Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-10-02
A MARK OF MANHOOD.
BY EDWARD n. CLARK.

IT, ! NEAE AiAak Nt 0vAltNNAaAhN 7tA.AHtNAf -
maps crime, hehind an advertisement Ike
that"
Helen laughed. Criminals don't have
irst-cass references. dearie, and then you
know we reed the money"
Read 10 to ne again.
Tae girl took up a morning paper and read
this "Nani,d- BY man 80 years old,
comfortable room in suburban residence
wnere taefc are no yistors; a.sClute seclu-
sion tno hrs, consideration. APp.k ant Hill
refer TO people Oi s,andii &; .ls-tst piice
paid. sedusion, Box -, bice4e Oflice.
There was step Oh we Veianda. Helen
exclaimed: "Doarit, there's &c answer"
4 moment aiteiward man vita tall, well
knit figure stood in the htlic arlor One
-de of ms face was sn.Orded IN the folds OF
a scarf This side he kept ever away from
the lamphgnt Tne voice had in it ring
suggesting tnat at times its keynote was
command
"Is TINS Mrs. Martini have called in re-
sponse to an answer to my advertisement.
My name Is George Sidney. know, Mrs
Martin" he continued, that my aGsertlse-
mcnt may have seemed strange. do deAire
absolute seclusiOn and freedom from callers.
Ny reference is Gen. Nelson, army head
quarters, Puliman building | should like
TO see the room, and il you find my cfecen-
tials satisfactory ! think other details may
be arranged readily"
Helen led tie way up a winding stair to a
well-appoin.ed room. Lighting the gas, she
turned to look at her follower He was in
the act OF drawing sill more closely the
folds Of the scarf about the right side Of his
4. III g.t l.t. IN.
nance was stiikingly handsome. Mother
and live here a.one" she said After my
fathers failure and death we came here
from a distant city. We have few friends
and no visitors"
II like the room" said the stranger;
kindly look me up and let me know if
shall make satisfactory lodger.' Then he
said good night aud left the house.
Helen called on Gen. Nelson in the Pull
man building. Did he know Mr.. George Sid
ney?
"Yes, well. He is an officer of the army,
retired for disability received in line OF duty.
Mr.. Sidney is now working on some ord
nance plans. and for reasons Of his own he
works only at night lie is a soldier and
gentleman"
For two months the members Of the little
Lake View household saw George Sidney in
frequently. he left for his work after night
fall and returned Just before daybroak At
one o'clock every day a closed cab was
driven 10 the doorstep. The reeluse drove
away in it. presumably to his breakfast.
Whenever Helen caugat a glimr Be u their
mysterious ludger she saw the cver-present
,c,rf ooncealinp the greater rart of Lis f,a-
tures. One morning her surprise almost
oyercame her when she heard his voice call
ing from the upper floor. Lieut.. Sidney was
standing in the doorway Of his room with
his bend ayorted. If am sorry to trouble
YOU. Miss Martin" he said but wish you
would ask the cabman wnen he comes to go
for DR.. Girard, the headquarters surgeon,
at once"
The surgeon came. He saw the Martins
lodger, and then, going to the little Larlor,
said to Helen: "Mr. Sidney is suffering in.
tensely. have expected this trouble and
have urged rest. Now he must take it, He
must keep he room and on no account is he
TO use his eyes."
Thus /, was that Lieut.. Sidney became the
patient as well as the lodger OF the Martins
For weeks he sat in darkened corner OF
his room while Helen read to him from
where the lug t found its way through a
halfupeued sutter. How she Lad come to
do this she dad not just know; but 1t came
about naturally The girls life had been a
lonely one. and il needs but to say tnat
there slowly stole into her heart something
deeper than mere interest in her c!a'ge.
The day for the patient 5 release from the
dark room had come Helen heard hls Vo'ce
cal linn lt.r Tho t1Tl "a FNDTMnN
Sidney had thrown wide the shutters and
the room was bright with sunlight lie was
standing with folded arms at the window
where she had sat when reading The
strong light was full on lis face and t, scarf
which he had ever worn was gone Ine girl
gave one searching look at the face 90 long
concealed. S'dney's eyes were ON het. 4
cry 'ame from her lIps and she recollcd with
a feeling tali fear, half horror. Sidney Jaw
the action ard heard the cry. In an instant
he had closed ile door quietly. Helen, with
a white face, fled to her mothers room.
Child, what IS its' exclaimed Mrs. Mar
tin
Mother, | saw his face. lie showed 1t
Mother it is the face OF
fend"
The mother led the girl to sofa and took
her in her arms They heard him pass on
to the vrranda, aud both mother and daugh
ter felt that George would not return.
month passed. Helen went about her duties
as usual, striving to be cheerful, but the
mother knew.
At the end Of the month Gen. Nelson
,alled Mir Sidney had not returned to his
work As espcctcd after his recovery. Did
ii N,t.. i.,...,. 80 D. b. ,,.h,r.,hs,,t.y No