Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-07

TO give up I1eSe IhiiiiotiS-
Nan gazed at him in astonishment |
and broke into a low laugh
of course. you're teasing me. You |
can't be in earnest in such an absurd |
dime novel idea! Give away this |
enormous fortune
The woman placed her hand tenderly |
in his and nestled close to his side.
Come. Jim. dear. this is a practical
world: you have some common sense
even If you are a man of genius: you're
not insane"
i think not" he answered. soberly.
you cannot make this absurd de-
mand on me-" she repeated slowly,
knowing the awful price | paid for
these millionsE
It's because l know II that l make
the demand" he went on. paSsionately.
I'VE are face to face now. you and l,
with all the little subterfuges and lies
of life torn from our eyes. The fact
that the price at which he bought you
/ was hiCh-say a hundred millions
/ does not change the fact. | refuse to
/ share with the woman love the price
| for which she sold herself. whether the
! sum be a hundred dollars or hundred
millions, | can forgive and have for
given the wrong you've done me. but
could never share its conscious
. degradation.
Nan looked at him in despair. her
eyes suddenly clouding with tears.
What do you mean when you say
give up these millions?''
-haN H. r.a1
quickly.
But / couldn't throw them into the
street. What would l do with them?'
You can give them back to the pec-
pie. the public. from whom they were
taken-the people whose labor created
their value. That's what an honest man
does when he finds he has wronged his
neighbor. There's not a stone in your
palaces whose cement was not mixed
IN human tears. The stain of blood is
in every scarlet thread of your carpets,
rugs and curtains
But you are talking like mad an
srchist. His money was made Is all
great fortunes are made"
so much the worse for our fnan
ciers. Civilization must rest at least on
justice or II can't endure
But. Jim. no matter what your the
: cries Of life or your ambitions, these
! millions will make them more power
full"
Its not true. Not single great mar
whose words have nodded the worlC
r was rich The glitter Of your millions
once blinded me and ! was on the poin'
b. Of surrender. but I've won out TIT
r people in your little world live TO
money. They do not possess it. the!
!. are possessed by it. They are slaves
You will have to come with me int
). the great free world-if you love me-"
IF love YOU Nan cried Will
trembling lips Don't speak that way
II you only knew, My love for yo,
= has kept me alive through all that Nv
, endured It's the only thing that
worth the struggle: but ! can't think
u Your demand is So sudden. so stun
ming 50 terrifying. | don't know wha
70 say
We can never he anything to eac
o other" he answered firmly. ION an!
other terms than the remuneration o
all that Bivens leaves. don't car
+ what you do with ii. just so you wasl
z your hands of il. You and ! must be
u gin life just where we left off wheI
i the shadow OF his money darkenet
the world for us both You must Civ
y it up"
IT'S hard. dearest she said with
Il sob. for your sake it's hard. Nv
)" dreamed so many wonderful thing
I n
Is you the master of these millions"
1t You must choose between hi
IS money and my love; you can't hav
. both"
She gazed at him with a desperat
yearning.
IN do anything you wish. only low
me. dearest" she sObbed. "All l as
is TO be observation-disclosures this
you never leave me-
But even as she spoke. her mind wa
made up She would reserve at leas
half her fortune secretly. When the
were married she could persuade hill
to be reasonable.
An right. then, it's settled, but
must be everything with me or notl
ing. | won't shake hands with N
friend and make love TO his wife. 70
must cease to be his wife now"
But how-what do you mean" ST
asked. white with sudden fear.
Leave your husband, your palace
your millions and join me tomorro
night on the limited for New Yor
Bring only a change of clothes in
single trunk and a hand bag. N
money must be sufficient. I'll wire f
| passage en- an outgoing steamer. We
H spend two years in Europe and retul
II to America when We please. Are "
Il ready?"
III "Oh. Jim, dear" she faltered, ''yC
know that would be Madness
III Certainly it's madness. the NADINE
HI Of great love. Come. why do "
II hesitate?"
The lines of her body relaxed al
III she began to sob softly. The N;
IN waited In silence for her to speak.
N 1--WE done you harm enough. dea
est" she said at last. Il can't I
IN this"
y And your thought is only Of n