Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-15
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Evil Done That
Good Might Come

1t was the 10th of April and my birth
day. had been working with John.
The sun was pouring warm rays upon
us. thawing our hearts. for John had
wounded me and we had quarreled,
and we could almost see the buds ex-
pand. so rapidly were they opening.
The thrushes were singing over the
meadows. and myriads of insects,
awakened after the long winter. were
chirping merrily. There's never such
a sweet time as after making up diff
ference, and John chose il to tell me
that he loved me.
Il bade John adieu at the gate. not
with kiss. for the bright sun still
shone upon us and all the neighbors
could see. but with a multitude or
kisses in~my heart He was 10 go to
the city the next day TO begin work.
/ saw mother looking ut us through
the blinds of an upper window and a
troubled expression on her face. l
went in and met her in the hall.
"'What makes your cheek so red,
my laughter she asked.
"It's the warm sun.
land your eye so bright?
The singing birds and the chirping
insects
'I'll not blame you for concealing
the real cause she said. with a sigh
that John Darr has been making love
TO you. but I'm dreadfully sorry
a. why so. motherT 1 asked. blush
ing to the roots OF my hair.
1.-The young would act differently
could they be old. They must go
through poverty; they must be worn
out trying to make ends meet-for
what? A fancy. Mr.. Winfield came
to your father yesterday and, like an
honorable man. asked for you. He
owns all the land hereabout and has
money in the bank. With him you
would be looked up to. admired
Mother,
Il know that it is useless to tell you
this, but the day will come when you
will wish you had listened TO me-
''She passed into the kitchen and.
taking broom. went up stairs. where
| heard sweep. sweep. sweep. and |
knew that she had been giving me her
own experience.
Days passed into weeks. weeks into
months. l looked for a letter from
John. but no letter came. nor did any
letter ever come. MIR. Winfield came
often to see father and sat with him,
talking about the price OF land and the
crops and loans and mortgages. such
things as / did not understand or care
for. Often / saw him look wistfully ut
me, but / was thinking of John. who
had broken my heart by sending me
never n word. Year after year my
70. I,o 81, a,,s-
wife, but five years passed before l be
gan to think that since John had cast
me off might please father and moth
er. One April day, when the sun shone
as it did on the day John left me with
such warmth i'm my heart, 1 told my
mother that l would be Mr.. Winfield's
wife il he asked me.
''He did ask me, and so kindly, so
thoughtfully. for he was older than L
he was thirty fve-that when lie put
his arm about my waist and drew me
to him I suffered myself TO cry on his
shoulder-for my lost love.
The next day / was walking on the
road listening to the birds and the in
sects. just as / had done on that day
with John. when / saw man, his face
covered with a red beard. coming to-
ward me. He was we'll dressed and
stepped along with n jaunty air. When
he met me, saw him start Then he
asked me about some recent changes
in the land. whose was that new barn.
that dwelling. Somehow l didn't like
the free tone in which he spoke. for |
could not help thinking that he bore
himself toward me as a city man would
toward n country girl
"'You don't remember me-? he said
g Il am sure l never saw you before
| replied.
I'm not surprised at your forget
ting me after the word you sent me
before 1 went away he said contempt
uously.
"'You are
"'John Darrr
81 stood still, staring at him. This
was John Darr. from whom had part
ed five years ago. for whose lost love
only yesterday / had wept.
al sent you no word before you
went away said.
Your mother told me that you de-
sired to be released
81 have not since harbored hard feel |
ings against poor mother. though her |
iauIt Nds ErieNouS- one sought 10 give |
me a pleasant life instead of an un-
happy one.
John came forward to take me in his |
arms. but I-motioned him back. telling |
him that only the day before / had |
pledged myself to another.
II have been deprived of you by n |
lie.' he said. Therefore you rightfully /
belong TO me- He spoke with his old |
quickness, which had now grown to
harshness.
Il went straight TO Mr.. Winfield and
told him ALL His voice trembled when
ne said:
. Poor child If l could only have
known that l was party to such a
wrong. l will do all / can to atone
FOR your mothers act. Don't blame her