The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-09
THE SACRIFICE.
By Marion A. Gibson
(CObyright, 1922. by Wheeler

N~OFS ~soASs A~SSpl W vASSASA
Syndicate, Inc.)
1t was dusk when Doris Royace
dropped her book into her lap and
gazed steadfastly across the water
Her thoughts went back to the day
when she, with little Dick, had left
home in bitter anger and had taken
refuge here, in answer to Cousin
Beth's invitation to spend a few
weeks with her at her cottage on
Lake Fairview. The quarrel had
been over trifling matter. but of
the whole episode one utterance
stood out clearly, the answer her
husband had given to her hyste-;
cal statement that he no longer
loved her.
Love, real love, is gained only
by sacrifice" were the words that
repeated themselves over and over
in the girls troubled brain and
puzzled her strangely.
Another thing troubled Doris
Little Dick had always been his
fathers constant companion, and
in bis estimation no one else was
quite SO great as daddy. The two
idolized each other, and now that
they were separated the little fell
low begged constantly for his "a
Their. 1t hurt Doris to refuse him
since he was not very we'll and
meyer had been during his short life
Of Hour years. Often something
within her whispered for the boy .
sake. if none other. to forgive and
forget. But in the end her pride
always conquered.
Although the days at Fairviex
were full Of young people, gayety
and fun, they passed slowly Col
Doris. Something was lacking, and
she, knowing where this something
was and that her happieess depend.
ed upon it, could not reach out and
grasp it, although it lay just be.
yond her reach.
Two weeks passed when, one aft
ernoon, Doris, with the same heavy
heart, put little Dick to sleep In
his crib and then lay down herself
She awoke about two hours latel
and arose quickly, as she had slepr
longer than she had intended
CHANGING toward the crib, she wa,
astonished to see that 1t was empty
Rushing down stairs, she, gave ;
hurried survey Of the rooms. Hel
face went white as she noticed tina
the screen door was unlatched
Beth had forgotten it before go;nt
to her rooms.
| A quick thought came to her
Twice before little Dick had startet
to find his daddy. Sudden pani
seized her as she noticed blacl
thunder clouds gathering. Hastil,
she awoke Beth and together the!
made a more careful search. Betl
telephoned to the neighboring cot
tages, but nothing had been seel
OF tho runaway. Meanwhile tn,
thunder rdmbled and the storu
drew closer.
Men from ali around gathered ant
the little party. began their search
Doris, wrapped in a raincOat lik,
the men, went with them. as moth
ing could persuade her to remain
St home. Her face was DEATH.
white and her eyes we're like Goals
but with the others she pushed on
ward. The storm broke with tor
rents of rain, vivid lightning an,
crashes Of thunder. Still the searei
continued. Doris trembled-~ bu
chung close to Beth and could no
be forced to turn back. 1t was lat,
when the storm let up and tn
\ moon broke through the blacl
i clouds. Slowly Doris became he
own calm self, but the fear and pail
In her heart was almost unbear
able.
Midnight passed and they had al
most decided to give up the searcl
when D0ris heard q slight hois
and some way managed to Sill
away from the others unnQtkcEd
Her heart gave leap as she spied
short distance ahead Of her, !,
man half standing, holding a littl
! figure in his arms. They were Ii
the shadow of q large tree and tn
mans hack was towards her 80 tina
she Gould not ZEE his face. As she