Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-16
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A Temptation Resisted

at distant tendril OF smoke that trail
ed in the sky. the smoke OF the east
bound passenger train. She listened tC
the harsh creaking OF the corn, and her
face grew set.
Rick had no right to bring me to
such n place." she thought, forgetting
how willingly she had come.
A man drove into the yard, tied his
horse TO the wheel of the wagon and
came toward the house. Don't you
knew me, Kate?" he called loudly, to
be heard above the wind.
why, George Gilbert, is it your
she exclaimed. She held out her hand.
"How did you ever happen to get here?
Come right into the house. Kicks gone
TO town for coal"
The man followed her into the main
room of the house, which served the
double purpose of parlor and kitchen.
In one corner stood the stove; above it
long shelf covered with neatly seal
loped papers, ON which stood the lamps
and tinware. \ safe with perforated
tin doors was in another corner. \ bit
OF ingram carpet, n rocking chair and
round table with n red cover made
the parlor.
You see, I'm travelling for grocery
house." the man said, sitting down,
''an6 1 make Houston now. and your
folks said 1 must be sure to come out
and see you. How are you doing?"
Doing" Kate cried, scOrnfully look
ing around the room. Cant you see?
TnI- I,,Ef nd
body together-corn IA cents and were
nine miles from market"
"Why don't you come back home?"
he asked, leaning forward in his chair
and noticing how much Kate had aged
since she came west.
"Dick never seems to think of ii. Be-
sides, l don't think we've got money
enough to take one of US, let alone
both. 1 just long to go. Sometimes 1t
seems like I'd go wild staying here. a
man can get along better'n n woman"
"Are you coming?' he asked.
She stood a moment Strengthening
the cover on the table. Yes, I'll 60"
she said decisively. 'There are
few things 1 must take, but l can be
ready in half an hour"
Its 49," George called.
She laid her hat and cloak on the
bed. I'm glad baked the bread and
dried apple pies this morning" she
thought. "Men are so helpless about
homework. 1 must leave some word
of where I'm gone. 1 guess he has
tried to be good to me. but he has no
right to keep me here"
r She found sheet of the thin blue
N. II,
written to her folks. She sat down on
the bed with the ink bottle on n chair
near by. Dear Rick" she wrote, then
hastily crossed il out and began
Rick" Then she was motionless for
n time, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
At last she wrote: George Gilbert Is
here and is going to lend me money to
go home on. l cannot stand it here
any longer. 1 hope you will forgive
me. for l know You have tried to be
good to me and
She threw down her pen and ran into
the kitchen. George stood in the door
way smoking and looking down the
road. Ready he asked without
turning.
"Oh, 1 can't gor' she cried huskily.
81 can't go! He has done his best. 1t
would be wicked when he has worked
SO hard. Poor Rick She sat down
and covered her face with her hands.
"All right" George answered. Il was
willing to take you; but, If you think
you'd better not. that's all right. 1
don't want to interfere, as L said be-
fore"
She watched him out of sight. Then
lot haV-
clothing back in the trunk. Her letter
lay on the floor. She picked it up and
threw it into the fire as If it had been
unclean. She watched it
blaze and turn to a white ghost, which
she crumbled with the poker. When
the house had taken on its ordinary
look, she put the teakettle on the stove
and set the table for supper. AS she
cut one of her pies she smiled. She
was to eat them. after all.
The wind had gone with the sun, and
1t was dusk when she heard the sound
of wheels. She took the lantern from
the high shelf, lit it and set out for
the barn.
as that you, Rick?" she called.
Kate held the lantern while her hus-
band unhitched and fed his horses.
Then they walked together to the
house. Through the open door block
of light fell on the ground, and within
the red tablecloth and white dishes
shone pleasant and cheerful.
1--WE got some good news, sis" Rick
said across the table as he helped him
self to a third cut of pie. "Old man
Shutz wants to buy this farm; says he
don't like the way my land gouges out
the corner OF his section. He will take
up the mortgage and give me 5000
clear. 1t amt much, but we can go
back home and begin over again-be-
gin over again in a country where a
man gets a decent living for his sweat
and labor"
Kate laid her head on the table and
began to cry.
''why, sis. amt you tickled?'' he ask