Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-09

not look at then is all I can see nowfT
went home silently, and having regained ny
full self command, sadly. l grew very
calm. Ny pulse, which l often timed, beat
and more regularly than it had ever
done before. l stayed at home, never stir
ring out, for nearly three weeks at the enc
Of that period she sent me q short note re-
questing me to come and see her one
had been too hasty with me, so selfish assne
was, she did not feel for others 1 had
said selfish. l went, with q heart hardened
20 hear ANYTHING, and I needed it all.
MANY q time in solitude now, seem to
bA.r her-to hear all she said to me in that
,.,, ;o,srviev-and how | left her so calmly,
promising to call; so uupaturally calmly,
70, with a countenAnee Of such deep feel
ing.
Harold" said she, 'they tell me that l
am near death, that l have had it in me fer
more than a year, and that a slight cold |
caught when walking out with-when
walking ont in the heavy evening dews," a
slight spasm crossed her face, shat rot
having taken care Of that has been the
cause Of my dying-do not start Harold
i can bear 70 die-the cause of my dying
before nv time. Look at my face, Harold /;
look at this flush upon my cheeks" she
continued with almost tragic solemnity
pointing with her thin wan finger to Ter
cheek, "that" she continued, chat Is the
index TO the decay within. Look, Harold,
why do you not look when | ask you p l
looked-upon my own work. She was
very beautiful to me slmost magicslly so
but the brilliant eyes we're moist, without
emotion and the cheeks bore on them thai
dreadful plague spot which appealed to the
instinct Of the beholler. The beautiful
transparent complexion, and the wssteC
unuerved muscles 0; lho iEresolute lips
Oh God, | almost madden myself when
think how she looked when she babe N,
look upon my own work. Bat iheu,-sh
did not love me-.
Harold she said, tell me ell Eesil
about that-you know-about Joe Agar.
! pretended to think awhile, pnrposely t
steady my voice, worlds Of thought Pssse.
within ne 10 that second ii IS useless I
attempt to relate them; / paid no heed /
them. Slowly and distinctly l began
repeated the sam tale / had told before. n
fear of my equivocAsing every word wa
craven on my memory they burn there nos
in letters of FIRE. l have, as | said before
lived to be an old man, and never had {
days real illness since that time. / have
been preserved in full health and with {
thick skin ned heart, in order that | might Be
to remorss the same living prey that TantsluY
WAS TO his tormentors. Mems sand IN cor
pore saRo, does not hold good in my case
/ have always been in perfect health, ye
externally so unnaturally calm, that friend
let me say Aequaintanees-cAll me Rps
thetie.
Harold" she said, 81 could forgive hin
now, if be were here. Will you promise Il
tell him so if eve. YOU see him again ?"
Selfish! Here was seldshness, 10 ask m
10 yell him that | sssented pAssively, AM
upon e repetition Of the request, | promised
There is ne need 10 ask you to swear
Haro!4,' she laughed, 80 promise, as
man of honor, IS a man who has been th-
siucerest friend in this cGse, that the work
contains, promise" promised, distinctly
a "a clear, low voice. as a msn Of honor
and s irIeud, to tell him that she forEAv,
him for what be had never done.
Good night, Harold. you are indeed
friend give me your hand how cold il, is
Good night, you have been indeed e tru,
friend
Nothing more said I hoarsely.
She took my baud again in hers aad kiss
cd it revereDtly, and without looking up
sgain called me s friend and bads me goot
riRht, and | went. Why did she persist il
torturing me By the name friend? l nov
-u2poss thst it was her dslicsis way Of pity
,nR me for nv wsnt Of her love. 1t nigh.
ss 50. | heard her sob ss I walked away
rom tie door; ! turned back softly and lar
a nojselsss hand IN the handle, again
Fl, and once more returned ct tie sam,
-ouud.-This time | lras going in, when
taught sight Of her through the hinges Q
the door. which vas sisr. | saw that sh.
eas on Der knees evidently wrestling in tn
-pirt with her Wretchedness. would Wai
until she rose. and then 20 in. As I stoo
there for = minute she muttered something
I caught the word joe and the tone.
was gone. Nay, l fed.
no BE Continued