The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-31

mother PROSTATE by the body Of her son,
still ut'ering his name, with wild prayers Tor
fosgivness, which fell unheeded upon his
dulled senses.
CHAPTER III.
In a small cottage in one OF the lovely
villages which surround London sat . young
but suffering looking woman. Inc shad-
ovs of evening we're gathering about her.
lint sbe was unmiudful of their approach.
los, to everything about her in the world of
troubled memories which urged her from
the depths of miserable past. She was
seated in a low chair, her head droopinp
forward, and her slender hands carelessly
clasped over her knee in des ponding atti
tude which had grown habitual to her.
Those weeks of secusion had been
fraught with keen anguish to Katharine
Mowbray. There was no warming at her
heart for the adulation which brightens the
career of successful actress. All her
thoughts concentrated upon the short sea.
son of happiness which had been hers dur
ing the time that Clifford was by her side,
and she mourned increasingly over the
affection which she had been deprived of
Her acquaintance with Clifford had been
brought about by cham of peculiar cir
cumstances, and a love, which was not for
time only, but eternity, had ciasped its
charmed links about either heart. The
preludices of society, and the will of an
/ imperious woman, had separated them; but,
/ though they might never meet again, the
chain which united their beings could not
be severed
| So absorbing were the painful reflections
which occupied her mind, that the dool
opened uuheeded, and quick step crossed
the room to the window by which she was
seated The labored breathing OF the III
truder caused her to raise her head, and she
saw before her the woman who, but few
months before, had forced her to forsake
the land where she had found refuge, and
the society OF the only man she had ever
loved, for the wild unrest of the wanderers
life.
Mrs. Mowbray sprang to her feet, and all
the despair which had so long lain silent at
her heart found utterance in the wild cry
which broke from her lips.
"Even herel T. she exclaimed; ''have you
pursued me even here will you allow ne
10 peace or rest? You have separated me
from your son-what more can you require?
Leave me; you have no right to insrue upon
me thus"
In her agitation she had not remarked the
face; anguish and remorse had done the
work of years, aud she looked almost an old
decrepit woman. She caught Mrs Now
bray $ arm in her trembling grasp, morning
rather than saying. Come with me, GOMEZ
There Is not time TO lose-come"
She would have drawn her away, but Mrs
Mowhray shrunk from her touch.
"What do you wish?" she asked. Where
am l to go?'
Can you not understand % shrieked the
frenzied mother. clutching her arm with sud
den violence. ITO Henry-to my SOM he
is dying-dead perhaps. Oh come
There was no time for words. Mrs Now
bray followed her in silence to the carriage,
overwhelmed By the unex pected shock. No
explanation took place during that ride
neither had strength to speak; but the moth
er caught the hand of the actress in her own,
as if some underlined desire for sympathy at
trscted her irresistsbly towards the innocent
woman whom she had so harshy spurned,
When the carriage stopped, they descend
ed and entered the house. In the hall they
were met by servant, who answered the
mute appeal he read in either face.
"a little more quiet, madam, said the
servant; The doctor says if he could only
sleep; he would be out of danger"
Mrs. Clifford hastsned up the stairs, fol
lowed by her companion. In the dimly-
lighted gallery she turned. exclaimiEg ID
low, despairiug voice, Save my son-you
can do il, The doctor saws that your pres
-nce alone can save him; watch over him
only let him live he is yours
Actuated by common Impulse, these
two women rushed into each others arms,
sobbing forth g repentance and forgiveness
which was the formation of a union indisso-
uble as that which linked their hearts to the
man who ley SO near death in the chamber
beyond
Mrs. Clifford opened the door softly, and
the actress looked in Clifford was tossing
TO ana fro upon his couch. evidently not
wholly deiirious yet unable to control him
himself. or check tie wild cry which rose
necessarily TO his lips. katharine kath
arine =
The mother glded into the chamber past
the attendants, and stood by the bed.
Henry! Heuryl" she said ) but the sick
man answered only By q despairing wall
Listen continued his mother; ''sbe Is
here; Katharine has come; promise to go
to sleep, and you shall see her ~
Strong with fever and anguish, the sick
man would have leaped from the bed. but a
gentle touch restrained him katharine's
arms were about his neck, her tears warm
on his cheek
After the first burst of excitement, he lay
back calm and still and the experiment, at
the danger of which the physician had
trem bled, saved his life.
Half an HOUR after, he lay sleeping as
quietly as an infant, his hand still elasping
Mrs Mowbray's.
"The danger is over" whispered the
physician, stealing toward them,-"he will
live"
The watchers sunk upon their knees in
silent prayer and when, many long hours
after, Clifford awoke, conscious and free from
pain, he saw bending over him, not only his
mother, bu. she who WAS to become his