Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-02


faster and this was the browning
trouble. Father had failed in business,
and the shock had killed him. Mother.
accustomed to every luxury and now
reduced to penury, followed him in a
few months. Neither father nor mother
had any near relatives. and it fell to
some old friends to determine for Bert
and me what we should do.
Bert was twelve and l eight. Had
we been but few years older we
might have taken some action for our
selves. AS it was, it was decided that
we must be separated. A friend of
fathers offered to take Bert and give
him an education. A lady was found
who would do the same for me. We
chung to each other, declaring that we
would stay together, Bert saying that
he would take position as telegraph
messenger-the only occupation for
boys he had noticed-but despite our
pleadings We were sent in different
directions. This, of course, promised
better for us than trying to make our
way in the world for ourselves at that
tender age, but it seemed dreadfully
hard to US.
1t did turn out better, though in my
case the good results were delayed for
long while. The lady who tbok me
| had no children and intended to adopt
me. But persons who have not and
never have had children of their own
cannot begin with a child of ten
without great trouble. 1t is like taking
up any other occupation about which
we have learned nothing. Besides, my
| foster mother was a very nervous
woman, and whatever l did worried
her. had been with her but short
while when she decided that her health
required that she should be relieved of
my care, and 1 was given up to another
person who was paid to take me.
! When l was fourteen my foster
mother died, and. since she had made
no provision for me, l was told that
l must earn money. This l began do
ing by being baby's nurse, and from
that l drifted into other mental duties
till / became a housemaid in the fam
lily of a wealthy gentleman whose
only child was a daughter about my
own age. This young lady upon learn
ing the story of my life was very sym
pathetic and kind. She would not ad
NIT that | would always remain 8
servant and helped me to prepare my
self for something better. She made
me her own maid, though she was no
of the kind to need a maid, preferrinl
to do everything for herself, giving me
the position that / might have more
time to improve myself. She was F.;
strong character. well educated ant
possessing intellectual tastes. She be
came my teacher, and under her tut
ton. beginning where / had left off n
my fathers death. l gained wha
might be considered a fair education
Indeed | proved an apt scholar. ant
absorbed in a short while what somt
girls would be years in learning. Mis-
Gwendolen Hawley. my mistress, m,
teacher and my friend. was delighte,
with the success of her efforts in ny
behalf, assuring me when | expressed
my gratitude that she was indebted t,
me, since l had given her somethin.
to interest her.
When Bert and were separated W,
were too young to keep track of eacl
q other. / pinned for him for awhile, blu
the memory of children requires tim
to develop. and within two or thre
years l had forgotten much about him
This was to be expected of him con
corning his remembrance of me. Chill
dren of the same family not brough
up together have little or nothing il
common. Still | had brother ant
longed for him. One fearful lette
written a few days after Bert and
parted was the only message | receiv
ed from him while we were children.
Miss Hawley had a fine social posi-
ton, but only mingled in society to
moderate extent. She was prominen
in organizations whose object was Il
ameliorate the condition of the poor
OF course. she had number of friend!
and acquaintance. but as she did no
entertain largely | had little or NJ
knowledge of them. She was so inter
ested in intellectual and charitable pur
suits that l fancied she would not bC
likely to marry: for she was twenty
two. and passing out from an age wheI
the feelings are easily enlisted. Blu
one evening when she had two young
men and a girl friend in TO play bridge
with her | noticed a treatment Of on'
of the men by her different from wba
she had shown any other. ! served
some refreshments. and during the few
minutes that | was in the room was
convinced of this. and noticed that The
other man of the party favored ms
with a look OF admiration he shoulC
not have bestowed upon a servant
After the party had gone Miss HawleJ
told me that this young man had no
hesitated to comment upon my appear
ance rapturously
After that the young man whom
noticed my mistress treated with mark
ed attention was a frequent caller a
the house. The butler received visitors
st the door and delivered the cards 81
that | did not learn his name: but ont
lay he called when the butler wa.
busy ard ! answered the doorhell HI
dropped bis card on the saver I pre-
scented 10 him and | took it upstairs L
my mistress. On the way ! glanced a
il, and as soon as my eyes rested upor
;% he ha-