Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-19

and, after having attended schools
till he was eighteen, universities till
he was twenty-six and taken post
graduate courses till he was twenty
nine, bis mother thought it time that
he returned to America.
1t is not TO be inferred that Mr..
Hough came out with great knowledge
from all this training. He had become
accustomed to European life and re-
manned in the universities for the pur-
pose of prolonging it. The only thing
I'm which he had become proficient was
the use of the small sword, which he
learned at a German university.
However, when he had finished his
last postgraduate course he concluded
to take a rest in Paris, where he re-
manned year. Then his father died,
and he felt it incumbent upon him to
go home. He found his mother very
lonely, and she begged him to stay
with her He promised to do so, but
before long it became apparent that
he was signing for those places where
people work few hours a day or not
at all and enjoy themselves the rest of
the time.
she desired that he should marry. I'm
fortunately for this plan Barton's fem
mime associates abroad had not been
such as to inspire confidence in wom-
en-. He had been much pleased at one
time with a Russian countess. But
she turned out to be an adventures
and the sweet intercourse between
them had turned to bitterness. An
English girl, Lady Angela Courtney,
had been his next flame, but she had
married a nobleman of her own coun-
try, leaving the American in the lurch.
Mr.. Hough, forgetting that lone
swallow does not make sumner
or two in his case-came to consider all
women bereft Of any sense of honor, |
and he would have nothing to do with
them, or, rather, he would trust none |
of them. AS to marrying, that was |
out of the question.
One day Barton fell i'll. His mother |
was not strong enough to nurse him, |
but he would have no one else. Final |
" when wornout she suggested a |
trained nurse. The young man was
so enraged at the suggestion that his
mother desisted. Finally in order to
relieve her he consented that she might
bring in man to help her.
Mrs. Hough knew young woman
who had become trained nurse. This
girl, Adele Trevor, the good lady sent
for, and on her arrival said to her:
"Philippa, my son is ill and 1 must
have some one to take care of him.
What salary do you usually get?'
twenty-five dollars a week.
81 will pay you double that sum, but
I have a requirement to make of you.
You must personate a man."
The girl hesitated, but she needed
and $50 week was a tempta-
lion to her. Besides it was understood
that her duties would be rather to en-
terrain the patient than to nurse him.
She accepted the position and Mrs.
Hough sent her to tailor to be out
fitted. 1t became necessary to cut
off a wealth of hair, but her employer I
gave her a substantial check to cover
the loss. When all was ready the
nurse was introduced to the patient
~ Mrs. Hough.
''Why, mother" he said, 81 thought
you were to get man, not boy!'
you don't need person of strength.
rhe butler will do everything for you.
Philip is simply to be with you when
Tou are lonely, to give you your medi-
inc, and read to you"
VERY well, let him begin at once"
what kind of reading do you like,
ir?" asked the nurse, very meekly.
Barton smiled. you must be pretty
-oung. Your voice hasn't changed
et," he said; then added in contrast
ng tones. 'I want a blood and thun-
er story"
Philippa went out of the room with
IRIS. Hough for a book and returned
nth history of the buccaneers or
ne Spanish main. Drawing a chair
eside the invalid's couch she seated
erself and began to read. She had
OF read long before Barton stopped
er.
That's no voice with which to read
bout pirates. No pirate would ever
III anybody to walk the plank like
lat. Put it this way''-and in as
entorian a voice as he could COM
and in his weak condition he re
Gated:
IS Out there-every one of your"
my voice isn't very strong yet. :
oppose it will be stronger when ara /.
der" said the nurse. ,
You need developing. Look in the :
oset and you'll find couple of foils ;
ever mind the pirates; I'm tired ot !
en-"
Philippa closed the book, laid it aside
i'd. going to the closet, found the ,.
lis standing in corner. She brought v
EN- to the invalid, who took one, +
aving the other with her. n
Now stand off there he said. "and $
| give you lesson in fencing" d
But, sir; are you strong enough o
- N
I'm going to do my part in bed G
1t the pillows behind me- a
She propped him up as he desired. W
d he bent his foil above his head Il
ter the fashion of fencers beginning b
fight and told Philippa to do the -
me. Then he told her to see il she
uld touch him with the bu.ton or