The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-13

derstand that his dismissal is final.
Think of the magnificent future opening
before you, and prepare to receive with
cordial welcome The lover who comes to
shower his hardly learned gold upon you.
Poor Kate left her mothers presence 10
q tempest of feeling it would be impossible
to portray. A fierce battle was raging
within her, and she also trembled before
the dread that she would never be per
mitted to reject the lover who came with
the power in his hand to release those she
tenderly loved from the hopeless drear-
mess of their present existence.
A young, bright face, with nobility OF
soul stamped upon every lineament, arose
before her, and she covered her face with |
her hands and moaned 10 her anguish:
''They will tear me from my Harry
my darling and my pride; they will preach
to me of my duty to them and to myself,
until wrong will seem right, and shall be-
come a mere puppet in their hands. And
he-he that man of strong will, is coming
to compel me to fulfill a contract l never
meant to make. 0, what shall do! what
will become of mel"
She had sat down on the upper step of
the winding stairs, and now rising abrupt
ly she went into her own room and closed
the door.
Shortly afterwards Mrs. Loser knocked
TREMENDOUSLY at her daughters door and
asked to be admitted,
There was a slight stir within, and
faltering voice replied
II had rather not see any one just yet
mamma. Give me time to battle my
eyes, and get calm, and / will see and talk
with you. OF if you love me, leave me
alone now"
To this passionate adjuration.M Mrs. Loser
replied:
Il must see you at once, Kate, ] have
something that is most important ito say
to you. Something that you ought to
know. as it may help you to decision as
to what is right for you to do"
After a slight delay the door was un-
locked, and Kate, with swollen eyes and
pathetic expression of helplessness upon
her face, looked with trembling dread up
on the mother who, she. knew, had come to
throw some additional load upon her
young shoulders, heavy as was the one she
already had 70 bear.
The apartment of Kate was simply but
} tastfully furnished. In it were found the
} few books she claimed as her own, her
J guitar, her portfolios of dried plants, and
many little nick -nacks such as young girls
! like to collect around them.
The walls we're covered with pencil
} sketches made by herself, fancifully
D framed with autumn leaves, Among
] them was found the shadowy outline of a
young mans head so lightly drawn that
the fair artist seemed afraid to make il
} too distinct lest it might be recognized
0 A wreath of wild flowers hung over it
and concealed the words family traced
r beneath-"My ideal"
] The head was certainly very noble and
:. handsome one, and Kate deserved credit
e if she had drawn it from her own concep-
i ton of what is grand and true in man.
d Her mother glanced around as she came
e In, unwilling to look straight at her daught
% er, aud see 10 her face the signs of the bit
d ter struggle she knew she had been pass
ing through. Her eyes fell on the phau
X tom head, and she said:
" This is something new; have no
,e seen it before. Have you taken to draw
er ing ghosts, Kate? for this seems nothin
re more.
II That is the ghost of my happiness
mamma" said the girl, .wearily, land
r, will soon 10 to the grave that is being du
ID for it,
sc What stuff! l see now that ii is
r highly idealized sketch of Harry Cor
RAIDS head, and you have placed it Their
nj as q shrine. | suppose, before which
n Kate, that you are a most absurd youn
is woman.
Absurd as may be, mamma, until t
Il day you seemed to sanction my attachmer
u to Harry. 1t is cruel-cruel to expect me
es tear my heart from him at a moment
ID warning. know what you have come
NJ say, but would rather not hear it. All II
IN persuasions self-Interest may prompt 20
1d to utter will be powerless to change n
r. feelings toward Mr.. Conrad.
You dreadful grill is that the way yc
ss- brave me 70 my very face? You cann
ur you shall not-marry Harry COnra
Have not given you to understand tn
ad such union is out of the question ?-th
as it will bring destruction on all you a
of bound to care for IN this Word?"
Kate grew pale, but she quietly said:
Do My refusal to sell myself for gold C;
p, only affect myself, mamma, Your ia
L. and that of Edna cannot. in any way,
:, controlled by my discarded lover"
~ Can it not? when he owns the We
81 roof that covers us-the soil from whiC
~ % our scanty living is drawn2 1t is tru
-. Kate. He holds mortgage on the pla
ne tor money advanced TO Luis, and my do
,oa er right IN this poverty-stricken home
all that stands between US and starvatio
- This is what l came TO tell you, and til
Is what you must consider before you a
y ger, by refusal, the man who certainly b.
the first claim on you"
Kate fell back as il she had been sho
10 and the courage she had battled so bard
sustain deserted her. Her breath eau
,, 10 low, gasping sobs, and after a long il
~ terVaI OF silence, which her mother though
,e would never end, she family said:
-, / understand that my fate Is sette
- then. ! shall be allowed no choice Oh
- | know too well that | shall be forced
submit my will to yours, and struggle as
may, the net will close around me an
u pei me 10 give my hand to one ma
= while my whole heart is in the possessio
"a of another. Oh, motberi mother, ho
l. could you have suffered things 70 come
n such a pass as this2 Paupersl dependar
~ on Richard Staunton. for the very hrea
we have eaten, ne will demand his pa,
= ment If me, and l dare not refuse it!
- know the kind OF man be is-he would 81
~ US adrift. penniless, homeless, to beg, c
I starve, should prove false to that sill
10 pledge given in childish thoughtlessnes
n and oh! 30 bitterly repented of since!'
Her voice sunk into low sobbing mul
NJ murs, and her mothers pity for her wa
T. mingled with exnltation that she SCENE
=, - to yield at once to the necessities OF her pt
- sitlon, and accept the fate it was much
% the interest of the whole family that sh
a should not refuse.
&c A week passed away and nothing wa