Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-14

position. lie mad gone so far with
Miss Spencer that he doubted II be
were not in honor bound TO 20 further.
At any rate. he shranis from what be
considered bactilg ont. When the
end of the three months be had given
Miss Spencer TO convert him came
round she had made the conversion.
but he had fallen IN love with another
girl.
Harrington decided TO make a clean
breast Of il TO the girl he loved. He
told her that he loved her. but before
meeting her had become eniangied
with another girl. Then ne copfided to
her his affair with Miss spencer. His
confidante manifested no surprise. In
deed, she seemed 70 be cognizant of
the whole affair But she astonished
Mr.. Harrington by telling him that she
could not accept a proposition from
him because such course would place
her in an unfortunate position. When
he asked her what that position was
she declined TO inform BIN on the
ground that she could not honorabiy
do so.
Mr.. Harrington was astonished.
That a woman should decline an offer
Of marriage ION the ground that II
would place her in false position and
decline to give that position through
motives of honor opened up TO him a
new thing in the world of morals. He
had not been insensible TO woman's
charms, which he had considered mar
red by their want of high sense of
honor. Here was a woman with
charms and scrupulously honorable.
He begged her to put him in the way
to get the desired Information from
another. but she said that such a
course would be only subterfuge and
no more honorable than telling him
herself.
Nevertheless the information came.
Miss Spencer was met one day by Miss
Hunter walking with Mr.. Harrington.
and. looking up at him in the fashion
Of a woman who means to be seduc-
tive, Miss Hunter at once invited the
members of the cabal to meet at her
house the next day at afternoon tea.
Miss Emerson. having declined to cut
the victim. was not notified. When
they were assembled the hostess an
nounced the perfldy of Miss Spencer.
Great was the Indignation of the
"signatory powers" Miss Wadsworth
declared that Mr.. Harrington should
be saved from the wiles Of such a girl.
and after much elaboration it was de-
cided to send him an anonymous note
stating that for the protection of the
sex certain girls had decided to cut
him. Miss Spencer having made the
decision bod haan
unanimous except for one girl. The
note having been mailed and tea hav-
ing been drunk, the girls separated.
When Harrington received the note
he took it at once to Miss Spencer,
telling her his opinion OF women who
could write such a note. Miss Spencer
showed unmistakable signs of guilt and
finally in tears confessed her part in
the matter.
"WiIl you inform me-" asked Har-
rington, who was the girl who de-
clined to enter upon this-conspiracy"
Irene Emerson" sobbed the culprit-
Irene Emerson
Eyes. Do you know herr
81 didn't when this boycott was de-
cided on. 1 had never seen her. Since
then it has been my good fortune to
have been the accidental cause of her
avoiding a serious accident, and IN that
way L made her acquaintance. ! have
been converted to the fact that a stand
ard of honor may be lived up to by
persons irrespective OF sex. but l re-
greet to have to tell you that my con-
version has not come through you, but
the girl who. though she had never
seen me, declined TO join the conspir-
acy that you instituted. 1 beg to bid
you good day."
Mr. Harrington called on Miss Elmer
son as soon as be could reach her after
leaving Miss Spencer.
THE secret you were too honorable
to betray." he said. has been revealed
to me. / have come to thank you for
the noble part you have played and for
re-esta blishing in me that reverence for
women which all true women deserve.T
There are men friends Of Harring-
ton - crusty old bachelors - who are
mean enough to insinuate that Miss
Emerson played a deep game.