Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-09
The Daily
Short Story
THE LONGING HEART
(By Victor Redcliffe)

| wonderful that, calm, Steany-BOihB
young business man of system and
discipline as he was, his usual men
tai agitation might be condoned.
All he thought of at the moment
was Irma, his wife. He pictured
with pleasure her surprise, her de-
light. He thrilled with pride to
realize how the world would look
upon the new grand life he could
offer her. For that day, unexpect-
eddy, he had been informed that a
half uncle left him securities the
regular income from which was oV-
er $4,000 a year.
They had been married just
three weeks. Warren had a posi-
ton as a craftsman. They had
planned to board with the parents
of Irma until enough was accum-
ulated to start in Housekeeping.
The Woolsons were careful, thrifty
people and Irma had been brought
up to work and economic.
Dear girl she has never had a
chance for the fine things of life, "
soliloquized Warren. Now how
her sweet little heart will delight
at having plenty to get along on
| and to spare!
Warren lost sight of the happy
hours of the brief honeymoon
when Irma planned out the future.
He had marveled at the business
| like way with which she mapped
out life on a basis of $50 month.
Rent of three rooms, 49," cal
| culated Irma. I'VE can't furnish
the parlor till the SECOND month.
Then the rug. When that's paid
for a Morris chair and neat, pref
| ty sewing rocker for me. Then
| the draperies. Oh, what we get we
will pay for, never minding the
rush and fever of extravaganza like
the Dalbys, who got married when
we did"
Eyes, poor Daily is starting in
''and will soon face nothing but
debts"
He burst in now upon the quiet,
| orderly home circle with so much
animation that they instinctively
discerned that he had something
unusual to impart. He announced
the change in his fortune in SEN
tence: "A relative has left me an
income of $4,000 year"
Mr.. Woolson looked awed. Mrs.
Woolson almost frightened. Irma
said nothing as Warren proceeded
to buoyantly draw a picture of the
golden future before them. He no
ticed a strangely inharmonious ex-
preston in her eyes. Sort of daz-
ed, dear?" he asked.
mo, Warren she responded
quite gravely, only what about
all our sweet plans? It's like shat
tering the darling dream of our
life"
Were past that now" rallied
Warren, trying to obscure senti-
ment with a new enthusiasm. "Of
only $40 a week, and we must
lishment of our own in accordance
with our new prospects"
Amid the hurry. hustle excite
ment of the ensuing month War
rem did not notice that there had
come a change over Irma- She
was at times drawn into the vor-
tex of his Hberality. Then a spec
les of dizziness and gloom would in
tervene
Warren opened a rather expen-
sive office and set up business for
himself as a manufacturer agent.
He and Irma secured a splendidly
furnished apartment in a fashion
able quarter, where Mrs. Daily
established herself and was the
center of a social group of quite
some prominence. Irma submits
sively followed her husbands lead.
but pretty clothes Luxurious sur
roundings and glittering superfic-
ialties seemed to deaden, instead
of animate her. She grew strange
ly silent.
Warren" spoke Mrs. Woolson
about Irma. She comes here in
her fine clothes, sits around in a
disconsolate way, and seems rous-
ed out of it only when l let her
put on a big apron and make a play
of helping me about the house.
do not think she is either content
ed or happy"
Warren went away thoughtful.
He had also begun to discover that
the acquisition of money had dis
sipated all those little comforting
plans that had kept their hearts
bright and natural as the innocent
longings of children building sand
novels and looking upon them as
palaces.
One day he came home earlier
than usual, and from his pale face
and disturbed mien Irma knew
that he was the bearer of disturb
ing news.
''Irma,' he said at once, "our
riches have taken wings. The Sc
curities from which we have receiv-
ed our income have failed and the
stock will not pay out more than
ten cents on the dollar"
Slowly, automatically in fact, |
Irma began to remove the sparkl- |
Ing necklace, the rings on her fling |
ers. There is enough TO pay our |
debts?" was her single. anxious in
CURRY
More than that, dear answer
ed her husband.
And enough. oh Warren, enough |
to carry our old happy dreams ?" |
and spe went TO a desk and brought !
forth the list covering their early /
prospective housekeeping needs.
He was amazed at her utter in
difference to the wealth so dearly 4
bought For the first time in
months her eyes were joyous, her
face that of one relieved of a great
burden