The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-19

living being. Behold me. at five-and-
thirty years of age, unloyed and unlov-
inc, without one tie which cannot as
easily break as can pay my hotel bill
or pack my portmanteau. My life, at
It's brightest, is dreary one. A dreary
present. which can neither look back to
n fairer past, nor forward to a happier
futurera ~
His deep, musical voice falls into
sadder cadence as he says these last
words. and he looks down gloomily at
the point Of the cane he carries, with
which he absentiy traces pattern upon
the carpet After short silence he
looks up and says:
s.But YOU wished to make some in
quiries of me?'
Il did. do. When | married Mr.
Dalton. what settlements were made?
You told me nothing at the lime; and |,
so utterly unused TO business matters.
asked YOU no questions. Besides. had
then reason to think him the most hon
cradle of men,"
..What settlements were made?" He
repeats her question. as ii it were the
last of all Others which he expected to
hear
..Yes. nv foitunel How mach of it
was settled on myself?p =
Not one penny She gives a start
of surprise, which he. answers in his
most aonchaIdRt manner. 81. Not one
penny of IL! There was no mention
whatever of anything like a settlement
in your uncle's will He left his money
to YOU; but he left it to you only on con
dition that you shared it with his adopted
and beloved son. Henry Dalton. This
! implies not only a, strong affection for,
but an implicit faith in, the young man.
To tie up your money, or 20 settle it on
Yourself, would be to nullify your uncle's
will The man that could be trusted by
him, could be trusted by you. This is
why never suggested settlement l
may have, perhaps, acted in rather al
unlawyer-like manner; but do believe,
| my dear Ellinor, that | acted in the only
manner eonsonant with your late unele's
afiectionate provisions for the two per-
sons nearest and dearest to himg, iaa3
g Then Henry Dalton is sole master
of my--of the fortune2'
g As your husband, decidedly yes"
And he may, if he pleases, sell the
| Arden Estategn
- The Arden Estate is not entailed.
Certainly he may sell it, if he wishes"
Then. MIR. Margraye, | must inform
you that he does wish to sell 1t; that he
does intend to sell it. u =ai
ITO sell Arden Hall?o ~
| "Yesr'
An angry flush lights up her face, as
she looks eagerly into the lawyers eyes
for one fash of surprise or Indignation,
She looks in VAIN sEraa -. 81, a..,.s
"Well, my dear Mrs. Dalton, in my
opinion he shows himself very sensi-
Bile fellow, by determining on such a
proceeding. Arden is one of the dreari-
est, coolest and most tumbled-down cid
plies of building in all England, 4 1t
possesses all the leading features OF 0
country mansion; magiicent oak panel
ing, contemplate servants Offices
three secret staircases, and not one
register stove; six tapestried chambers,
| and no bathroom; a dozen Leonardo
da Vinci's, and not one door that does
1
northeast wind; deer park, and no
| deer; three game-keepers' lodges, and
| not game enough to tempt the most
fabulous of poaehersl) Sell Arden Hall!
| Nothing could be more desirable; but,
alas! my dear Ellinor, your husband is
not the mani took him for, If he calcu-
lates on finding p,irchaser!''
She looks at him with not little con-
tempt, as she says:
5.'' But the want of feeling; the out
rage upon the memory Of my poor
| uncle 20 7
"Your poor uncle will not be remem-
bered day longer through your retain
| ing possession of dfaaghty and I'M
comfortable house When did Dalton
tell you that he meant totseIl ArdenP"
-"Oh our return from our tour l
suggested that I'VE should live there
that is, of course, out of the season"
'' And he?''-
''Replied that twas out of the ques-
ton our ever residing there, as the place
must be sold. :"
go You asked him his reasonsP"
Il did. He told me that he was un-
able to reveal those reasons to me, and
might never be able to reveal them.
He said, that if / loved him, l could
trust him, and believe in him, and be-
lieye that the course he took, however
strange it might appear to me, was, in
reality, the best and wisest course he
could take"
But in spite OF this, you doubt
him. he asks, earnestly.
How can / do otherwise? OF the
fortune which have brought TO him, be
refuses to allow me a penny. He, the
husband of rich woman, enjoins econ.
omy economy even in the smallest
details. dare not order a jewel. a
picture, an elegant piece of furniture, q
stand of dollhouse flowers; for. if dc
so, l am told that the expenditure is be-
yond his present means, and that must
wait till we have more money at oul
command. Then agais, his profession
is thousand times dearer to him than
l. No, briefess, penniless barrister,
with mother and sister TO support
ever worked harder than he works, ever
devoted himself more religionsiy than
he devotes himself to the drudging rou-
tine of the bar
''Ellinor Dalton, your husband is as
high-minded and conscientious aman as
ever drew the breath of human life.
seldom take the trouble of making We
hement assertion; so believe me if yor
can, now that / do! Believe me, even
if you cannot believe himi''
You, too, against me-" she said,
mournfully. 80, believe me, it is no,
the money for which visit it is not the
possession Of the money which grudgt
him; it is only that my heart sinks al
the thought of being united to man
cannot respect or esteem. ibid not ash
to love him. she added, half to her
self; "but did pray that might be
able at least TO esteem him p
a. / can only say, Ellinor. that you are
mistaken in him.
At this very moment they hear q
! quick, firm step on the stairs, and Hen
! ry Dalton himself enters the room His
face is bright and cheerful. and he adj.
vances to his wife eagerly; but, at the
r. nj TaII