Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-20

Ored."
Il accept your kindly prefer most
thankfully" was her reply. II have
been invited to various homes here
and there in the county, but prefer TO
go to you"
Good" said Master Ficklin briskly.
THAT is settled then. l am empow-
cred by those who hold the mortgage
TO tell you that the pictures of your
father or mother or anything strictly
personal they waive their claim TO-"
THANK you" said Mistress Lucy. "I
( shall take hut small advantage Of their
! generosity"
4 know that" answered Master
, Ficklin, land now will return to the
town. If you will be ready about
/ O'Clock" ct was then about o II will
return and fetch you 10 our home"
| Il shall be ready. 'Goodby.'
/ The little lawyer bent over her hand
/ and left the room. 1 sat dumb and
/ silent during the whole interview, al
I though / had listened 10 everything
/ with the deepest interest AS usual, it
| was she who broke the silence when
we were alone again.
Master Hampton she began, "to
what sorry pass am reduced! What
/ shall do now?
MY lady" said l. 1.-THE sorriest part
! OF the pass TO which you have been
brought is that you have in me such
! a poor counselor, a rough sailor, but
/ one who would. nevertheless. give his
/ hearts blood to promote your welfare,
( or do you any service
| Now, as l said that I laid my hand
on the breast Of my coat, and as l
bent awkwardly enough toward her
! could not even bow as gracefully as
the little attorney just departed-I felt
the paper which l had taken from Sir
! Geoffrey's hand and which ! had en-
| tirely forgotten in the hurry and con
fusion Of the days that had followed
his death. I stood open mouthed
with surprise and shame at my care
less forgetfulness, and stared at her.
What is it?" she asked, instantly
noting my amaze.
Il am Il fool, madam, laundering
fool" said l, drawing forth the paper,
here is a letter addressed to you
which l should have delivered at
once" continued, extending it toward
her.
She tore open the envelope as she
spoke and drew forth a letter, IN
folded It and there dropped from il a
little piece OF parchment which l in
stantly picked up and extended to her
but she was so engrosSed in the letter
that she did not see my action aud
paid no attention to my outstretched
hand
I looked at the parchment I held N
my hand. 1t was evidently the half
OF a larger sheet which had been torn
In two. The right half was in nv
possession. A glance showed me thar
IL was a part of rudely drawn map.
apparently Of an island. although lacl.
ing the other half Of that I could not
be quite certain. 1t was lettered In
characters which were very old and
quaint, and some figures in the upper
left hand corner gave a latitude. The
outlines OF the map and the letters
and figures were all very dim and
faded.
My lady's letter was a short one, for
she looked up from it presently, her
eyes filed With tears. the first I had
seen there. and for that reason was
glad she should enjoy this relief
suppose the fact that she was so alone
and had no one else induced her to
condde in me. At any rate she extend.
ed the paper TO me.
Read it," she said. "'Tis nv "a
Tiers last word TO me"
I took it from her. and this is what I
read:
ny Dear Lucy-As an ancient king II
France once said. Everything is lost but
honor" and th.t .rembles in the balance
] have speculated, ganbied. tempted fer
tune, first because ] loved It and at last
hoping 20 win for you. But everything
has gone wrong You are penniless. Even
your mothers fortune. Of which she fool
ishly made me trustee, has followed my
own Master Ficxlin may save some
thing from the wreck. / hope SO. 1 can
do no more. ana perhEps-nsy. certainly
the best thing can do for you Is TO leave
you. May God help. you since I cannot
Your shamed and unhappy father.
! GEOFFREY WILBERFORCE.
: Post Scriptum.-The last thing that I
possess is this scrap Of parchment. It
has been handed down from father 10 son
for I'VE generations. The tradition Of it
IL lost. but there has always been at
tSched 70 Il = Singular value. Perhaps
some day the missing part may turn Up
At any rate, OF all that once had this is
what is left Should you marry and have
, children pass IL 20 them. foolish re-
quest. but am moved 10 make IL as my
! father made it 10 NE. G. W.
J read it slowly. II was not a brave
mans letter. l liked Sir Godfrey less
then than ever before. Soma of The