The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-10
The Daily Short Story

! Rita devoting special attention to
arranging her dark, shining hair.
Downstairs Betty and Phil were
waiting for her. 1t was the night
that Bob was to tell them of his
success, and he had promised that
it should take place at Pills home,
upon the latter's happy suggestion.
When she was about to go down
stairs, Rita paused and took up a
miniature of Jack Gladdin, whisper
ing, IF only you had his gift!"
AT sight Of Betty and Phil she
was all excitement ''Oh, tell me,
has he been accepted; do you know,
Phil? But of course he has, We
must have a congratulation party,
right away"
Rita, but he can't fail He's a won
der and he's worked heroically
Brown sent him the verdict this
afternoon.
On the way Rita talked incessant-
ly. What Bob would do with the
honors and revenue that he would
win were apparently more vital
than Bob himself Betty, mean
while, was not thinking of the
glorified person that Rita was de-
scribing, but of a boy with a great
heart who had dreamed big things
and whom she had loved since she
had laid aside her dolls and done I'D
her hair.
Soon after they arrived at Phil's
home there was a ringing of the
bell. Rita few to the door and
opened it wide. She threw her
arms around Bob, but he did not
speak. The others gazed at him
questioningly. He dropped into
chair, passed Rita a letter and COW
cred his face with his hands. She
opened it and read:
Dear Sir-Your manuscript, we
regret to advise, is not at all avail
able 1t does not in any way meas
ure up with writings on this subject
today, and is therefore entirely
valueless.''
AstonIshed silence reigned for a
moment; then it dawned on Rita
that all her castles were tumbling
mao ruins Disappointment,
humiliation and the thought of
what her friends would say. to
whom she had boosted, were all
that was left,
OH" she walled, its a failure,
Oh, Bob, and you promised me so
and now-now, what will
everybody say?" Tears Of self
pity sprang to her eyes.
oh, Rita, put my very life into
it; L couldn't believe failure pos
sible. It's broken my spirit, but"
and as he reached for her hand Phil
gripped the arm of his chair and
Betty longed to speak a word of
sympathy, only believe in me and
I'll start again. l know you will, |
know you understand"
Believe in you'll" She fairly bit |
the words of. Aren't you content !
with having persuaded me to make /
a fool of myself once? Here I've |!
been sitting meekIy at home half |!
the time, watching other girls going |
of on good times. They told me |
I'd regret it, and now they'll have !
some fine gossip about Rita and /
ner pen-scratcher.' No, thank you. |
Robert I'm through"
The room seemed TO grow dim |
and cold. When at last he looked !
~ IOO 90 AAS the
arm of the chair where Rita had |
eft 1t. She was gone. His eyes
we're burning. Phil was standing |
over him and someone was kneeling
beside his chair-someone with a |
wealth of red gold hair and her |
simple, loving soul in her eyes.
"Bobbie," she whispered, we're !
'orry-Phil and 1; but don't give
Up; you've got all your life to try
again, and we believe in you and
ust know you'll make good some
lay"
There were two reasons why
Phil turned away then, but only one
Why Bob took the red gold head ina
lis hands and kissed it, and saw
It last
Mr.. Brown. of a certain large
house, had reason to
Iictate a letter about a week later,
unning like this:
Mr. Robert M:
Dear Sr-Please accent our