Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-19
D4TLY STORY
A QUART EFT.

In the spring of 1S9- young couple,
Mr. and Mrs. Chaplin, appeared in
western city, and. having found lodg
ings, the husband sought employment.
He developed striking business talents,
and it was not long before he was en-
gagged in small manufacturing enter
prise of his own. The article he made
was patented, and the business became
very valuable. Mr.. Chaplin bought
house in the best part of the city, and
the couple entertained considerably.
But it was not long before it began
to be whispered that all was not we'll
with the Chapins. \ young man, Ar
thur Gilman, was devoting himself to
young Mrs. Chaplin. 1t appeared to be
one of those cases wherein husband
having perfect confidence in his wife
fails to see what every one else sees
either this or seeing he pretendS not
to see. Chaplin, at least so far as the
world knew, gave himself no concern
as to his wife's attendant, seeming to
be himself absorbed in friendship
with one of his own sex. He ana
Fletcher Ford were inseparable. Ihey
constantly drove out together, attended
amusements together and at social en-
tertainments would sit chatting togeth-
err instead of devOting themselves to
the women.
What fool" said Madam Grundy,
Ito be SO devoted to Il man friend as
TO let his wife drift into trouble"
The world did not see all that was
going on i'll the quartet. If Chaplin dld
not hear of the scandal of which he
was the one most interested, Fletcher
Ford did. He took it upon himself TO
admonish his friend that, though per-
sonally he considered Mrs. Chaplin per
fectly innocent, society was becoming
shocked.
The admonition was taken i'll good
part. Chaplin admitted that he had
noticed Gilman's attentions, but his
confidence in his wife'S purity was
absolute. The only change that came
from Ford's interference was that GlI-
man and Mrs. Chapin,were seen less TO-
gether in public. Butt Gilman was still
so much at the Chapins' home thal
Ford, who was q witness of the fact.
told his friend he was beginning to lose
respect for him. This seemed to trouble
Chaplin, but he did not seem to nave
the courage to breakup his wife's liai-
son. Finally Ford became so irritated
at the sneering remarks he heard that
he went to Chapin's house one evening
and told him that their friendship was
at an end.
~
and Ford was astonishedIto see Il tear
in his eye. 1t was the first evidence
he had seen that after all there must
be something in the affair that had not
been explained. But above all Gilman
was made aware of Chapin'S value OF
his good opinion. Ford affectionateiy
laid his hand on his friends arm and
besought him to give him his conf
dence. The young husband, though
much moved, would not reveal what
was troubling him. Ford pressed him
to confide i'll him, but Chaplin suddenly
sprang up and left the room, saying
that he would confer with his wife and
see ~shat could be done to mend the
matter. Ford was much affected at
seeing his friends emotion and seized
his hand as he left the room with a
view to comfort him. But'Chapin broke
away from him and lwent upstairs.
Ford was puzzled. He could see no
evidence of trouble onihis friends mind
pertaining to his wife, Chapin's sole
grief seeming to be at losing his
friends respect and the, parting that
was imminent between them. He re-
manned waiting in the library where
To- II;
then was about to depart, when he
heard Il rustling of skirts on the STAIR
case and Mrs. Chaplin entered, accom-
panied by lady whom Ford did not
at first recognize Yet there was some
thing about her that struck him with
establishment. She was so like his
friend Chapinsthat she must be his twin
sister. Her face alternated between
bushes land pallor. and she seemed Ill
at ease'in her feminine apparel.
Henry Chaplin exclaimed Ford.
what do you mean by getting your
self up in woman's ,dress?"
~ am not HenrytChapin; L am Mar
garet Eaton. This is Blanche Eaton,
my sister. When we were thrown On
our own Recommendation a life of lux
ury L Shrank fromssupportingi myself
and my. sister-for she'waSs toosdelicate
to shift for herself-clogged7 by fwom-
ans skirts, woman's disadvantages.
put on mans clothes, and we -came
here where heswere not known. We
were prospecting when my SISTER sfell
in love tw1th Arthur Gilman, land, sun
fortunately, The fell in love swiths her.
Nor is thatfall. Failing to tinduce us
to reveal our secret, he married her
and, has been living with
her for somettimesas her husband.
Arthur she called, and Gilman, an
look onihis face, came in from
one of the otheriroms.
When Ford left the house after a
long consultation with the ,otherS il