The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-01
HIS BROTHERS WIFE.

man, sat at her side. His hand was
near hers-so near he had but to lift it
and lay it upon the little pink-tipped
fingers that clasped the arm of the
crimson chair. And his eyes, his dus-
ky, unfathomable eyes, were fixed up
on her face in q glance half scrutiny,
half admiration.
s'Violetr' ....
The girl raised her dropped eyes with
q slow uplifting of their white, long
fringed lids, but she did not look into
his face nor change one line of her
graceful, languid attitude.
Violet" her companion commenced
again, slight swift CLEAN of annoy
ance crossing his face, 'tare you angry
because have mentioned my brothers.
name? Really do, you care nothing for
my brother more"
"Really, Mr.. Daryl, you are. unwar-
rantably curious!" the girl flashed out,
gathering herself up in naughty way
that became her well. ''But, lest you
should wilfully misunderstood me-
hear me say it again-in plain words,
Hubert is only my friend"
Now the mans idle hand closed over
the light fingers in a firm clasp, and
his handsome face, flushed and plead
ing, bent close above the girls.
Violet, you are angry with me-you
call me Mr.. Daryl, and have known
you as long as Hubert, and you say l
am unwarrantably curious because am
deeply interested in your welfare, and
you evade my questions. You and
Hubert may be only friends, and yet
you may love him. Stay! you shall
not leave mel I will leave you if need
be. No doubt have fingered too long
already; but you shall hear me first
know why I am curious-because |
love you. There, Violet If you love
Hubert, there is no hope for me, but
L can, perhaps, accomplish your hap
piness."
The girl shook off his hand and stood
up. angrily, q naughty little maiden
with flaming cheeks and flashing eyes,
and cloud of short tawny hair tossed
impetuously away from her white brow.
Eyes, you have fingered too long,
already, Mr.. Daryl; there is no hope
for you here"
very well. I accept my dismissal
for the present." replied her compan-
ion, with admirable calm: ''but the
day will come when you will be less
swift to send me away. Good evening,
Miss Rivers"
What did he mean? The girl sat long
and late by the CRATE fire, trying to
think it all over-his words about Hub
ert, his own confession of love, his of
fer to accomplish her happiness.
'EAs if would take Hubert love
gift at his handsn' she broke forth, in
dignantly. Hubert does love me. L
am sure of it. ''How can help being
Hor olv
intimate friends and his manner has
grown to be more and more that of a
loverP OIL why has Ernest come home
to make me miserableh'
Poor child! Leading her sweet, quiet
home life in the old vicarage, what did
she know of the hundred evil passions
that rule the ways of menp
The Daryrs country mansion was
just across the broad, shaded country
road from the vicarage, where Violet
uncle and aunt. The girl had known
the DARYL bows from childhood, and
had admired the handsome elder one
in an awesome way, and loved her
Younger friend and playmate with all
her childish, passionate affection. As
the years went by, Ernest, the heir,
travelled abroad, and only with the re-
curing summer did she see much of
his younger brother. But this year
things had been different. Ernest had
come home from abroad, Hubert had
left Oxford, and despite the invalidism
of Mrs. DARYL, the hall had been crowd
ed with gay summer visitors.
Violet had never passed so gay a
summer; for the parties at the hall were
never quite complete without her, and
it seemed almost q second home.
Hubert was with her constantly, and
the strange, sweet blossoms of woman
hoods love doomed in Violet's heart.
She was too happy. too innocent, in
her sweet, pure girlishness to see that
Hubert was beloved of another woman,
and too wrapped in her own dreams to
study Ernest Daryl as he studied her,
or she might have discovered that he
loved her.
And so that evenings talk, when
ernest had called on her, came with
strange shock to Violet; but for all its
SAD forshadowings of fate she scarcely
comprehended it. Only, as the DAYS
and weeks slipped by, and Hubert new
or came to call on her, she could not
shut out from her mind the face of
handsome Miss Bellairs, and the words
that Ernest had dropped concerning
her and Hubert.
And then - sometimes Violet re-
called MIR. Daryps words. Was it true
that he would have-that he could have
had the power to accomplish her
happinessP Had she been foolishly,
miserably unwise and overproud in
striving to conceal her hearts secret
until she should confess it-for the
very first-at Hubert's wooing?
No! She could not, she would not
take her love from another mans
hands! -
From November to the latter part OF
March-such short time TO most NOR
tals-seemed an eternity to poor, proud
little Violet. And then, one night,
Ernest Daryl came to cali. Much and
often as she had told herself that she
hated him, she met him eagerly now.
As the girl walked with outstretched
hand toward him, Ernest noted how
changed she was since the summer be-
fore. Her cheeks had lost their deli
cious bloom, her eyes their sweet
naughty fire. He was glad He had
not hurried his plans, and he felt sure
of triumph at last.
.sWIiat a stranger You arer' Violet
said. with q slight, shy dropping of her
eyes.
did you expect to see me. after you
sent me awayf'' 49,
Il am afraid was ver5 rude that
night. But You have forgiven me. or
you would not be herean o tribe CUES
Il have forgiven. yes. ] have no
choice but to forgive you--though you