Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-07

grown TO love you as my own father.
You must listen TO me now. | can give
no time TO your suit. I am just enter
ing on a great struggle for the people.
Tremendous issues are at stake
You'll go down g wreck if you fail"
Perhaps. but it's my duty"
Good boyr' the older man cried
seizing Stparts hand. You can't fail
That's why I'm going to risk all in
my fight"
But the cases are not the same"
mo. I'm old and played out-my
rfe's sands are nearly run. haven't
much to risk-but such as l have
offer ii freely to God and my coun-
try. ] envy you the opportunity 10
make a greater sacrifce-and you ad-
| wise me to compromise for paltry
sum Of money a righteous cause mere
| ~ to save my own skin. I'm proud OF
you-proud that you live in my house.
proud that I've known and loved you,
and tried to teach you the Joy and the
foolishness Of throwing your life
/ awayV'
With a wave OF his hand the stall
wart figure OF the old man passed out
and left him brooding in sorrowful
silence.
he seized his pen at last. set his face
ike flint and resolutely wrote his an
swer:
Dear Nan-Your letter f. very kind I'll
be honest and tell you that IL has stirred
| memories I've tried TO kill and can't
hate TO say no. but must Sincerely.
JIM
On the night following Stuart work
ed late in his Office developing his
great case. He was disappointed in
the final showing Of the evidence to
be presented TO the grand jury. His
facts were not as strong as he ex-
pected to make them.
At 10 O'Clock he quit work and hur-
ried home to refresh his tired spirit
with Harriets music. AS he hurried
up the steps he nearly collided with
a handsome young fellow just emery
ing from the door. He was dressed
well. and he had evidently been calling
on some one-perhaps on Harriet!
Stuart let himself In softly and start
ed at the sight of Harriet's smiling
face in the parlor doorway. His worst
fears were confirmed. She was dress
ed in a dainty evening gown and had
evidently enjoyed her visitor.
Stuart pretended not to notice the
fact and asked her to play. AS he sat
dreaming and watching the rhythmic
movement of her delicate hands ne
began TO realize at last that his little
pal. stub nosed. red haired and free
kled. had silently aud mysteriously
grown into charming woman. She
was twenty-four now. in the pride and
glory OF perfect young womanhood.
and yet she had no lovers. He Won
dered why. Her music, OF course. II
had been the one absorbing passion of
life And her eyes had always spar
killed. with deep Joy at his slightest
word OF praise. For the first time it
had occurred TO him as an immediate
possibility that she might marry and
their lives drift apart.
A sweet comradeship had grown be-
tween them. He resented the idea of
break in their relations. Yet why
should he? What rights had he over
her life? Absolutely none. of course
Who was that fellow? Where had he
met him beforef
He rose with a sudden frown Sure
as fate--thp VERY bOy-the tail. dreamy
looking youngSter who danced with
her so many times that night ten years
ago at her birthday party. She said
he was too frail-that her prince must
be strong Well. cOnfound him. he
had got strong
Stuart said. with studied indifrer-
.ence:
Tell me. little pal who was that
tall young fellow | ran into on the
steps,"
why. don't You remember my fraiI
young admirer of long agoT'
do you love him. girlieT'
when was very. very young.
now. It's wonderful how much we
can Outgrow. isn't itT'
Il just don't like him. and | don't
want you to like him. You see. little
pal. I'm your guardian"
Are your
Yes. And I'm giving you due legaI
notice that you have no right to marry
without my consent-you promise &c
make me your confidantT"
soft laugh. full OF tenderness and
Joy. came from the girl as she turned
her eyes upward for the first time:
"All right. guardie. I'll confer with
you on that OCCASION"