Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1908-10-17
AGlrI'S Success


They were brother and sister, the
children Of an inventor, whose life story
had been the old one Of an inventors
woes, the lack Of appreciation, the fall.
urs Of practical acknowledgment Of his
powers. and the struggle with poverty,
which was ended by his early death.
The wife. brave little woman, who
had eaten uncomplaininsly the unbut.
tered bread that her husbands efforts
had provided, now Get forth. 40 many
another earnest mother has done, and
earned. not only bread enough to salts
II their hunger. but butter with which
to make It palatabie.
BY the time that Ida-short for
Idaho-was old enough to study United
States History In the public school.
Mrs.. Allan could look with satisfac.
ton around their pleasant home. and
rejoice In the fact that she had much
to live for.
But about this time she had vague
misgivings. for both Clarence and
idaho had evidently inherited their
fathers inventive genius, and all at
once It seemed to develop.
Clarence. who was approaching the
final year OF his high school course,
could scarcely give sufficient time and
attention to his studies to pass his ex-
aminatiOns creditably, while Ida. who
had not yet entered the academic de.
partment, found the passion contagious.
Clarence laughed In his boyish fashion
at his quaint, quiet little sister, and
more than once hurt her feelings by his
frankness.
"Girls are beginning to think they
can do anything that boys can. They
are a type Of the new woman" he
would say. discovery and invention
are only for masculine intellects. Isn't
that 40, Jimi" turning to his friend.
"Well, I don't know" answered Jim,
who privately admired Idaho Allan i'm.
mensely.
Whether her presence biased Jim's
Judgment on this topic, or whether he
was, from principle, champion of WON.
ans rights, do not dare to say, but he
proceeded to expatiate upon wOman's
powers and the recognition that the
world was beginning to give them.
"Do you mean to say" said Clarence
scornfully, "that you really think a girl.
say Ida. for instance. is capable Of In.
venting anything equal to thisT'
And he held up for inspection his
work for the time being. a wonderful
construction Of perforated tin. which
was to be fastened on the stovepipe to
save fuel.
Ida answered before Jim could nnd
words, thereby saving him much en-
barrassment.
~ doubt whether I am capable Of
anything equal to that. but II you would
lessen the angle Of the uppef wing. you
would find that you had improved your
device"
Clarence saw that the girls sugges.
ton was a good one, and he lapsed into
silence, while Jim laughed.
For long time afterwards, this mat
ter weighed on Idaho Allan's mind. She
had only slight faith In Clarence's In
gen,Lty, and that she was Just as capa-
bic Of inventing something practical
as he was, became her Arm conviction,
which she longed to prove.
Her mind dwelt upon the subject, and
she found that she could not attend to
her work, as she had heretofore done.
Every day she lost grades In her
studies, and the teachers expressed
their wonder.
Her appetite failed and the nights
brought only restless snatches Of fever.
ish sleep. Her mother became anxious
and spoke several times of consulting a
physician.
This state Of things could not last
very long, however. and one Friday
morning Idaho Allan's seat In the
school room was vacant. a most unusual
occurrence, and Idaho Allan herself
was locked up In her own room with
the key on the inside. When II was
discovered that the girl had no inten.
| zion OF coming down to breakfast her
mot"cr's voice was heard. with quiet
sutl,orii,. demanding the reason.