Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-01

/
His face was pale and haggard as ba
| entered the little room, which was Al.
most in darkness. As he hesitated =,
the threshold a hearty voice from tsa
| gloom cut him to the heart
Hello, Paul, old man! I've +raekss
| you at last. Thought you could sbata
me, didn't youT'
| 1t was Trelswney, and before Thorn
ton realized 1t he was sobbing Ike a
child on his friends shoulder.
arthur, God bless you! I honsa
you would never know how far down
hill 1 have been sliding"
''That fool pride of yours, I know
Well, meant TO find you, and have
Now, the only thing for man to So
who is sliding down hill is TO dig re-
toes in deep and begin to climb bar
again."
"But slipped pretty close to tbs
bottom-today," replied Thornton, and
then he told Trelawney and his wife Of
the untoward events of the day. Gretch
en- gave n sharp cry and buried BE-
face in her hands. Trelawney turnad
to her quickly, bis lips setting Into a
hard line. He sat silent while the wo-
aan wept softly, and then, shaking
imself as g aroused from a dream. he
said:
"Come. see a way clearly out Of
this. We will lay it all over until to-
morrow"
The next night Trelawney was In
high spirits when he entered Thorn
toms room.
Congratulate me, Paul and Gretch-
enr' he cried. 81 am going to South
Africa"
Husband and wife stared at Trelaw.
ney in amazement, and finally Paul
said:
"Going to South Africa! Why, you
said nothing about this last night. You
surely had no such intention yesterday
What is the meaning Of this sudden
impulse, for such it seems to be?'
''Well, yes, it is q sudden impulse,
and as to its meaning you will learn
that later on"
mo. Be frank, Trelawney; tell NE
its meaning now"
"Well, Paul, it simply means that
you can remain with your wife,
''Trelawney, do you mean that you
have enlisted as my substitute and
without my consent?" said Paul.
Substitute? No, Paul. it will never,
be said that Paul Thornton sent anoth-
er to the front for him, for know you
would not have it so''
what is this enigma? % asked Paul.
Let me introduce myself-Paul
Thornton Of Her Majesty's Ninth vol
unteers. Now, listen to me, Paul. l
am making no sacrifice. 1t all fits in
perfectly with my plans for the fu-
ture."
But shall stop you. I shall go to
the war office and
THAT will be useless. The war Of
fee will not be open until tomorrow,
and by midnight L shall be out of Lon
don. Paul, nothing can be more TO my
liking Pray do not try TO block a
plan which will give me more pleasure
than perhaps I shall ever enjoy again
in my life. 1 have no ties, no RESPONSE
bilities.
take now your own case: What
would Gretchen do in a strange cOun-
try without friends or means Of sup
port while you were away? Instead Of
that, it pIeases me-and you must not
try to rob me of this gratification-that
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Trelawney sail
within the week for America-in fact,
their passage is already booked on the
Lucania. The agent sent them the
tickets by me-"
Trelawney took an envelope from bis
pocket and placed it on the table. COZ
tinuing before Thornton could inter.
rupt him:
"And Trelawney's solicitor has been
instructed to send to him in America
only a portion of his income. and he
has obtained letter Of credit and the
necessary credentials.
Trelawney placed another envelope
on the table.
Arthur, say you shall not do this
broke out Thornton.
paul" he said slowly. surely you
will not deny me the great happiness
shall take in doing this thing for-io'
Gretchen"
They both looked into his eyes ana
saw the pleading, and they both knew
that it was for the woman he loveo
iildJ ne W lS1OO 10 IllJhe inc SeiNAAA-NN'
They came to America. where the
new Trelawney sank under the innu
ence of drink and morphine.
Gretchen watched the change IN MN
with fear. At first her influence hee
him somewhat in check, but at iAs'
even his love for her was deadened .!
his excuses. He constantly feared eA
posure, as If he were guilty OF SONS
great crime.
After the close of the war TrelaWnes
remained In South Africa and only re
Gently returned TO London. where "
startled his solicitor as much as Nv
startled me. 1t was only then thar "
learned OF Thornton's death under W
name. He started at once for Amer'c'
His first purpose was TO ma tN
widow. In time he discovered tns'
she was working as n saleswomah =
n dry goods store and had managed
support herself comfortably. As ms'
be expected. Trelawney married neF'