Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-07-18
A True
Prophet
Bv VICTOR REDCLIFFE


attention, sympathy and gentleness,
was Adrian Warne. He had rescued
Burton Grey from burning hotel,
overcome by flame and smoke, and that
had endeared him to the Greys, Lu-
ella and her mother.
The fifth and unobtrusive member of
the quintette was Dayton Rolfe. He
had known Warne before the GreyS
had ever heard of him. A struggling
artist full of soul and ambition, but
not prodigal of speech, Rolfe had fit
ted into the circle of friends modest
ly, unostentatiously, and the first time
he had met Luella Grey he had loved
her.
ROlfe had lived with Warne not far
from the Grey home, and after the fire
episode they became veritable men,
bers of the Grey family group. Warne
was somewhat of mystery, even to
Rolfe. He seemed TO have Il small in
come. There were days, however, when
Warne shut himself in his room and
wrote for hours. He never revealed
to ROlfe> the character of this intense
application. He was of frail physique.
Often, even, when visitor at the Grey
home, he would be overcome by sud-
den weakness and would be obliged to
lie down on couch.
On such occasions Burton would look
distressed and anxious and Luella
would hang over the sick man with
gentle and helpful solicitude. The
gratitude she felt towards Warne for
all he had done for Burton inspired
her to do for his reScuer as she would
for her own brother.
In this, mistakenly, Rolfe read the
blOSSOming of q mutual love.
One day Burton gravely announced
to ROlfe that he and Warne were go
ing away. "There may be no occasion
for alarm" he said, "but l have con-
suited q specialist, who says that
Warne must rough it in the open air up
among the far Canadian pineries.
Warne has consented to go, and / am
to accompany him. Rolfe, you love
this man as do you are q true friend
of our little family. Mother suggests
that you take a room in the house.
You will look after mother and sister
while am gomez
II covet the trust, and thank you
for choosing me-" responded ROlfe
with feeling.
"ROlfe," said Warne later, "you have
heard that I am going north, chasing
health. When you move to the Grey
homo T wont Won n toxic Charge of
that little trunk l have always kept
in my room. Should anything happen
to me, make you my legatee. It's con-
tents will interest you, and may bene-
fit you
Don't talk of all this" pleaded
ROlfe with sincere emotion. "YOu are
going to come back rugged and we'll"
"And if I do" said Warne, 81 feel
sure that by that time you will have
reached your goal with your new pic
ture. 1t was an inspiration on your
adapting Luella as your model"
Warne spoke Of Miss Grey so famil-
iarly that ROlfe doubted not they were
engaged. ROlfe had not met with much
success with his pictures in the past;
now he had chosen strong theme
in which the counterfeit presentment
Of Luella was the central figure.
Then there began the ordeal Of a
man, strong of heart in fidelity and
service in behalf Of those he cherished,
yet daily suffering poignantly because
Of his chosen environment.
At the end Of six months there came
terrible news. A newspaper telegram
announced the death of q party of
overlanders lost in q landslide, and
the names Of Adrian Warne and Bur
ton Grey were in the list. Now came
the test of the true man for Rolfe.
He was son to the anguished mother,
brother to the bereaved sister. His
treasured picture promised popularity
and value. He sold it for half its price
to carry along the family.
One day he opened the old trunk
Warne had intrusted to his care With
in he found nearly a dozen manu-
scripts. They were the result Of
Warne's secret labors, novels Of high
order. Within month a willing pub
Usher was found. Within two the name
Of Adrian Warne was familiar to a
vast reading clientele.
It was nearly year to day when
into the Grey home, bronzed, bearing
signs of hardships and deprivations
Warne and Burton entered. There
were hours of wild JOY, Of stories Of
marvellous escapes, Of restored health
for Warne, who had come back to civ
ilization to be greeted by both fortune
and fame.
81 am going away" he told RoIfe
later; "but I shall never forget you,
dear, loyal friend, or these others who
have given me love and service. am
going back to my wife,"
"Your wife" gasped Rolfe.
eyes. Her purse-proud father who
parted us because I was poor and an
idler and an invalid, Is dead. She has
written me she is proud of my fame,
and surely happiness beckons me on
NV wavD