The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-13

SiAN PAto1 A%-S-- -
ton.
But Ethel refuses TO hear aHght
against him. and stands up bravely for
her lover.
How pretty she looks when she is in
1ienanti Surely it would be no hard
matter TO fall in love with my beautiful
cousin, even if her face were her only
fortunei
But that ali Raoul DeVere cares for
her is her money | am convinced as /
look into his shallow false face.
Oh, if / could only lend her my
eyes!
Time goes on until at length comes
an evening to which both Ethel and l
have been looking forward mi:h pleas
urable anticipations.
OF all our friends, Mrs. Fairfax
knows best how to entertain, and it is
at her charming home that tonight
grand ball is to be held.
But alasi evening finds me laid up
with toothache, every nerve racked
with the distracting pain, and my cheek
swollen far beyond the bounds of come
illness.
you must not think of STAYING
home," | say peremptorily, as Ethel
proposes giving up.her pleasure. al
deed you shall not. Go-one martyr
enough"
She goes, dream of loneliness in her
maidenly tulle and pearls, while i go
TOTO bed.
At last sleep comes to my relief, and it
is very late, or rather early, when [ am
awakened by EthePs kiss upon my
cheek.
..ITow's my toothache? Oh, it is bet
ter. How did you enjoy yourself,
dear?' | ask, sitting up and rubbing my
eyes sleepily.
Ethel's answer is not as enthusiastic
as | should expect, and / notice what
strange pale look her face has. Not
thus does my pretty cousin, who has
never experienced what it is TO be a
wall-fower, usually return from a party
Were it not absurd should surely think
she had been crying.
/ kiss her goodnight and she goes
away to her room.
AS / dress the next morning my ewes
light upon satin-covered ball-pro-
gramme lying on the floor where Ethel
must have dropped it.
Picking it up open it carelessly, but
my carelessness changes suddenly to
fixed startled regard.
Pencilled in the space beneath the list
of dances are these words:
my darling, let it be tomorrow eve
ning-I will await you, as the clock
strikes eleven, by the great oak at the
end of the drive. Circumstances over
which [ have no control call me
abroad. Something tells me that if 60
leaving you free, we shall surely be
parted Your aunt is preiudiccd
against me, and YOU tell me that she
can prevent you from marrying until
you are of age. Oh, my love, you know
how faithful your devoted Raoul is. /
implore you take your fate in your own
hands and consent to nay wishes for a
secret marriage. 1t need only be kept
secret until my return, then we can con-
fess and be forgiven"
As read, Ethers agitation returns TO
me, and / know that unless save her.
my cousin will go to her ruin this very
night.
For that ruin it would be to entrust
her life's happiness into the keeping of
the unprincipled adventurer whose hand
penned these lines am convinced
But how is it to be done? l must
have help. Auntie is out of the ques-
ion; there is only Hart-will he, angry |
1t me as he is, come TO my assist |
ance.
I seek him at his law-oflice. He |
meets me coldly; but his manner
changes as, in earnest anxious tones, [
pour out my troubles. and, ignoring his
Indifferent greeting, implore him. upon
he strength of our old friendship, to
lelp me, if it is in his power, to save my
cousin from taking the irrecoverable
tep she contemplates.
Help. you? OF course l willard
IAN, toors he exclaims. How lucky |
-ou came to me-and what coinci-
lence it isr'
''Coincidence-in what wayPf I
SIX.
Never mind now,'' he answers.
But chez. up, Joan; all will come
veil. promise you. 1t was fortunate
tar that led you to me-"
That night, instead of retiring, / sit
t my window, from which / can plain
7 see the drive, although it is some lit
lie distance away.
The hall clock strikes eleven, and just
{ that moment a slight dark figure is
visible in the moonlight, walk.
1g with rapid steps down the drive
/ hold my breath, and my hands
lasp themselves convulsively to-
ether.
Ii is Ethel. my poor little deluded
Ousin. Oh. Hart, do not fail met He
oes not 1t is he whom Ethel finds
waiting her coming beneath the Great
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