Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-21

on the road as a travelling salesman.
When the year drew to a close he
was drawing a good salary and saving
money, for what purpose he did not
admit to himself. He had had one
great and bitter disappointment dur
ing the year-he had never been able
to find any trace of the girl who had
so mysteriously appeared at his door
that New Years eve and who had
fairly stung him into renewed inter
est in life and had challenged the dor
mant talent for money making that
had been sti1ed by his dalliance with
an art for which he had no real
genius
Mrs. Jones had disavOwed any
knowledge of such a young lady as he
described. at couldn't be Mamie
Brooks from the room over yours"
said the landlady indifferently, 'for
Miss Brooks has got hair as red as
can be. and she amt small and grace
full. She's stout and tall"
With that Marcus had to be content
But it is needless to say he counted
the months as they flew By, hoping
for some word from the girl who had
actually saved his life from his own
destructive hand. She said she would
send for him at the end Of the year
and he was eager to meet her-to tell
her he had cast aside his cowardly
despair and had put his shoulder to
the wheel Of labor and was earning
success. He had dreams, too, but
these he hardly dared foster.
New Years eve found him once more
in New York and again domiciled in
his little room at Mrs. Jones boarding
house, although he really had his head
quarters in a more fashionable section
of the city. He sat on the edge OF the
little bed and tried to relive the scene
of that other night a year ago and
tried to bring up the same feeling Of
despair. but in vain. His heart sang
OF nothing save work well done and n
hope that something greater might be
his, for he had never ceased to think
Of the girl who had called him
coward.
There came a knock at his door, and
it flew open to reveal q messenger boy.
Miss DanfOrth has asked me To fetch
you 10 her" said the messenger. Ell
dredge grabbed his hat and went.
"Danforth" must be the name of his
mysterious friend
He was scarcely prepared to be
taken to a fashionable uptown street,
where a trim maid admitted him TO a
charmingly furnished room. \ slender
form arose from a deep chair and came
toward him. AS their eyes met in that
first eager glance there was much re-
vealed of what years waiting had
meant to both of them.
You have come for the revolver
she asked wistfully as she laid her
hand in his.
Marcus shrugged his shoulders and
laughed for pure happiness. Not on
your life. See what you've done for
me, Miss Danforth! 1 owe everything
70 your heavenly sympathy. You've
made a man out of me-"
Il must explain how I happened TO
be there. l was on my way up 70 see
Miss Brooks. girl 1 had seen at the
settlement house. and I opened your
door by mistake" she explained. Il
hope you have forgiven me"
I'D forgive anybody tonight cried
Marcus happily. "I thought last year
was n bully one; but, Miss Danforth.
I wonder If you'd so out with me to-
night and join the crOwd-Gnd help me
TO usher in what 1 feel is going to be
the happiest year of my lifeE"
As they stood together in the shadow
IF old Trinity and heard the chimes
usher in the dawning year n new light
came into Helen DanfOrth's eyes-the
dawn of something that would make
this New Year the happiest I'm her life
as well rs his