Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-26

els he still with Neergard & Co"
Eyes, Eileen"
"And you don't like Mr.. Neergard"
+ "N-no"
Then Gerald must not remain"
He said very quietly: EILEEN. Gerald
no longer takes me into his confidence.
l am Afraid know, In fact-that l
have little influence with him now. l
am sorry 1t hurts, but your brother Is
his own master, and he Is at liberty to
choose his own friends and his own
business policy. 1 cannot influence
him. have learned that thoroughly.
Better that retain what real friend-
ship he has left for me than destroy II
by any attempt. however gentle, to In
terfere in his affairs"
= She stood before him, straight, slen-
der, her face grave and troubled.
81 cannot understand" she said, chow
he could refuse to listen to a man like
you"
"a man like me, Eileen? Well. IL
were worth listening to no doubt he'd
listen. But the fact remains that I
have not been able to hold his inter-
est
Don't give him up" she said, still
looking straight into his eyes. "If you
care for me, don't give him up
Care for you, Eileen! You know I
do
Eyes, I know it. So you will not
give up Gerald. will you? He isis
only a boy. You know that You
know he has been-perhaps-ind
But Gerald Is only boy. Stand by
him, Captain Selwyn. because Austin
does not know how to manage him
really he doesn't. There has been an
other unpleasant scene between them.
Gerald told me-"
did he tell you why, Eileen"
Eyes. He told me that he had play
ed cards for money and he was In
debt. I know that sounds almost dis
graceful. but is not his need of help
all the greaterT'
Selwyn's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Ibid you help him out this timer"
T-I-how do you mean, Captain
Selwyn?" But the splendid color in
her face confirmed his certainty that
help her brother pay the gambling
debt, and he turned away his eyes,
angry and silent.
YES" she said under her breath, az
did aid him. What of It? Could 1 re-
fuse?"
81 know Don't aid him again-that
way"
cfo
"Send him to me. child. I under
stand such matters. THAT is And
In sudden evaporation inexplicable
| for the moment to them both: Don't
| touch such matters again! They soil.
/ I tell you. I will not have Gerald go
/ to you about such things!"
"My own brother! What do you
mean?"
II mean that, brother or not. he
your
"Am 1 to count for nothing. then,
when Gerald is in troubleW she de
manded, flushing up.
Count Count" he repeated impa.
| tiently. "Of course. you count! Good
heavens! It's women like you who
count, and no others-not one single
other sort is of the slightest conse
quence in the world or to it"
She had turned a little pale under
his vehemence, watching him out OF
wide and beautiful eyes.
What she understood, how much OF
his incohercnce she was able to trans
late, is question, but in his eyes and
voice there was something simpler tt
divine, and she stood very still while
his reused emotions swept her till hel
heart leaped up and every vein In hel
ran fiery pride.
II am-overwhelmed. I did not con
slider that / counted-so vitally-in the
scheme of things. But must try tt
if you believe all this of me, only yor
must teach me how to count for some
thing in the world. Will your"
Teach you, Eileen. What winning
mockery! l teach you? Well, then,
teach you this-that mans blunder 4
best healed by mans sympathy.
will stand by Gerald as long as HI
will let me do so, not alone for you
sake nor only for his, but for my own
I promise you that. Are you con
tentedT
: Yes"
She slowly raised one hand, laying 1
fearlessly in both Of his.
''He is all l have left" she said
"You know that"
II know, child"
~Then, thank you, Captain Selwyn.'
mo; thank you for giving me thi
charge. 1t means that a man mus
raise his own standard of living befor,
he can accept such responsibility. Yo,
epdow me with all that man ought I,
be, and nay task Is doubled, for 1t i
not only Gerald, but / myself. who re
quire surveillance"
He looked up, smilingly serious
"Such women as you alone can fit you
brother and me for an endless guart
, duty over the white standard you hav,
planted on the outer walls of tn,
world"
'eYou say things to me sometimes
she faltered, that almost hurt witt
the pleasure they give"
Ibid that give you pleasureT
\ 6Y-ypS. tho stIruriso Of II was qiyuos