Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-16
DAILY SHORT STORY
MY CYNICAL FRIEND.
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one OF those fellows who cut every
question to the quick. One of his IA
vorite hair splitting points was the de
NAL of spontaneous good. He granted
there are good people in the world. but
maintained that they are good because
it is their interest TO be good.
1 did not meet Hinckley for several
years after our leaving college, and
then, curiously enough, it was at a
meeting Of the Salvation Army.
why, Hinckley," 1 exclaimed, who
ever would have thought TO run across
you in a place Ike this, Surely you
must have got rid of your cynicism
If you don't find disinterested good
among these people you'll not find it
anywhere"
Not at ALL" Hinckley replied. These
people have living to make the same
as you and l. This is their way of do
ing it."
But what brings you hereE"
wait awhile and I'll show YOU"
Pulling out his watch he glanced at il
and drew me TO seats where we could
converse in a low tone without being
overheard. Like all we'll organized
shows" he went on, these Salvation
lists save the best till thea last. There's
lassie to appear in few minutes !
want you TO see
Presently Captain Ida Sherwood
came upon the platform and began to
speak. 1t seemed to me that if had
not seen her-had only listened to her
voice. would have been convinced of
her love for her work. But that heav-
emily face contrasting with the poke
bonnet which surrounded it. her ex-
preston and her accounts of her work
IN rescuing the lOSt-it seemed to me
that the Saviour in woman's form had
come back to earth.
Il am glad" l whispered to Hinck.
ley, that you have found one who IS
capable of breaking down that mis-.
anthrOpy of yours"
'She hasn't broken down what you
call my misanthropy," he replied, ''but
she is capable of breaking my heart"
When the meeting broke'up we went
off for a little supper together. and
Hinckley told me that Captain Ida
Sherwood would soon have, an oppor-
tunity to show her preference for heI
work to him, for he intended to pro
pose to take her to n comfortable home
and make 4 good wife and mother of
her
But suppose" l said, 'she declines
to marry You unless permitted to fol
low the life she has chOsen?'
''She won't do that" he replied. ''She
loves me-"
The next time / saw Hinc!lley he
was bitter against the Salvationists.
THE whole thing is fraud" he said.
There IS but one among them who is
not making all they can out of it; she
is sincere"
Captain Ida SHERWOOD"
Eyes"
'Why do you except herY
Because she loves me as love her
and she won't leave her work because
she loves it better than either me OF
herself"
Him." I replied musingly. well
having found one sincere person
among them, perhaps in time you will
find others. But If you love her and
wish TO possess her why don't you per
NIT her TO go on with her work after
marriage?"
"She says that n marriage between
n SalvatiOnist and one absorbed in get
ting rich would be no marriage at ALL
met Hinckley on the street not long
after this, and l scarcely knew him.
He was walking abstractcdly, with his
eyes staring vacantly before him, and
did not see me till tapped him on the
shoulder.
"Why. Hinckley," exclaimed,
whats happened:'
Nothing"
"Nothing!'
"Jim. I'm wearing out" he said, his
reserve suddenly breaking down.
business matters?"
mo I'm getting rich. Everything I
touch turns to gold. It's in the heart"
The Salvation lassie?'
Yes"
Cant you strike Il compromised
a woman doesn't know what the
word means"
Cane l help you?'
He shook his head mournfully, broke !
away from me and went on.
One night / passed the Salvation Ar
my headquarters and, seeing a great |
crowd entering, went in with the |
! had no sooner entered than |
| saw there on the stage the cap |
tain, and beside her in a flaming red |
shirt stood my old friend Hinckley. l |
was rubbing my eyes TO make sure that |
it was he when a Salvation officer adj
vanced and announced that Recruit |
Henry Hinckley and Captain Ida Sher
wood would solemnize the bonds OF |
/ waited for the service to |
be over. then left as quickly as possible.
l did not care to meet Hinckley or TO
have him know that / had witnessed |
his humiliation.
When 1 saw HinckIey again there
was Il great change in him. He had be-
come one of the principal commanders
in the Salvation Army and was wholly
engroSsed in his work. l called on him
at his Office in the headquarters build
ing and instead OF looking Inundated
be looked triumphant. He insisted on