Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-14

arterWaru that l was made OF too fine
material to thrive in such an atmos.
phere. l had no heart for either my
associates or my work. l had no fix.
ed home. l lacked proper food and
clothing. In winter especially 1 suf.
fered from the cold.
One day while / was selling papers
1 caught sight OF my father passing
in a street car. l ran after the car,
but had not the strength to catch IL.
After l had failed / remembered that
it would have been no use to catch
one who had Intentionally deserted
me.
Being now fourteen years old,
began to read the papers l sold.
lived in a newsboys' home. and when
I went there at night, instead OF as.
sociating with the other boys, read.
One night what was my astonishment
to see my own name in a personal IL
had been inserted by my father. II
should see the notice / was to address
a certain number at the newspaper
Office. A faint hope that my father
had not intended after all to desert
me elated me.
The next morning went 10 the Of
the advertisement, and a clerk put my
address in the box intended for re.
plies to the advertisement That even
ing my father came to see me. Ha
seemed very much pleased at finding
me. When asked him why he had
not come back to me after leaving
me he made no reply, but told ME I'd
come with him Calling a carriage, Id
took me to the residential portion OF
the city. stopping at handsome dwell
ing. It stood in a yard. and through
that yard I had gone back 10 the
stable where had slept the first night
after having been deserted. 1 told my
father this, and he replied:
At left you near this place on pur.
pose
We went Up the steps of the house
and my father rang the bell. We were
admitted and were ushered into n hand.
somely furnished room such as l had
never seen before. An old gentleman
came In and looked inquirinsly at my
father.
81 have found him." said the latter.
The old gentleman looked at me.
Eyes, this is he," said my father. 81
can prove his identity"
"You need not do that" said the old
gentleman. He is the image of his
mother"
AS he spoke he took me by the hand
and 1 fancied 1 detected n tremor in
his voice. Then, turning to my father
he said: Leave him here. Come and
see me tomorrow My father turned
and without a word to me left us.
Then the old gentleman put his arms
around me and drew me down beside
him on n sofa.
MY boy" he said, 81 must tell you
the meaning of this. That man is not
your father. He was formerly one OF
my servants. When your real mother
married your real father 1 was very
angry with her and would have moth.
ing to do with her. Your father soon
died and your mother was starving. ]
forced her, as a condition to taking heI
home, to give up you. her child, and
paid this Llan and his wife TO take you
and bring you up as their own. He be.
came excessive in his demands and
broke with him. lie brought you to
this house and left you before the door,
but said nothing to me or TO you as to
your SO itdI Jul lt'Al LOhAts -
few months ago L fell i'll and believed
1 was about to die. This made a great
change in me. / sent for you, but yor
were not to be found. 7 gave your re-
puted father money with which 70
prosecute a search for you, and you
are returned to ME through en- adver
tisement"
He pressed the electric button and
woman came in, 10 whom he gave In.
to furnish me with "A bath
and put me TO bed. / went with heI
upstairs and was put in Il beautiful
room and through an open door en-
tered n marble bath room. The next
man came in with clothing
from which was told to choose that
which fitted me. When I was dressed
/ looked at myself I'm a mirror and
was astonished at the change.
/ went downstairs and breakfnsted
with my grandfather. Later he led me
upstairs and into room where sat
middle aged lady.
Mildred" he said, "the good God
has granted me the boon OF returning
10 you your son"
The lady threw her arms around my
neck, but gave way to Mysteries so
hat she was unable to speak. My
grandfather watched her till she be.
anne quieted, then left US alone 10.
,ether.
II asked what was the happiest hour
II my life L would say at once the
me 1 first spent with my mother II
vas not one hour but many, for during
hat whole day she would not let mG
cave her even for a few minutes.
Ind from that moment a remarkable
hange came over my life From
treet gamin / became the petted heir
o large fortune. My grandfather
eemed to live only 70 make reparation
or his harshness both 10 my mother
nd to me. She has just died and
m laying plans 10 rescue each year
lumber Of boys from the wretched life