The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-10

ana vlgor
And how was it with Arthur Lee Thai
he loved Rachel was evident enough but
had he borne her image in his heart as she
had borne his He said hehad, and she be
Iieved him. He fingered, and could not &c
away without telling his love.
Rachel awoke as from blissful dream
when Arthur told her that he loved her
that he had loved her ever since that bright
childaood's time-and he would love hel
while he lived. And when he would have
spoken further, she put up her hand motion
ed for him to stop. She was pale and
| frightened and he feared that he had
offended.
'No, no." she said, "let me 60 now. SAY
| no more. Let me think.
And thus speaking she sped away to her
own chamber, where she set down and re,
| Elected and she was happy She io'eu
Arthur Lee, and she knew full wen 'nn' ne
loved her. But what must De the result II
they married 2" Arthur had confessed that
he had no home of his own. True, brave
and generous and able to carve his own way
in the face ofauy fate, yet he had no home.
If she married him she must give up Oak
wood-give up all the home she possessed
give up all the property-and see another
come in to claim il. For herself she would
not have hesissted an instant but what
was to become of her aged parents Could
she give them care upon the hands OF
Arthur? She dared not. Could she take
from them the home that was now theirs
while she had no other to give them
1t was thus that Rachel sat in her chair,
and was unhappy, as we said in the begin
ming. It was the conflict between flial
duty and the hearts deepest, hottest, love
and it was the decision that love must be
| sacrificed, that gave her unrest and tribuls.
ton. She would explain all to Arthur and
he would understand her. She would be
| frank, and tell him everything, aud perhaps
--perhaps-he would wait Aye - she
dared to think of the. possibilities of the
future. She could not help il. Her grea
love caught up her thoughts and lead the N
| where it would. The more she dwell
upon the character of Arthur. as she had
seen it manifested in his frank and manly
bearing, and in his warm and ardent
speech, SO redolent of loves true fragrance
the more she felt drawn toward him. He
seemed to her as the crown Of her life, with
out which earth held no promise for her o
happiness in the coming time.
When evening came they met agsin.-
Arthur saw that Rachel had been weeping
and he took her hand, and spoke to hel
| tenderly.
| "Rachel, I ment not to wound you
| Pardon me if l allowed my great love &c
lead me astrsy. | had hoped that | found
| 10 rour heart some return of that atfecr
| ton which had treasured up for SO many
! years.
She pu. up her hand and stopped him.
| She had resolved that she would tell him
the whole truth, and trust the result to
Providence. a brief pause, and she spoke
| She told him frankly of her love-shs told
how she had never forgotten him since first
| she knew him. And then che told how she
| had married with Capt. Bowers-how she
| had yielded the obedience of child, and
secured home for her parents. And then
| she told of the will, and how her marriage
would turn father and mother homeless upon
the world
Arthur drew her to his bosom, aud asked
her-'if your parents had assurance of q
comfortable happy home while they lived,
would you be my wife?"
ayes, Arthur"
"And give up Oakwood ?"
~ would give up all else for your true
love"
He kissed her upon the brow, and then
led her to seat. His face was bright with
holy lustre, and his eyes glowed withs tear,
tul jubiisns light.
"Rachel," hs said. when he had taken q
seat by her side, "thus far l find you have
loved and trusted me not knowing who
l am. l think Capt. Bsrnsby never told
you?f
II never asked him. replied Rachel,
looking up with surprise. "In the other
time he only spoke of you his ''Boy
Arty," whom he seemed to love and care
for In the latter time he has not men
toned your name, save on the occasion
when he told me of your supposed loss at
sea-"
"And so, my Rachel, you did not know
that was Capt. Barnaby's own nephew
the son of his own slster?"
"How p cried the startled woman. "His
sister ?"
"Aye-his sister Prudence. He has nc
other and never had"
| "But her name is not the same a;
yours"
| "No; but it was once. Her first husband
was Harry Lee. q bold and dashing sailor
| who was lost OF sea. within two year after
their marriage. | was their only child
Afterwards she married with Mr.. Marshall
| So, you see, am the sisters heir; and
when you lose Oakwood it must come to me
The two daughters of whom you have
spoken are not my mothers children. They
| were the children of Mr.. Marshalfs frs,
wife, am my mothers only child and
know tina, she will be blessed, indeed, when
she sees me settled down, peaceful and con
tented, on shore And now, darling, If
promise you that your father and mother
may hold the home daughters love has
given them, may not hope"
His arms were opened, and with low
cry of JOY she sank forward upon hi.
bosom. She knew that the ordeal was
passed.