The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-25
DailD ARGUS.
NGigs Warren.
my last hopes rests in you, May"
SIN me. father ?"

rem turned his head, aud his glance wan.
dered restlessly around the apartment. He
was an old man, with tall, spare figure,
thin, gray hair, and was sitting in an arm
chair, by table covered with papers, while
his pretty daughter May sat beside him on
an ottoman. She repeated her words;
''ln me, father ?'i
YES" he replied, starting from mo.
ments Abstraction. ''Do you remembe r
Col. Leighton my dear ?"
"Col. Leighton? An old man with a
heavy beard, partly gray, and pleasant blue
eyes. He dined with US a few weeks ago
Yes, l remember him, father
'"Not so very old, Msy-not so old, as
sm,-and one of the finest men living. He
ia wealthy-very wealthy, too"
He met his daughters questioning gaze
fully now, as if he had wished her to read
something in his face. She kept her oark
eyes fixed sesrchingly upon his coun'ensnce,
the ebb and flow of the soft color upon her
cheeks betraying the quick PpIsa'ons OF her
heart.
"Wha. do you mean father?" she asked
at length.
me-saye me, ii
nIf What. futher?"
"IfI oud give you to him"
The words came hurriedly from Mr.. War.
ren's lips, as il he feared that if he delibera.
ted he should not be able to utter them at
all. As they fell On his daughters ear she
started to her feet, pushing her hair back
from her pale face, in bewildered sort OF
way, as if she were half stunned.
MARRY me, father? Col Leighton ??
she cried in low voice.
Mr.. Warren took her hand. and drew her
down to her seat again.
"May, Col. Leighton will be good hus'
band to you. ! have known him from boy
hood. and understand perfectly well his
character and principles. Ee loves you
will be kind to YOU, and strive IN every way
TO make you happy. And more-And more
MAY, he will save me from begCary.'
He paused. but his child, with her face
bowed upon her hands, made no reply, nor
stirred The mute distress that her attitude
betokened was not unnotced by him.
81 do not force yo1 to this, May, remem.
Der: the matter is left 10 your own choice.
Bat you know what my own wish is-whst
the alternative will be if you do not acoept
the offer"
She knew only too we'll. Fully sac real
lied now how absolutely necessary the lux
urles to which her father had been sccus
toned were to him. Absolute loss of pos
session did not seem the most dreadful thing
in the world to her, bat she knew what I
wreck it would make of him. 10 her you'll
and strength the future would still be brigh
and foil of hope 10 her but how could he
with hi, aged frame and burden Of so year
commence life anew? The hopeful though
IL II
with his accustomed comforts, afforded he
but moment comfort. To him, with hi
stubborn, arisIocratic ideas, this would b
the most severe trial of Au-his delicstely
reared, petted child laboring for his support
He would never be reconciled TO it. Tbs
was no alternative she saw at glance
Then with adesperate effort 10 think cslml
she recalled the form of Col. Leighton. Sh
remembered his bowed head and -silvere
beard, his dark, deeply furrowed face, an
30 years She could get no further. I
Younger face, with merry azure eyes. an
tossing, sunny hair, sprang up in stron
contrast. stretching out her hands TO he
father, as il for pity, she cried out, II can
not oh, father, I cannot"
The old man sank back with groan.
"Lost-then am lost ~ he cried shud
those bitter words and that despairing att
tude. White and fearless she sat at hi
feet, the agony Of her heart written on he
face. The wild, desperate thought that III
sacrifice was possible, occurred to her.
"Father, dear father
He raised his head, whitened with tn
froststof 60 winters, and looked ct her wit
a CLEAN of hope in his sunken eyes. Sd
orept into his arms as abe had done when
child, ard laid her soft cheek against hi
wrinkled brow.
"Iou know that l love you, father" sh
said. " can never remember you but a
kind, tender, and forbeariug with me. Y on
heart hss been my home all my life. I wi
work, beg, suffer for you'll will die fc
you,-on, how willingly, if need be b
that-oh, father, you DO not know what it
that you ask y
lie did not speak, but moan broke u
controllsbly from his lips, as be rested
head upon her shoulder. The struggle
her heart sent dark, shadowy waves aero
her face. Could she-could she p
Father she whispered hurriedly, 81
me 20 now. will see you agsin-suswt
YOU tomorrow" And she left him.
He could not see her face in the gathe
ing darkness only glimpse Of somelhir
white, but he felt the quiverIng Of her liz
as she bent TO kiss him, and reached o
his arms to embrace her, but she was Pon
"HeRven pity me.' The words came Ill
wall from her lips. She was alone III Il
cham DER, flung PROSTATE upon low couc
with her face hid in the cushions. II
sound of the rustling foliage of the gsrde
and the chipping Of the birds, came
through the open window with the dan
evening breeze, and the pale light of Il
rising moon filed the room with its sc
radiance, but she was unconscious Of ever
thing but misery. The house was 80 uui
that the sound Of footstep crossing 1
hall below fell npon her car, and ARGUS,
her to q tary interest She heard
door opeu,-the libary door, and then
voice uttered few words of common -pla
greeting. She remembered it well, al
spraug TO her fees with desperate, insa
thought Of fight. But the door closed, I
house was sti,s again, and she was oalm
She crossed the room listlessly, and DIR,
back the curtain Of the window. The ace
without was beautiful. The moonlight
broadly on the garden, turning to silver t
tops of the trees, and making the little Ia
beyond look like great white pearl. Gazi
earnestly downward she saw tall, shade
figure standing beneath the shade of the {
elm. With low cry she sprang from
room, sud, q moment after, stood beside !
lover
Come, at last, my treasure" cried Ma
Winchester, folding her in his arms. S
remained leaning passively against
breast, while he pressed passionate kiss
upon her forehead cheeks, and lips.
"Why have you made me wait so Ion
darling 2 he said softly, and, taking DO
her slender hands in one of his. he press
them to his lips. "Why, how cold you or
How you tremble!" he continued, as s
clung to him. "What is the matt
Ma7?"
~ waited because dreaded to meet "
Mark"