The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-29
CHAPTER 1.


To kindly looks and loving words give birth
Hew doubiy beauteous is this world of ours.
CHAPTERI.
1t ives early morning as the steamer ap.
preached the port. A mass of dark clouds
hung heavily over the land, and sea and sky
had that dull, greyish tint which usually
obscures the horizon upon an English coast
As the vessel neared the harbor the passen.
gers crowded eagerly upon the deck, full oil
that strange restlessness which fills the mind
at the conclusion of a long voyage.
At the bow of the boat were seated q party
OF emigrauts returning from the New World
and eagerly awaiting their approach to that
land which the exigencies of life had forced
them to quit long years before Near the
group stood a young man, leaning csrelessly
over the railing, his eyes hstlsssly fixed, not
upon the shore, but upon the broad sweep of
waters in the distance, the changes of which
were less frequent and tumultous han those
which swept over his features, as he stood
there. One hand, white and delicate as
woman's, supported his head, the other
prasped the railing with an UNCONSCIOUS
force, which betrayed the unquiet nature OF
his thoughts. The worn, anxious expression
of his face, gave to it a mature look which
did not belong to his years-he had scarcely
passed the confines of boyhood, but it was
evident that he had wandered far out of his
fairy land into the mists OF the cold real A
glance sufhced to show that he had suffered
not patiently or with that resignation
which leads the soul through great sorrow
up to the serene height from whence it sur
veys this htes poor joys and grisfs with
equal calmness-but msdly, blindly, tearing
out his own his own heart with insane reck
lessness, and srsmpling down its pulses with
iron strength, in vain effort to still their
troubled beatings.
Ii is thus that the young are wont to re
ceive suffering, and Henry Clifford's nature
was one 30 drain to the very dregs the bitter
cup, pressing it to his lips with sort of
frenzied delight at his own torture.
He did not heed the confusion and excite.
nent which reigned around him, and even
after the steamer reached the wharf, and
many of the passengers had begun to des
cend, he stood there, looking back over the
cold, grey sea, as if some great hope had
been buried in its depths, and he were
straining his gaze TO see it emerge from It's
chill tomb.
The luggage is all ready, sir" said
his servant, approaching him gently, will
you go on shore p
What said Clifford without changing
his attitude. "Did you speak, Edwards ~
Everything IS ready, SIR said the ser
want. What hotel will you go to ?'
Clifford started; g smile, not of JOY, of
fierce passion, distorted his features 1--WE
arrived :" he mutsered. u had given up
all hope-I thought these days were to be
prolonged into eternity"
SSH q said the servant, wonderingl7.
Nothing" replied Clifford. Come on,
pass the baggage Make haste, man, make
haste Heavens sake, don't stand there as
If you were turned 10 I" he exclaimed
with al eagerness remarkable from its con-
trast with his former apathy.
What hotel will you go to ?" asked the
man again, too much accustomed to his
sadden changes of manner to remark it.
"Any one" said Clifford. What do |
care p
He rushed away, followed BY the staid
domestic, pushing carelessIy against every
obi ect which impeded his progress. He
threw himself into the carriage he met, and,
leaving his servant to follow with the bag
gage, drove rapidly away. When he drew
up at the hotel he sprang out and hurried
into the house, past the groop of walters
who stood wondering at his Impotence.
Room, sir? Dinner, Sir ~ they in
CURED.
Yes, what you like" said Clifford; "only
bring me paper"
yes sir, this mornings news" said one
Of the walters, Offering him journal.
''Pshaw :" exclaimed Clifford, pushing it
angerly back. What do | want of Liv
erpool paper? Give me London paper
any one
He hastily snatohed the paper handed to
him, aud turned TO the column of advertise
ments of the theatres. A start-a deep
bresth-showed that he had found the an
nouncement which he desired. He re read
1t, as if to be certain -
Mrs. Mowbray will make her first ap
pearsnce since her return from America, at
the Haymsrket to night"
at IL WE'LL" he muttered between his
olenohed teeth. "she can play-play when,
for aught she knows, am dying"
Nv ould you like to be shown to your
room ?" asked the waiter.
Room no was his courteous response.
stop! When is there a train for Lon
don q
SIN half en hour, sir" was the reply /!
''iust time to reach the station
Clifford walked away without q word, and
met mis- servant in the lower hall, superin |
tending the bestowal of the luggage.
'Pu; it on to the carriage again he said. /
Quick Don't stare, stupid sm going .
to London"
ITO London, sir?" ventured the man.
"Of course" said Clifford "Did you
think meant to pass my life IN this hole ?
Can't you nove?-are you deaf?"
The man obeyed IN silence; there was
that in the stern face trowning upon him
which he did not dare to question.
All the way up to London, Clifford sat in !
the railway carriage motionless and silent,
neither eating nor sleepiug-quiet from the
very effect OF the impotence which consum
ed u like fever.
1t length he reached the great city, hast |
lily tasted Of the food which his servant set
before him, aud, having exchanged his
dusty garmenta for an evening Dress drove
to the theatre.
The first act Of the play was over when I
ne entered and took q vacant seat in the |
stalls. The house was crowded with an
eager throng TO welcome the celebrated &C.
tress whose sudden and mysterious return /
from America was the theme of every
tongue. Clifford saw no one--heard moth /
ing Of the lively hustle which sounded
through the brilliant theatre he might have
been alone 10 a vast desert for any con
seriousness that he had of the crowd about
him. His eyes were fixed upon the curtain,
and when it began to ascend, a tremor ran
through his whole frame; then he reiapsed
into almost marble like rigidity.
Inc play was the "Hunchback,' and IN
the third scene Julia came on for her ami
mated dialogue with Helen, in which she
nocks her own womsnly heart by an affec-
tstion OF careless scorn for the man whom
she SO tondly loves. Mrs. Mowbrav plsyed
admirably, and the house rang with ~,
ders Of applause. Suddenly the sc,ress
paused the feigned laughter died on hsr
lips-she stood for an instant trans6rsd
looking wildly into the eyes of the man who
sat directly in front of where she stood, gazing
80 immovably upon her face A smothered
cry escaped her, and without warning, she
fell heavily back upon the boards. and Law