Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-28

Dan Hewnng, graduate or Harvard,
famous athlete and popular society
man, startled his aristocratic intimates
by refusing to follow the smoothly
beaten trail prepared by his progeni-
tor and by starting in literally at the
bottom of the mill.
The mill, plant manufacturing cot
ton thread, was situated in a little far
away New England town that no one
had ever heard Of until Dan discov.
cred it.
While his friends and family stood
around amazed or weeping Dan laugh
ingly gave his dress suit a farewell
pat and instructed his man to fold his
brand new overalls carefully. He
wouldn't have them creased for any
thing. Fancy making ones first ap-
pearance In mussed up overalls! 1t
would blight his whole career.
But the following Monday morning,
when he CROPPED his way down to the
factory In the sunless dawn, the situa-
ton seemed less comic than he had
pictured it. Dan was no gutter, how
ever. He proved that as the long.
arduous days went by.
The mystery to his friends was on
seeing him over an occasional week
end that he appeared not only plucisy
and determined to make a success Of
his work, but actually happy.
No amount of comradely interest In
his fellow laborers. no mere appre-
citation Of simple country life, they ar
gued, could account for that
And they were quite right.
The direct cause of Dams enthusi-
asm over his work was Mary Brown.
She worked In the room where he was
they had worked as second hands side
by side and exchanged the scant cour-
tesies Of each working day as it
passed. Gradually Dan fell into the
habit Of walking home with Mary at
night, their boarding places being
near together.
Their conversation at first centered
daily work About herself Dan could
not make Mary talk. She seemed shy
and embarrassed, but she was evil
IDENTIFY genuinely pleased with his rapid
promotion.
In the wholesome presence OF this
pretty, bright. unsophistocated girl
| Dan came to feel himself better under
stood, more stimulated and more con-
tented than with any one he had ever
known. In fact. he woke suddenly to
| the fact that he loved her.
| With this realization came the seri-
Gus contemplation Of his future. What
would his family say If he should tell
them that he contemplated marrying O
second hand in the mill?
Why was he not free to act indie.
pendent of all the rest Of the world
Here. was he, young and strong and
bound to make his way. And here was
Mary, young and strong, too. and
beautiful and the one human being to
ward whom his soul yearned. Why
should any one else matter?
MARY" he began earnestly as they
were tramping along country roat
one mild winter Sunday-every ont
called her Mary-"are you happy herr
In this little town.
She glanced up at him quickly, he
cheeks all glowing from the brisk pac,
they had been going.
"Of course I amv' she laughed
"What silly question:
How can you be?' he urged so We
hemently that 1t startled her.
"Why," she answered slowly, ev
IDENTIFY thinking out her reply as sh
spoke. "I'm interested in my worl
That's the main reason, suppose"
"What are the othersT Dan d
manded.
"And like the people work with
she added frankly. =
"All the people," he probed. q
some one In particularly"
II did not mention any Names" 81
evaded. laughing lightly. :