Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
where ignorance is Bliss"
lOrjginaLl

IOriginaLl
| A young man stood with hisshand on
the latch of house in the country,
place, then knocked AID was admitted
by an old man.
"You are Deacon Merivale. ere YOU
not?' asked the visitor.
Speak louder. 1 am hard of hear
ing" ~
"Are you Deacon Merivale?' the
questioner repeated, raising his voice.
Still he was unheard and shouted the
question in the mans ear.
Yes; my names Merivale."
You had son, Edgar, who ran
away and
Edgar? What do you know. about
ha IL ann Eaporsy- ~
"You Edgar? Can it be thatlmy son
has come home to be with me during
the last few years have to,lEe?"
Il was going to say that Tam Ed
gar's'-
my boy! My boyw sobbedithe old
man, falling on the strangers neck.
Meanwhile the two had drifted from
the hall into the living room. As the
| visitor looked over the old mans Shout
der door opened, and he saw the face
and figure of a young girl on the
threshold. The situation was awk-
ward. The deacon did not see the girl
or hear her. She looked at the new
conner for an explanation.
HE thinks I'm Edgar" he said.
y quick intelligence passed over the
girls face
Don't try to disabuse his mind"
she said. He has been talking of my
brother continually of late. His mis-
take may turn out a fortunate one"
This was great relief to the sup
posed son. Now that the responsible
ity was on another he resigned himself
to play his part.
Father, forgive me-" he said, with
feigned emotion
The old man raised his head and saw
his daughter.
Emily" he cried, Edgar, your
brother, has returned TO us"'
Here was n new embarra ssment.
Any brother returning from long alb
sence would naturally take his sister
in his arms for an affectionate en-
brace. Any sister would naturally fly
two stood apart.
Daughter said the old man severe
ly, Il have forgiven Edgar. 1t is my
wish that you welcome him home"
The spurious Edgar advanced peni-
tently and, gently putting his arms
about the girl, who blushed red as q
rose. kissed her.
That night after the old man had
gone to bed, thankfulness in his heart
at the return of his son, the stranger
told Emily Merivale the story he had
tried to tell her father. Edgar Meri-
vale and Frank Tucker were joint pros
pectors In Colorado. Having acquired
a valuable mine, it was decided that
Tucker should go east and organize q
company to work it. Just before Tuck
err left Merieale died, having charged
his partner to bear the news to his IA
Their and sister. Emily dared not at
present announce it to her father. She
determined to advise her neighbors of
the deception and for the present keep
it up.
Tucker was successful in his bust
ness efforts and was making prepare
tons to leave for the west. One even
ing Deacon MerivaIe entered the living
room suddenly to find Emily in Tuck
er's arms.
cit beats ALL" he said at n church So
cable the next evening, what broth
erly and sisterly love there is between
my boy and girl. Last night they were
sitting on the sofa hugging and kiss
ing as if they'd been a pair OF freshly
Matched lovers"
This speech was not long in getting
to the ears of the pair. What was to
be done? After long deliberation they
decided to be privately married and,
telling the old man that Edgar desired
his sister to go west with him, take
their departure together.
1t was not an easy matter to perpe- |
trate an act that must be known to all |
the world save one person and he of |
the nearest relationship, but the place |
was small, and every one thought it |
would be pity to break the news of |
Edgar's death to the old man, he sup |
posing his son had come home to him. |
1t made Emily's heart bleed to leave |
her father alone, but there was no way |
to avoid doing so except by a confess |
sion. The couple were married in the |
dominie's study, then went home and |
babe adieu to the father.
From their western home they wrote
the deacon that the mine was doing |
and as soon as its success
was assured they would bring him out |
to Join them or return to him. His Il
neighbors were much interested in II
hearing the old man talk about his
children's affection for each other-so II
great. in fact, as to render them insep-
arabic. But as time passed and they
neither returned nor sent for him he
concluded to make them a visit He
one day, and his neighbors
at once inferred where he had gone. 1t
was generally admitted in the village
that the secret would be out, but all