Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-12
DAILY SHORT STORY
HIS ONE VIRTUE.
IOriginaLl

cessfuI man who has by energy, integ-
rity and steady application acquired
the wherewithal TO give him prOmi-
hence and TO benefit his fellow beings
has been cordially hated. While some
scapegrace has been winning hearts.
Bob Flemming belonged to the latter
class. Judged by the standard of util-
ity, lie was a failure; by the standard
| of morals he was not Il success; by the
standard of literal truth he was a most
incorrigible liar. Nevertheless he was
universally beloved. He possessed an
open, honest cOuntenance which by
good rights should have belonged to
the aforesaid man who produces re-
suits with which TO make people hap
by. His smile was that of innocence.
His pOcketbOok was open to all, though
unfortunately at the time he came Of
age the luxuries in which he had been
brought up took wings and flew away,
! leaving him little or nothing to give.
When Flemming went home from
college TO find that his father had fail
ell in business the young mans cronies
agreed that there was but one hope for
him-a marriag e with wealthy girl
| Nevertheless he paid attention only to
such girls as struck his fancy. or, rath-
er. all girls. for all girls pleased him.
! rich and poor alike. AS for the girls,
| they swarmed about him as flies about
! honey.
| Several years passed, during which
! Bob Flemmng sank deeper and deeper
! in debt Nevertheless at the sight of
| distress down would go his hand Into
! his pocket. and if there was anything
] -,
| get it. But suddenly his friends We're
| pleased TO see that there was every
| prospect Of a marriage between him
and Miss Josephine Gridley. a young
woman possessed of $40 600 Il wear in
her own right How a person of as
much principle, sense of justice and
rigid pety should accept a young man
whose only guides were his heart and
his fancy no one could explain. Nor
was it to be expected that such a male
butterfly should be pleased with a
steady going girl. Nevertheless the
two We're very much in love with each
other. and though Miss Gridley was
i'll doubt about the propriety of the
match she became the promised bride
of Bob Flemming.
During the engagement the young
mans inventive genius was constantly
required to explain away sundry little |
matters pertaining to his financial af-
fairs. Finally he made blunder that
broke off the match. He became in |
fatuated with typewriting. What he |
proposed to do with the requirement |
Of an ability to use Il typewriter no |
one knew, but he bought One-On the |
inStallment plan-and as soon as he |
could hammer out words with one fin |
ger he thought IL would be n fine thing |
TO write typewriter letter to his |
fiancee. While engaged in the work |
letter from his tailor was handed him |
in which the knight of the shears |
threatened him in case of his not at |
once RENTING an Indebtedness incur
red two years before TO sue the ac-
count and publish him as a dead
beat" Bob was called away from the
typewriter and when he returned. in
tending to place his letter TO Miss Grid
ley in an envelope for her, put in by /
mistake the letter from his tailor
The first he knew of his mistake was
receiving note from his fiancee an
nouncing that she had reconsidered the
matter Of his acceptance, and her re
ply was No" Bob went pOsthaste to
see her. She handed him the taiIor's
letter. He was staggered. but only for
a moment
That's the most rascally piece of
business l ever heard Of" he said.
But it is not the ingratitude of this
man, whom | have befriended, that
makes me sad. 1t Is that you should
have listened to as wicked q scheme to
iniure me"
what do you mean?" asked Miss
Gridley.
Mean! Why, it's as plain as the sun
in heaven. The man has sent this infa-
nous demand to you to stab me-"
He sent it? 1 thought you must
have sent it by mistake"
DO you suppose l would address a
note on a typewriter to the girl L .
ioyeT'
Are you telling the truth?"
do you doubt me? Very we'll Be .
fore we part forever l will show you .
how unjust YOU have been. If the ras- =
cal don't send you an apology at once |
I'll withdraw my patronage and expose :
the transaction to the many customers
have recommended TO give him
theirs"
MISS PIlui'S WAS ueepIE moFeu, >
though sufficiently practical to defer .
Judgment. The next morning a hum Z.
Die apology came from the tailor, who :
threw the blame on one of his clerks I.
who had grudge against Mr.. Elem :
ming and sought TO injure him by send
NJ his fiancee a dunning letter for an >,
account which had long ago been set >;
led The poor girl was much dis :;
rcssed 1T having lent ear to so base n
'alumny and begged the dear. perse- :;
,uted boys forgiveness. He promised ;,
o take the matter into consideration :,
mi after keeping her anxious for :.
week fOrgave her. =
Backed by a comfortable Income. =
ir. Flemming continued TO be promi- :.
lent In that circle of society which :.
outsiders ono Of irs oyyr, r,au,b.,y-s 10. / =