Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-28

| think how those grave. KIND eyes OF
| his would look at him now.
take good care of mamma" he bad
| said AT the last. "You must be her big
brother and never let her worry about
you. she's so little and delicate" And
| then he had whispered over two or
three times. MY pretty little wife. my
dear little girl
| And De Peyster had tried with all
his might TO remember. But often II
| did seem as If IT would have been q
| little easier If she could have under
stood that one was disgraced II one
! did not keep neck and neck with 1.-THE
other fellows" In every prank they
played.
There was a long and weary period
of dooryard discipline after this cpl
sode. There were good many times
when De Peyster had to clinch his
fists as tight as be could and remem-
Der bis father very hard.
| By and by June came. quivering
with gold green sunlight. perfumed
| with a universal poisoning and pun
gent with the Joy OF living. At this
time every true/joy thrills with the
half realized rapture OF II all and finds
the fullest expression of his ecstasy
In going swimming.
Every bright morning in some part
| OF the town there was sure to be q
group Of boys toeing a line. their necks
bobbing eagerly forward and their
bodies giving anticipatory jerks and
witches as they waited for the word.
| When the leader said Cor they dart
ed forth. and there was a KALEIDOSCOPE
| ic and dissolving view Of legs racing
! madly down Al side street that led to
| the river. Then collars came of. coats
followed, as they ran with uDdimin-
1 ished speed. the fellow who was far
| thest ahead sometimes slowing up
| with magnificent daring to get OF his
shoes and stockings while the others
were still hampered by shirts and
! trousers, and by the time they tumbled
| in headlong competition over TIVE bank
| the nimbleSt carried their entire ward
robe on their arms and flashed white
| " into the water while the laggers
| fumbled at their shoe lacings. The
unfortunate who popped into the river.
| flushed and painting, after all the rest
were In was greeted with haunting
| cries Of: "Lubber last. Lubber last"
De Peyster had never been told not
to go in swimming. 1t had not oc-
CURED to his mother as among the
list OF his possible periIs. as she was
! In blissful ignorance Of the fact that
''the other fellows" did it.
So it was with the thrilling exult-
ance of the Greek runner that he set
his toe Cd the line with the rest and
hurled himself forward, head up and
| elbows in.
The first few rods it felt Ike flying
His feet scarcely seemed to touch the
ground Then a pair Of legs flashed
by him. and another and another. he
gathered bis strength and shot for
| ward again, but another pair OF legs
went by. and another and another.
They were tearing or their coats;
they were stripping or their shirts.
He felt at his collar, wrenched 1t on
| and flung It away. to have both hands
free for his coat and shirt. They were
| almost at the bank now. He could see
| Micky Days white skin dazzle in>the
| sun as he took splendid dive ahead
| Of the rest. His own feet were grow
| ing heavy, and there was q mist be-
| fore his eyes. The knot in his shoe
lacing would not come united. A saw
age rage filed him. II he could have
| cut Off his foot to rid himself Of the
| hampering shoe. be would scarcely
have hesitated. You were ruled out If
YOU went into the water with anyt' ing
left on. AS be struggled and per
| spired and agonized the two or -hree
whom he had distanced leape- past
him, and as he shook the shoe of at
| last and made a dive he heard the
air ringing with 'Lubber last! Lub-
Der Iastw and slowly realized that II
was meant for him.
He tried manfully two or three other
days, but It was always the same way.
His muscles were flabby from the
dooryard discipline. and he could not
pick up in a few weeks what the 9TH
ers had acquired through joyous years
OF summer vagabondage.
He took it quietly and good natured
". but II went deep.
His mother found out the custom
shortly and forbade him to go neal
the water.
AS for De Peyster himself. the numb
ness of despair settled upon him
Now he could never learn TO redeem
himself. to have some day perhaps ths
inefabie joy Of beir- the first in
ahead OF Jimmy Spratt. ahead o.
Micky Daily, ahead Of everybody. His
career was ended before it had begun
"But got to not let her worry
was the ruefui conclusion he always
reached. and then be breathed hard
and winked fast.
Jimmy was his constant friend and
brought him aileviating messages from
time to time. such as that ''the other
fellers all say he has lots of sand and
kin do as well as the next Teller II
he has half a chance"
When even these encouraging re-
marks ceased to comfort. be gave him
his own horned toad as a last desper-
ate resort. The effect was wonderful
ly efficacious. but transitory.
"rd eughter been a girl" said De
Peyster many times to himself. but
wish she didn't want to make believe
I am one when amt"