Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-16


who gave his name as George Mason,
assured her that her brothers interest
in the business would be sufficient to
make her father and herself quite COM
Portable. The story of Sam Bartlers
career was. as Mason had said. long
one. and after giving it TO her the
question came up as to what course
TO pursue in the matter of brea king the
news of Sans death to the father.
Ethel could not make up her mind
TO tell the old man that his son, in
stead OF having returned to him, was
dead. AT any rate, she felt that it
must be put of. But she invited Mr..
Mason to remain in the house-indeed,
her father would misunderstood her
not doing so-untI he returned to the
west The old man was informed that
Sam was in business in the west and
must return there. but possibly he
might take his father and sister with
him. George Mason before leaving his
business had taken in one of his clerks
as a partner. and there was no hurry
for his return. He remained with the
Bartlets as a prodjgal son. Ethel tax
ing care TO inform her friends and ac-
quaintances as to the true state Of the
case.
Several weeks passed. and Mason
made no move to return to business.
Ethel was beginning to fear that some
stupid person might let the cat out of
the bag to her father. Besides this,
playing brother and sister by two per
sons who were not related was not
yaIr e. without rrffirscu1 N
guard against any such issue George
Mason told Ethel that they had better
announce that they were engaged,
which was his way of proposing. Eth
ell didn't quite Ike that way Of doing
1t, but she acQuiesced.
Every day it became more risky to
disabuse the old man and confess the
deception. He was failing rapidly,
and 1t was feared that the shock of
knowing that his son had not return
ed to him, but was dead, would kill
him. Mason and Ethel. who were very
much in love with each other, wished
to be married, and it was necessary
that Mason should return to his bust
ness. 1t would not do to leave the old
man behind, and If they took him with
them, blind as he was. they could not
live together as man and wife without
his knowledge OF their relationship.
The puzzle seemed insoluble.
However, though Mr.. Bartlett would
not solve it by dying. he grew so
blind that the young couple decided to
be married and take him west with
them without letting him know the
secret. The ceremony was performed
privately, where he would know moth
ing about 1t, and the three departed
the same day for their new home.
Months passed, and although Mr..
Bartlet's ears and eyes got no better
his health was no worse. The difficult
ty of keeping the situation from him
was trifiing compared with the alb
surdity of his talking about the rela-
tionship that he supposed to exist be-
tween his two children
when Sam first came home" he
said to a friend, '1 feared Ethel would
not forgive him for all the trouble he
had given us, but now she acts toward
him just like q bride and he Ike
young husband. They kiss when he
goes down to business In the morning
and when he comes home in the even
ing 1 never saw such loving broth
er and sister"
While the old man was content to
live, as he supposed, with his children,
he often wished that one or the other
would marry that he might have lit
tie grandson to love him and cheer
him in his old age. But to gain this
he must give up a part Of what he al
ready enjoyed. An outsider must be
introduced into the house, and this he
knew would endanger the family peace
and comfort. The thought of bringing
in another woman appalled, him, for he
had a theory that no woman could
come into house without sooner or
later taking over its management But
he saw no difficulty in introducing an
other man. So he occasionally limited
to his daughter that she should marry.
81 have no wish TO marry. father"
she would say. II am perfectly con-
tented as / am. Why do you wish me
to marry?
well, you see, I'm lonely during the
long days when Sam is at business, and
I'd like to have a child for company"
Finally about year after the mar
EluSS Inc Olt SaNG Oul- ChC NdJ
he took to his bed, which he never
again left His supposed sons abb
sence all day at his business was a
great trial to the invalid. From the
time Mason went away in the morn
ing till his return in the evening the
patient would wait and watch for him. |
At last when the candle Of life was
Pickering low the dying man heard a
child's cry.
whats that?" he asked, starting up. |
Father" said Ethel. that's little |
Sam, named for you, the third Of the
line"
Fortunately there was no time for |
any more lies. The grandfather drop |
ped back dead.
June 10 in American