The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-23
FROM THE GRAVE.
BY DORA HASTINGS.

| dol! sneered the old man. "But
on the day that you marry Darlie Gusts
the doors of Marshall Hail will be closed
TO you both. Not one penny of my
money should buy bread for YOU if You
were starving"
''Will you give me your reasons?''
asked the son. controlling himself By a
strong effort. Too much was at stake
for him to needlessly excite the sick and
choleric old man. ''Darlie's home has
been with us for years. and you must
have seen that me loved each other %
Il saw she loved you,' with a vindie-
tive CLEAN in the dnll old eyes, land
was glad glad, for meant TO make
hersuffer. F"
WHY? ''
1T is retrbution. The old man
raised himself SLOWLY and painfully up
on the pillows. Il loved her mother,
and Darlie Nottingham threw me over
i who had loved her for Years-to
marry my half-brother He was a poor
stick, Bob GUSTS, and she had time and
need to repent. When they died the
child had to come here or go to- the
poor-house =
And you have hated her for her moth
er's sake all these years. exclaimed
Burke, flushing hotly. You have de
iberately plotted to destroy the happi-
ness of my life and hers because of her
mothers sin? Father, | would never
have believed it eff your
Il didn't think of your caring for her.
She's a mere slip of a girl, and she has
not the Nottingham beauty There are
other women better worth loving, nv
boy. Promise me to give her up, and
the money is all yours. Think of the
difference between an income of twenty
thousand, and no income at all,
Il can work for her -
That is easily saidi What win be-
come of you both while You are trying
to find work."
God knows'' said the young man.
solemnly, '.but | shall marry my love
yet
"Then hear me, said his father, my
will is made and signed. When L die.
the girl shall have a home here still; but
if You attempt TO marry her, you make
her homeless no less than yourself. You
shall have everything else-money, |
land, house she shall not be your
wife. l will never give my consent on
EARTH
You are determined on this misery?
You would die unrelenting?'
s'When come out of my grave take
that as sign said the old man, grim-
". at is i'm the will Perhaps You
will look for the grave to open in order |
to give two idiots a doubtful happi- /
ness?f' -..Fz
..God forgive vou!'' Burke looked at |
his dying father with steady eyes. Mir |
aeles have been performed before now, |
and you may live to repent of this in
justice"
Il shall not live; but when repent |
will come from the grave to let you
know it. Go now, and tell your love,
with sneer-.swhat / have told |
you.
In the deep embrasure of the window |
at the head of the stairway stood white |
robed girlish figure. Two slim white |
hands were held out to Burke-two great |
dark eyes met his questioningly zap |
pealingly. /
1T IS hopeless. Darlie" he said. pris |
oning the two little hands in one broad |
palm, while the other arm encireled her
slender, unresisting figure. Il am to
be disinherited, and you are to be |
homeless unless we give each other up.
Could you bear poverty for my sake,
darling?'
Il could bear it with you, but not for
you," she murmured. 'tI1ow could l
endure TO KNOW Iisil you Hau gwen up
your birth-riyht for meP
ssOf what value is it without youP See
here, Darlie, we love each other too
well to have any misunderstanding
shall never give you up. Heaven help
ing, am man enough to support my
wife, and I'll do it. Let us wait pa
tienfly, until the right time eomes-when
it does. our beloved cousins may have
the money and the Hall in welcome /
shall have you
And do you think | will let you
make such n sacrificed" asked Darlie,
quietly mo. | shall go away, OF
course. must get position as COVER
ness, andy and by-you will forget
all about this, and be happy, prosper
Gus man."
..You would give me up, them" re-
proachfully.
For your own good, yes"
And you really suppose should let
You could not help it.
..You shall see whether l can help
itr' Burke exclaimed, clasping her pas
sionately. my little love, you are all |
the world to me, and viii hold You
fast against life and death.