Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-18
The Daily
Short Story
LOVES SACRIFICE.
BY Elizabeth Schoen Cobh

Being the elder son of the s.n;,.
Percival Allen. after idly wands-,.y,,
ABOUT the country for a year. retr,,as.
nome to find his father absent. ana !.
once assumed the charge OF ars,..
with due pride and dignity.
John Alien, the head of tn. s.,u.
was contractor, and had net ~.
nome for over six months. He h,S
large contract for the constructior =
a dam in Minnesota, which vorss
mean his permanent enrichment q ~
carried 1t through. AT an impor,.n.
stage OF the work, however. the fem.
porary dam broke away, causin, NJ.
tremendous loss, and Mrs. Allan -
aware that he husband was -
struggling against fearful odds To :.
cure the capital to continue his vcss
and finish it by the time agreed NM,
Perciyal Allen did not know III.
and had he done so it won,d 49,
made little impression upon his sh.,'
low mind. John Allen was a rens~c-.
provider for his family, thev ~
well; he always looked first To ths,.
welfare. He had pride in concssl,,.
his financial affairs from his torn.
men, and Percival found money n n,
bank, household bills provided for. sss
proceeded OF manage affairs as tho.,.
there was an unfailing sourse of ~.
enue to draw from. He was medal.
some, dictatorial. and to the limit =,
ercised his assumption of brief a.
thority. In a week he had his indu:.
gent mother anxious, his sister d.
bara troubled and the servants by n.
ears. ue
L wish you would not tease Barh.,.
about Nellis Wayne" his mother s,is
to him one dav.
"Oh, Wayne will dol" resnond.a
Percival in his lordly way, II unds,.
stand his old man is about ready -
pass IN his checks and will leave Ne,.
lis big fortune. Oh, yes, Wayne viii
do" "A
Then don't interfere or commar,
Barbara is very sensitive, and il ~
no means as yet engaged to NJ
wayne, and she resents any alluaion
to her association with him"
Just tell her that l apnrovA ~.
match, and to hook Wayne before some
one else gets the prize" observed
Percival coarsely.
Nellis Wayne was a most estimsh,.
young man. and had been nayin, ~.
tent1on to Barbara for nearly a year
past.
The father Of Nellis Wayne diel
and he was the sole heir to the esta;
I'm family lawyer called Nellis into !.
his Office a week later.
"Nellis," he said, II was instructed
to make disclosure to you BY yuur
lather, In the event of his death. Ha
was, as you know, close friend Of
John Allen. During the past year he
advanced $4,000 to Allen to try and
save his contract. In return. Allen
made over to him as security ali Ma
property. Outside of his notes, yo,r
fathers estate comprises only a few
hundred dollars in cash and the little
hardware store he hires a man to op-
crate"
Then If Allen fails and we take his
property away from him, he and his
.amlly are beggars?"
That's about it," the LAWYER an.
,wered.
1T shall never be-" declared Mel.
IS Wayne, and the day he received the
allen notes he burned them up Their
ormer existence was a secret, SO far
Is the public was concerned. Nellis
hought of Barbara, was glad Of his
sacrifice and started in life all over
gam at the little hardware store.
Percival Allen heard of this, ordered
barbara to cut the acquaintance Of
Sellls, and wrote letter to the latter,
morning him that his calls at the
Allen home would be no longer agree
BILE to the family.
Run after him, and let the people
buckle over YOUR chasing down q
nan who has never spoken a word Of
Owe to you!" he subdued poor Bar
ara by sneering.
One day John Allen was brought
ONE by train in a raging fever. His
artner sent word that Allen had col
lpsed from hard work and anxiety.
ut assured Mrs. Allen that the con-
ract would be finished in time. Bar
ara nursed her father. She was ter
med when, in his rawlings, he revealed
ne fact that he had borrow $4,000
rom the father of Nellis Wayne. She
'ent at once to the hardware store.
Mr.. Wayne" she said clearly, 4
ave come to tell you Of discovery
have made. Ny father owes you .
lrge sum of money Why vera We
OF advised of the fact?'
Because l have Cancelled the debt
Y burning up your fathers notes
splied Nelis.
You did that" cried Barbara
Gould i see the family Of the won.
l loved beggared ?- spoke Nellis n
rare excess of emotion"
Then you did 1t because"
Because l loved you. Oh, Barbafi
there any hope?"
She placed her hand in his. ASK
e that when your noble sacrthcs y
oned for" she said simply.
At the end of that week there cane
e glad news that the contract wn
lished ahead OF time. John Alha
mt for Nellis, for there was enough
wv to repay him the $4,000, besides
rther enriching Mr.. Allen.
rs there any hope?" asked Neln
Barbara, after that.
There was hope all along." WIZ
'red Barbara, placing both Of asf
Inds In his own this time.