Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-10
Sir John Throckmorton lay dying.


position. All his fathers efforts to /
keep him at home that he might live !
tbe regular Throckmorton life, taking /
care of the property, attending 10 the |
wants of his tenants. for excitement /!
occasionally indulgipg in fox hunt. |
were futile. Young Jack at eighteen |
went TO America without his fathers /
permission and remained there without /
his fathers assistance. He enlisted in
the United States cavalry. served three
years as a private, then on being dis
charged turned cowboy. All his father
knew about him was that he was liv-
ing what the old man considered dis
reputable life in the most barbarous
part of the United States.
Sir John feebly called his nurse and
said TO her. Tell Gladys that wish
to speak with her,"
The nurse disappeared, and presently
a girl between nineteen and twenty
came into the room and. approaching
the bed where the old man lay, placed
her hand on his forehead. looking down
on him tenderly.
What is It, Sir John" she said.
"Draw up chair and sit down.
have something to say to you"
She did as he required, and he con-
! tinued:
81 am preparing for my end II you
were a man instead of a woman l
might leave things in better condition.
But even in that case the landed prop
erty is entailed and at my death will
1 hal INT will hn
! cumbrance to him without my other
! property. which I desire shall go to
| you, who have been my only comfort
since you came TO me after Jack left.
II have thought the matter out, so
far as it can be thought out, and have
| formed a plan. 1t may seem a wild
! one. but it is the best can do. l shall
make a will, leaving the income on
my securities to you so long as you
live. and at your death the property
to be divided among the tenants of the
estate. But in case you and Jack
marry, the personal property shall be
equally divided between you and him."
"Jack and | marryr' exclaimed the
girl. catching her breath.
Listen TO me. | know what the in
fuence of a good woman can accom-
plish. After l ana gone go to America
and find Jack. / leave the rest to you.
You will know how to proceed. If you
find that you and he can be happy to-
gether and marriage between you
results you will have repaid whatever
have done for you. In any event,
you are provided for"
The girl sank down on her knees
beside the invalid.
Now co. he said presently. land
send a messenger to Mr.. Goudy to
come prepared to draw a will"
Jack Throckmorton was sitting on a
blanket with a number of other cow
boys, their horses nibbling the grass
near by, playing the American game Of
poker, when a man rode up and said to
him: There's a young lady wants to
see you at the ranch house. She says
she's from England and. has mes
sage for you"
Jack looked up Mt the man anxious
ly. He knew that his father was in
bad health, and a message from Eng
land was to be dreaded. He threw
down his cards. mounted his horse
and rode TO, the house. A young girl
sat on the veranda, and as he mounted
the steps he raised his sombrero to
her politely.
John Throckmorton? she asked,
rising.
II am"
81 am sorry to be obliged to announce
to you the death of your father"
The young man stood wrapped in his
own thoughts, his own emotions and
with bowed head He was regretting
that nature should have unfettered him
to walk in the path that would have
pleased the man who was now no
more Death often brings such regrets
TO those who are left behind. When
be raised his head he saw two sympa-
thetic eyes looking into his.
81 presume you wish TO know who l
am and how | came to bring you this
message / will not tresnass upon your
grief now by telling you all 1t is for
the present enough to say that ! am
Gladys Knowles After you left Eng
land my mother died, and your father
} took me in to manage his household
and be something of companion for
him. Before his death promised him
that | would come to America. find
you and endeavor TO induce you to re-
, turn to England and assume the care
Of your estate. Without some one to
attend to it others will soon possess it.
and the tenants who have long lived
under your fathers benehcent admin
istration will suffer"
"If you had come before fathers
DEATH" he replied. Il would have gone
back at once and remained there be-
cause it was his wish will go back
now. get things in order and return
, could never be content to live the hum
. drum life of an English country gen.
tleman."
There is no hurry for your return.
Your father left the estate 10 good
hands. and you will End everything In
order"
And you:"
Now that am here hope 10 SEQ
something of this life that so fasei
mates you"