The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-13
hands elasped close topether. trsmhlipr ri,h

hands elssped close together, trembling With
a strange, new agitation, she questioned
him.
"If- if had not married, could you have
forgiven me, Charlie Gould you have
loved me z"
lie looked up at her. Was she trying to
tempt him Why was her voice so sweet,
her tone so gentle?
"SpeGk me r. she cried 'bus Tor
that could you have forgiven me?
81 could" be replied
The light of the girls face was creePins
down 10 her heart as she seated herseH o.
The sofa beside him. The twilight hsd u'0N
away in the clear moonlight.
There was no Iced OF gas to reseA4 'Hooe
two faces to each other. Cis'@ was nos
pale now it was burning with q oeeu''ui
color.
..Yop had better leave me now; | am
not quite strong yet" he said with an
D. WAS right the old wound was open
cd afresh, and the pain seemed greater than
the man couia Dear.
~ know il, she answered. In one mo
men. will leave you if you wish it. Il wsn'
to ask you another question. Captain Chsl
Toner, Go you remember my aunt and cous
ms in Harley street? thiuk introduced
you to them once,
He bowed his head.
"You remember the girls?" she contin
ued. There were four ofthem-Grace, Mary
Julia ana Clara.
81 never heard their names" he replied
81 only, saw them once-the day | me
them in the park. | think you introduced
Sir Philip Fairfax to them at the sam,
time.
He spoke somewhat sharply, and with
weary impotence.
. Clara's voice trembled as she said
81 did, and four months after he married
the youngest girl, my cousin Clara. an
Clara Holroyd STILL"
Then she rose up from the sots, and he
sat there alone. The moon passed behind 1
cloud, and there came intense darkness an;
silence in the old library at Woodlands, bu
it was only for few minutes. Then thu
clouds were gone, and then came floating
into that stiffness wonderful night, which
found its way into the heart of the wounded
soldier.
"You will forgive me now" said Clar,
you will tell me so before go. 1t will
make Ine feel happier, much happier, tt
know that am forgiven. And may HEAVIER
grant you health and strength that you may
recover from your terrific illness, and bt
yourself again"
He tried to raise himself but he had
already tried his strength to the uttermost
and now, when his great JOY was stream
ing into his soul, when the old wound wa
healing, he felt how miserably weak ant
helpless he was TO battle even against ths
unspeakable Joy. He looked up at he
standing there in her beautiful younI
strength before him-one earnest, yearninG
hungry look
Clara saw the look. She saw the weak
vain efforts 10 rise, and with q womsnl
tenderness she knelt down at his side; tw
warm, round arms were about his neck; and
as he caught her to his breast she heard tn
deep gasping sobs which rent the ono
strong, brave mans heart.
"Chsrlie, my own, my darling, don
don't :" she said-and burning, passionst
kisses were pressed on the pale, thin face
over which the pent up tears fell.
How strong she was in his hour of terribl
weakness, and how successfully she at lai
soothed away those bitter sobs. Wit
ell the power of his right arm he held he
there, with her sweet, young face raised |
his, her golden hair falling loose and IN
bound upon her shoulders, and her lips no
and then returning the csress pressed upo
them, Clara Holroyd made her peace wit
Charlie Oh slloner.