more the sight of
your face. the sound of your voice My |
sweetheart, / want TO live for n little |
while before the darkness falls. May I?'
81 don't know what it all means. but |
of course I'm ready to do whatever you |
wish, Tony" There was a pause pres
emily, and she touched his sleeve.
TONY, your luggage? Didn't you
bring any?"
NO" he said slowly. 'I am not going |
to stay. You will understand when the |
clock strikes"
Twill it never strike. Tony?" The |
clock answered the question for itself.
Lady Marion ADardyce." he said. Il
give you back your freedom. Recently / |
learned that I have no right to the name |
/ bear. Today the news was verified by |
cable. 1t is sufficient for you TO know |
that my father was a carpenter in a CO. |
lonial village and that my name is not |
Sir Anthony Elliot Mt all, but just An |
thony Brown"
You frightened me to death. / could /
not imagine what terrible thing had hap |
pened."
''You don't seem to understand" he
said. I'm a pauper. a nobody, A 1
I'm Anthony Brown
"Well. are you any the less a gentle
man by instinct and education? Are you
any the less the man love-the man of /
all others whom 1 have chosen to love,
honor and obey till die? Would you re-
fuse to marry me IL my history were
similar to yours? OF course you
wouldn't oh. Tony" she added. break
ing out into smiles, you-you-idiot!"-I
Exchange.
England Makes Gold Dear.
When the tide of gold GIBBS from the
shores OF Great Britain, there is only |
one course onpn IN tho RanE of Eng l