The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-29

recognized the pale face of Mrs. Mowbray.
he shouted to the coachman, but he did not
hear
"katherinel Katherinel" he gssped in a
voice hoarse with impotence, his arms ex-
tended with a gesture of passionate entreaty.
The voice reached her, and reused her TO
consciousness. She leaned forward-her eyes
met his. FAREWELL" she uttered.
The word broke from her lipse in . pas
sionate cry, and before Clifford could move
or speak, she had vanished from his sight.
CHAPTER II.
1t had long been morning; the sun was
trying to force its rays through the dense
clouds of London smoke, and the early bus
tie OF great city rose upon the air, like the
awakening OF an encamped army.
Those varied sounds came up to cham
Der IN fashionable street where Henry
Clifford, with party of companions, was
seated The heavy draperies were gathered
80 closely over the easements, that they shu,
out every CLEAN of daylight. and the room
was oppressive from the heat ofthe gsslights
and the bacchanalian confusion which
| reigned around. Upon the table in the
centre of the apartment were the remains Of
9 costly supper; but, from one end, the
cloth and service had deem carelessly swept
aside to give place to an immense punch
bowl, about which two or three of that pale
dissipsted looking group were still gathered
A few were engaged at cards, others were
| conversing with reckless gaiety, and one had
fallen asleep upon cough, his hot, fever
ed face pressed heavily against the rich
cushions, while dishevelled masses OF Tong
! a.. r. - Il
features.
Clifford himself was moving from one
oropo IN another. bis dress disordsred aud
his face CHASTITY with q palor more terrible
than that of dissipation. There was al
almost insane CLEAN in his dark eyes; and
his sharp, discordsnt laugh had painful
bitterness In it.
Suddenly he approached the group who
were conversing in the corner, each with a
wine glass in his hand, aud all arrived at
that stage of iutoxicstion when the will has
no power to check the utterance Of every
ridiculous fancy or important secret which
may chance to raise to the lips. Clifford
stood regarding them with bitter sneer he
had drank but little, and his brain was I'm
muzzled, save by the whirl OF mad thought
which swept through it, for he had striven
IN VAIN 10 uuQ al uOur IoFgelluintSSl III ludt
scene of dissipated merrment.
$50 lovely Mowbrsy has disappeared
again" said one of the Young men balaac
ing his chair unsteadily to and fro; who
the deuce knows what has become of her p
mo one knows anything about II" repli-
ed several at once; .'she disappeared the
night before last, after her sudden illness,
and hasn't been heard of since
Nj fGs
broke in tall, dissipated looking man,
''some one may know
"Bahln said another. Herbert would
like Us to believe that he has the clue to the
mystery
Faith, your belief, whatever it may be,
is matter of perfect indifference to me, -
replied Herbert, with a pslpable atfectauon
Of carlessness.
Where is she, Herbert ?" asked another.
"Do you know
al do, say nothing" he replied, with
q meaning smile.
Nonsense, man, you never had the shad-
ow of success in that quarter, said another,
Jeeringly. Don't put on any airs, they d
be thrown away
Perhaps SO, said Herbert, laughing in
low. dissgreesble tone; what proof would
you ike Lesters-a locket-a certain
kew
Liar" exclaimed a voice OF thunder,
breaking in on his weak boasting, and, be-
fore the startled group could move, Clifford
felled him to the floor. He had been
wrirhIng with passion since the first men
ton of that name, but when those words
met his ear, a sudden insanity of rage took
possession of him, which he had no power
to control. Liar - he repeated, standing
over his PROSTATE antagonist; dare to
repeat those words, and | will floor you
again
His companions heli him back, while
Lord Herbert struggled slowly to hla feet,
trembling and sobered BY the effects OF the
blow. The blood was issuing from MS nos
trils, and he was forced to lean against q
chair for support.
What does it al mean ?" exclaimed e
dozen voices; what the deuce were you
about, Clifford p
1T means that he has given me q blow,
said Herbert, land his life or mine must paw
the forfeit.
"When and where you will, replied Cliff
ford; ''but leave this room, or ! will fling
you out of the window.
Lord Herbert sprang towards him. but
the bystanders rushed between the infuriat
ed men, and succeeded in getting Herbert
out Of the room: while the others crowded
about Clifford with eager demands for ex-
PLANTATION The sudden shock had sobered
them, and they stood aghass at the whirl
wind OF passion which had burst without
warning into their midst.
81 have no explanation to give, said
Clifford. Murray, Will you act for me?-
see any friend that Lord Herbert may select;
and now l believe it is time we broke up
He swept the curtains back from one Of
the easements, and the chill day streamed
IN, paling the gaslights, and giving q BAG
chanallan aspect to the room absolutely
revolving. Those worn, pale men looked
from one to another with astonishment at
me expression they saw in each countenance,
and one after another hurried out to seek
repose, and sleep away the effect of the past
nights csrouse
Clifford flung open the window, pushing
bis damp hair from his forehead, that the
breeze might cool its fever ,shudder-
ing with disgust as he looked about the dis
orded room. which d few hours before bad
seemed so brilliant and luxurious. HIS
brain was dizzy with the whirl of the
thought; he was not rejecting upon the
meeting which must in few hours take
place, and terminate perhaps fatally for him
self; his mind had wandered far from the
present, back into the depths of the misty
past. back to the sunlight which had burst
80 suddenly upon his darkened way, and
then as quickly disappeared, leaving him
wrapped in gloom more impenstrabie than
Defare.
4 knock al the door aroused him. he came
back with struggle to the gloom of the
present, REFRESHING the despairing exclema,
ito which rose to bis lips as the vision faded
and the reality stared up before him, pslpa-
BILE and hideous
"There is some one here who wishes to
see you, cir" said the servant, entering softly.
-''Send them away" said Clifford. Il can
see no one.
.'But it is lady, sir
"a lady,'' exclaimed Clifford, a wild hope
,pringing up III his soul, like the sudden