Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-15
The Dailv
Short Story
FROM THE PAST.
By Winifred Lee.

X1Rp2I
Of dark spo: in his life. 1t was na
ever present. for as the Year, vep,
by its shadows lessened and, he hon.a
would eventually vanish into the m.
security of permanent forgetfulness
1t was 10 years agone when
youth Of Is employed as cashier no
John Howe, distant relative thst
he had been speciously persuaded 4.
two fellow clerks to borrow saO0a
from the funds Of the house. Ths,
had shown him that they had "A H.
where that amount invested In = 80.
tain stock would quadruple IN -
hours. BARLEY provided the mouey
The entire investment was lost ths
two scamps fed and the next morn.
ing. a wretched but sincere penitant
BARLEY went to his relative and en-.
fessed all.
Leave my service, 60 and settle TIN
matter with my lawyer and let -
never see your face again." proaounc.
ed John Howe sternly.
Robert Wiley, that lawyer! To his
dying day BARLEY would never forrst
him. He was sinister being, with 4
chin like a hook and nose Ike .
beak.
You will first sign a written cop.
fession Of your crime" the elnsh har.
rister had said.
But have already told Mr. Howe
of my misstep.' said BARLEY humbly
1T won't do; signed confession. or
mr. a and lot hn 1oV Al
course"
BARLEY shivered, but assented. "a
to the money" he said, III You Vim
allow me l will stay right here, get 1
new position and work till l have
earned enough to pay the score"
Very good" nodded the lawyer.
At the end of four years Bartleyt
spirits were high when he placed the
last Of the misapplied money before
Mr.. Wiley.
And the INTEREST,"" intimated the
latteA
You will find it included" sah
hartley, almost restnfully, to this BIZ.
man leech. mo, then. won't you kind-
ly hand me back the confession!"
II am instructed by Mr.. Howe to re.
tain that" said the lawyer. HE will
hold it over you as a Damoclean
sword to guarantee your future good
conduct"
why, this is positively inhuman!.
cried BARLEY.
instructions" responded the law
yer. See that you go straight"
Then BARLEY went to another city
and tried to forget the power he had
left in those seemingly evil hands. He
prospered quite fairly in new posi-
ton. He met Lucille Driscoll-court-
ship, marriage, happiness. She idol
lied him as a model lover and hus,
band. She believed him the most
worthy Of men. He WINGED when he
thought of that dark spot In his early
life, but he could not hurt her pure
spirit by revealing the truth.
And now the black shadow had
suddenly, blightingly come down upon
his life. 1t was the birthday Of their
child, little Bertram. aged six. They
were to have quiet family celebra-
ton and BARLEY had secretly deposit
ed package containing gifts on the
front porch, had started around the
house to enter the side door, when
he came to startled halt and stood
rock-rooted. His heart seemed to
cease its throbbings, his brain was
turned to lead, for there, in the coy
parlor, seated opposite his wife, was
Robert Wiley!
To the exaggerated mentality Of
BARLEY it seemed as though destroy
ing demon had invaded the peace end
sanctity of an earthly paradise. There
was the old specious, willy smirk on
the goblin face, the old cruel. piercing
glare OF the eyes. Oh, at last his sin
was to be brought home to him. Only
to torment, to blackmail. to ruin him.
could this specter of the past have
thus invaded his home!
For an instant BARLEY thought OF
fight. Could he ever face his wife il
the past was revealed to her? He &C
tually turned to leave the spot, when
little Bertram came around the house,
discovering him.
"Oh, mammal" he shouted. Here
is papa, now!" seized his hand and
pulled him into the house.
"a visitor, Barley" spoke Mrs.
Paine. arising and leaving the room,
and BARLEY faced\his Nemesis.
To his amazement Wiley grasped
his hand. "Ah, Paine he spoke chirp-
ingly. "You are looking well-and do
ing well. eh ? came on matter OF
business. Mr.. Howe died last month
"Yes, heard Of it." nodded Paine.
HE has left you half his fortune
You are rich man. / advised 1t. You
see, Paine. it is l who. under bio IN
structions, have kept trace Of your
every movement for 10 years. 80 no
one knew better than l your MOVIE
fight to redeem the past. You thought
him an ogre and l your evil genus:
but We were human, all the same.
would like to have you call at my no
tel this evening and close up your ID
terest in the estate"
BARLEY Paine stood like one ID
dream after the lawyer had left ne
could not realize it all. A light fofm
glided to his side. 1t was Lucille.
Barley" she whispered. Il knew
Of your trouble in the past al inc
time. married you knowing It
trusted you, knowing it, and loved
you more and more as you molly ~
deemed yourself The shadow ms
lifted. Oh, my husband. let US never
again think of aught but the sunsnlns
OF life which has come to us at ~.