Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-30

we seek it or not. But the sweetest
days of all life will be those in which
we fight side by side the first battles OF
life in youth and poverty when we
shall count the pennies and save with
care for the little ones God may send
US"
But life is short. Jim. l can have
things now. He has already promised
them-a palace in town. another by
the sea. a great castle in the heart Of
the blue southern mountains we used
TO watch as children and armies Of
servants to do my bidding. l can live
now"
And you call these trappings and
tnsel life?'
II want them"
my God, Nan. haven't you a sculi
Hasn't the life within no meaning for
your To me such luxury Is sheer IN.
sanity. The possibilities Of personal
luxury have been exhausted thousands
of years ago. It's commonplace, vul
gar and contemplate. II you wish for
power why choose the lowest Of all its
formsr The way you are entering is
worn bare by the feet Of millions OF
forgotten fools whose bodies worms
have eaten. Not one Of them lives
today even in footnote Of history
And yet. Jim, you know az well as
do that money u the sign Of success
and power; It's absence, Of failure and
weakness. II you make a mistake In
your career you can correct it and be
gin again. Being q woman, cannot
for marriage Is my only career. A
mistake now would be to me fatal"
And you are making the one tragic
mistake no repentance can undo. The
deliberate choice of evil, knowing It Il
be evil. Your heart Is mine-mine,
tell you! Do you deny itY'
| Again he seized her hand, gripped 4
/ nercely and looked into her eyes witt
tender, searching gaze.
| Nan looked away.
"Oh, Nan, dear, believe me" b.
! pleaded. You can't deny this voic,
within the soul and live. Happiness i
inside, not outside, dear"
The lover paused a moment, over
come with his emotion, and he knew
by the quick rising and falling Of tn
girls breast that battle was raging.
Quick to see his advantage, he drew
her gently inside.
See, Nan, there are no cheap imita
lions in here, no vulgar ornament
which mean nothing. This home wi
be a real one because II will have
soul. There can be no coarse or menis
shall be glorihed by the old immorts
song Of love and life"
Stuart leaned close and spoke in
low tense voice:
And 1t will always be beautiful
Nan, because 1t will be penetrated wit
the touch of your hand. Every piec
of furniture will glow with that rad
ance. Gold and precious stones ca
have no such luster. See. here l hav
planned to place your piano. Their
will be no music on earth like th
songs those throbbing strings sha
make to my soul when they culver b.
meath the touch of your hand"
around the girls yielding form. h'
head dropped on his shoulder. the gre,
dark eyes blinded with tears. For
moment he held her in silence, broke
only by deep sob. His hand touche
her hair with the tenderest gesture 1
he whispered:
We can only know a few re
great love comes to any human sol
and life is all too short to lose a sing
day"
"Hush-hush, JIM" the girl cried
anguish. Don't say any more, please
Tell me that it's all right, dear"
urged. You know you cannot lea
me now. You know that you love n
and that your love is a deathlei
thing"
Yes, yes; 1 know" she gaspe
But I'm going to marry him. l car
help 1t. The spell of his millions is {
me. and / can't shake it off"
With a determined effort she DIRE
herself from his embrace and in har
= cold tones continued:
NO, Jim; you must race the trut
/ am going to marry this man, al
the most horrible thing / can 81
about myself is that, deeply as l 10
you. l know / shall be content wi
the splendid career that will be mir
1 shall never regret my marriage"
The lover looked at her in a daz
way. as II unable to grasp the mea
ing OF her words.
. But you can't do this vile thir
: Since the world began 1 know til