Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-04
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
1.-The Voice of Gold. BY Temple Bailey
lCopyrighted. 1905 by P. c. Eastmentl

Miss Caroline Drewitt had come back
TO her settlement work in the fall with
q determination TO inspire the sur
| rounding neighborhood with ideas that
should lift them above the level of the
commonplace.
Last year l tried it with pictures
and flower study" she told the Rev.
Donald McGregor, "and 1 can't say it
was a success. But this year am go
| ing to try music
The Rey. Donald peered at her with
! kindly eyes through his nose glasses.
He was n tall, spare sandy haired
man. a power in the pulpit, friend
of the people and firm believer in
Miss Caroline Drewitt.
Il am sure it would be a great in
| centive," he said 1T makes an ap-
| peal to the Italians and the Germans,
though differently But how will you
arrange it?''
GLORIA has promised to sing every
Wednesday night" Miss Caroline told
him, and Harold Cartwright on Fri
| Wagner and Harold will give the Ital-
ians Verdi, and now and then We win
mix the two and have a grand con-
| cert
McGregor NODDED.
1T is Il great idea" he said, "and you
can supplement it with children's
classes"
Yes" Miss Caroline planned, 81 shall
conduct those myself. l can't sing,
but l know the theory. 1 sometimes
wish | had more SNOWY talents to i'm
press my people with, but 1 must make
the best of my practical accomplish
ments."
II am sure we could not wish you
other than you are" was the Rev
Donald's tribute, and Miss Drewitt
blushed prettily and went away with
Il buoyancy of carriage that made her
seem almost youthful.
Hes such help" she told Gloria
that night. sin my work"
Gloria, brushing her masses of red
gold hair yawned n little.
Il don't see why you bother yourself
with lot of people who don't care to
be uplifted, Aunt Caro-" she said
with your money you might be seeing
Europe and making a break into so
ciety."
Society palled many years ago, my
dear" said Miss Caroline, land some
of my people love me, which is a great
> deal" .s.
Everybody loves YOU" Gloria said
! iIlNfl lSi 81 cd hnr
aunt and kissed her, and am even
beginning to believe that the Rev. Don
aid is smitten"-y
"GlOriar Miss Caroline's eyes blaZ
cd. Don't say such thing again TIC
speak of him that way, rs if he were
an ordinary main"
well, extraordinary men fall i'll love
sometimes" said Gloria wisely. They
are all alike whenit comes to love"
"Dr. McGrcgor, If he ever marries,'
said humble Miss Caroline Twill
choose a woman sofsfaIents and beauty
such a woman as you will be some
: day, Gloria"
| Gloria threw up her hands.
, Me she gasped. Why. l am go
r ing to sipg-and the man | love must
sing, and we are going to sail away oil
a sea of romance. | don't like darl
alleys and tenementS."
Then as she saw the look on hel
aunt's face she went on, But he Il
p good enough for anybody, Aunt Caro-
;, and like him immensely"
f and he likes YOU" said Miss Caro-
Q line.
Y 1t was this conversation, combined
] with Miss CarOlines insiStcut spirit O
g self sacrifice, that set the little lad'
f a-scheming. OF all women in thI
e world. she loved Gloria best. Unac
EnowledGed, but coloring her whole
/. life. was her love for the Rev. Donald
:. McGregor And what more fittin!
c than that she should bring these tw,
: together in a happy union? Glor';
4 would give the minister the brightness
e that belonged in his life, and he in turn
G | would wean Gloria from the selfish
ness of her point OF view and would
p uplift her with himself.
g And SO it happened that ever
/ Wednesday night the Rev. Donald No
Q Gregor found himself asked to NEE
D with Miss Caroline's social club, an
\ later he walked home with Miss Care
r line and Gloria.
IL was during these evenings tina
i Miss Caroline suffered the pangs q
martyrdom as her niece with wonder
full beauty and art held the little crow
Il of downtrodden humanity spellboun(
The Rev. Mr.. .McGrcgor seemed spell
, | bound with the rest, and now tina
!, Miss Caroline had brought about tina
:, which she craved she felt that tn
, sacrifice was too great. If the minis
- ter loved Gloria, he woCld soon ceas
- to be her friend. And how could sh
live without the support of that friend
ship?
The little woman grey pale an
quiet and, turning more and more t
y. the humble people about her, wa
u drawn into their lives so that she bt