Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Will Test.
IOrigiEaI.1

Ihane became enSaSeU< 10 Steild Al
bro and in due time an opportunity oc-
curred for him to make his test. They
were boating together. Edmond at the
oars, Stella at the tiller. Their course
was downstream. Edmond calculated
that for every hour they spent moving
with the current they would need to
spend two hours in pulling against ii.
He was Il methodical fellow and cal
culated ON spending thirty minutes go
ing downstream and an hour to an
hour and a half on the return. He
kept looking at his watch and at the
end of half an hour told Stella to put
the boat around and head upstream.
why, we've scarcely been out at
ALL" she said. You don't mean to turn
around so soon, do your"
Il certainly do"
I'm sorry you find being alone with
me SO wearisome."
TT doesn't follow that because 1
don't want to pull boat more than
two hours on u stretch l find your
company weariSome.'
But don't want to go back. want
to go down to the bend"
That's six miles
"How far have we gomez
"Two or three. TO go there and
back Would be pull of six miles with
the current, which is four miles an
hour. When we return l shall not only
miss the help of the current, but must
overcome four miles an hour pressure"
rs that a terrible thing to do to give
me pleasure?"
Does firing me out give you pleas
ure?"
1T gives me pleasure to see a dispo-
sition in you to sacrifice for me-"
There are necessary sacrifices
enough in life without making unnec-
essary ones"
The girl made no reply to this, but
she made no move to turn the boat.
Come" said Edmond; give a pull
on that port tiller rope"
Miss AlbrO paid no attention to the
order. Edmond began to hold water.
with the port and give way with the
Starboard oar. Stella turned the rud-
der dead starbOard.
Thane stopped rowing. He could not
have found a better opportunity to
make his test. This was satisfactory.
had Il Will requiring great pains to
overcome. This was not so satisfac
tory. He set his jaws firmly.
Il have no disposition to force you
to 90 anything contrary to your incli-
nation" he said. If you wish to con-
tinue going downstream. I'll get ashore
and let you proceed
The proposition was neither declined
nor accepted.
"Since You make no reply to a rca-
sOnable proposition" he went on, I'll
proceed with it as the only alternative"
He tried to pull the boat to the shore
Stella held the bow pointing at an
acute angle with the current, promis-
ing TO land them several miles lower
down. Again Thane stopped rowing
The situation was perpl0Ning. Wheth-
er the girl had the stronger or the
weaker will. she certainly had the
helm. He considered what to do next
but there was nothing TO 10 except ci-
ther to drift down or row down rs far
"a she liked. He changed his tactics.
You have the choice" he said, lei
Their to turn the boats head up or
ashore or-yOu know the other
I'm going down to the bend" she
replied complacently.
Thane shipped his oars, placed him
self on the bottom OF the boat In the
bow. took out his pipe and tobacco
pouch and began to smoke They
drifted awhile, then he got up, took the
oars and, beginning to pull down
stream, said:
.'Since you have virtually chosen the
Ir,1 Of
are to have your own way for life so
far as l am concerned-I may as well
give 1t you in this instance and get an
unpleasant matter the sooner ended"
Miss Albro did not make any reply.
She was not apparently excited. She
sat idly holding the ropes and oc-
casionally trailing a hand in the wa
ter. AS soon rs they reached the bend
she turned the boat upstream, and
Thane had long pull to the landing.
He accompanied her home without
speaking 4 word to her and left her Mt
her door with polite bow, which she
did not take pains TO acknowledge
Edmund Thane was not quite sure
whether he had done a wise or fool
ish thing. He went to his married
friend and told him the story
Ned" said the friend, you're idi-
otto. Every thing you've done is
wrong. In the first place, the girl
would have been right in expecting
you. as young lover. TO pull hun
dred miles instead of dozen for her
sake. Second. You We're rude to at
tempt TO force her to go your way
Third, it's a lady's privilege TO break
an engagement. Fourth. there is no
within or even injury a man must not
bear from woman"
But if 1 take back track" said
Thane ruefully, I'll be a slave for
life
We'll. suppose you are. You'll get
lot Of comfort out of your slavery and
have all mankind for your fellow
slaves
Thane made an abiect anoIosv vvas