Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-03

of himself whatever. but he was well
taken care of. He lived with the
family OF a clergyman who took espe-
cial pains to bring him up properly,
and, as for education. most of the time
he taught the boy himself When Ned
passed to an age where It might be
expected he would be curious as to bis
antecedents he asked the clergyman
about them. The only reply he re-
ceived was that his father had left
detailed instructions with regard to
the course to be pursued with his son.
but they were to be communicated to
him only as each link in the chain of
the plan came up.
One day the man who had thus far
had the care OF the boy said TO him:
You are now prepared for college and
nv work in your education is ended
1t was arranged on your coming to
us that when your college preparation
should be completed I was to notify a
certain person to that effect, who
would provide the means 70 give you
university education"
Must 1 go to collegeT'
"You must follow the course laid out
for you or provide for yourself. II
you refuse to do the former you will
make q sacrifice. 1 have written the
person it is my duty to notify that you
will enter college in June next. You
will hear from her within few days"
Her? Who is sheY'
: 81 have only her name, Miss Arabella
Twitchell Your father. l have been
told, was a very methodical business
man, who thought out every step to
be taken in what concerned him in adj
vance. Those about him never thought
of asking him questions. but followed
his directions to the letter.
Ned received this information with
deep thought. He did not like being
ground out through mill like pound
of coffee. He waited impatiently for
communication from Miss Twitch-
ell. When it came it brought no
more information than was absolutely
essential. 1t informed him that he was
! to enter a certain college, where he
| was to follow a certain course of study
which had been infinitely laid out for
him. He noticed that the subjects
would give him general though not
| a classical education.
One thing Miss Twitchell warned
| him against-the forming of any matri-
| moniaI alliance. Your future career
is provided for in every particular"
she wrote, seven in the matter of a
| wife. But this can only be in case
| the young lady it has been arranged
| you shall marry is living when you
have reached the age of twenty-one.
If she is dead, you will be at liberty to
marry whom you please"
Young Trayers was not more affected
by this part of what had been provided
for him than any other. at the time
he was informed of it he was seven |
teen years old and had no sweetheart |
Consequently the effect upon him was
different from what it would have |
been had he been older and not fancy |
free. There was romance in there be-
ing a girl in the world who was to be
his wife. He wondered what she was |
like. He pictured her according to his |
fency, a willowy creature with golden |
hair and mild blue eyes. She was |
amiable, kind, loving. The likeness he |
had drawn in his Imagination was the |
last object he saw before. going to |
sleep at night and the first when he
awoke in the morning-that is, when |
he was not especially interested IN |
something tangible.
Edward Travers during his student
days was in no great danger OF break
ing in upon what his father had pre-
arranged for him so far as marriage
was concerned. College students are !
at mating age, but they seldom mar
ry. In the first place, they are not al
lowed to marry by the college laws; in
the second. their time is spent with
members of their own sex, and in the
third few of them have the means
with which 20 support wife. Be this
as it may. Ned Travers went through
the course without forming any espe-
cial attachment with girl, though he
had hosts of friends of his own sex
Just before graduating he wrote to
Miss Twitchell to ask what was the
next thing on the program that had
been laid out for him. To his surprise
the reply came back. Marriage" Why
he should be married before entering.
upon his life's work he could not I'M
derstand. And what means would he
have on which to SUPPORT a wife?
Surely some income would be provided.
But would it come from the girl he
was to marry or property that he
would inherit?
This matrimonial part of his career
how began to loom up before him in its
true Importance. 1t had ceased TO be
a romance and had become n reality.
He had begun to dread lest he find the
girl who was intended for him unat- ,
-ractive. She might be homely; she
night be some old maid whom he was y
% marry because she had money and
nothing but money TO recommend her.
Another feature was displeasipC.
suppose the girl did not wish to marry / ,
him. Nothing had been said about this.
'ut he had often thought about II. He
lid not see how a girl could be forced
o marry him If she did not wish II. /,
Hiss Twitchell in her letter informed
him that on taking his degree he was :
70 come TO her Tor further instructions.
lie wrote her to ask what would hap