The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-18
CHAPTER II.
IN WHICH A SECRET As REVEALED, BUT NOT TO
THE READER.

THE READER.
The hands of the ormolu clock, in the
little drawing-room in Hartford street,
occupied by Ellinor Arden and. her
companion, protectress and dependent,
Mrs. Morrison, pointed to quarter past
eight, as Horace Margrave's quiet
brougham rolled up to her door.
Horace Margrave's professional posi-
ton was no inconsiderable one. His
practice was large and eminentE re-
spectacle; lying principally amongst
railway companies, and involving trans
actions of a very extensive kind He
was man of excellent family, perfect
gentleman, elegant, clever, and accom-
plished; too good for lawyer, as every
body said, but very good lawyer for
all that, as his clients constantly re-
peated. At fiye-and-thirty he was still
unmarried; why, no one could guess; as
many great heiress, and many a
pretty woman, would have been only
TO oproud to say Yes to matrimonial
proposition from Horace Margrave, Of
Gray's Inn, Fir Grove, Stanlydale, Berk-
shire. But the handsome lawyer evil
IDENTITY preferred his free bachelor life;
for if his heart had been very suscept-
ible to womanly graces, he would most
inevitably have lost it in the society of
his lovely ward, Ellinor Arden,
Ellinor had been only a few weeks
resident in London; she had left the
guardianship of her aunt in Paris, to
launch herself upon the whirlpool of
English society, sheltered only by the
ample wing of an elderly lady, duly
selected and chartered by her aunt and
Mr.. MargraVe. The world was new to
her, and she came from the narrow
circle of the convent in which she had
been educated, and the quiet coteries of
the Faubourg Saint Germans, in which
her aunt delighted, TO take her position
at once in London, as the sole heiress of
Mr.. Arden, of Arden.
1t was then to Horace Margrave-to
Horce Margrave, whom she remembered
in her happy youth among the Scottish
mountains, a young man on shooting
expedition, visiting at her fathers
house-Horace who had visited her
aunt, from time to time, in Paris. and
who had exhibited towards her all the
tender friendship and respectful deyo-
ton of an elder brother-to him, and
him alone, did she look for counsel and
| guidance; and she submitted as entirely
to his influence as if he had indeed been
that guardian and father whom he by
law represented
Her cheek flushed as the carriage
wheels stopped below the window.
Now, Mrs. Morrison she said.
with sheer; "now for my incompar-
able tastar. Now for the light hair and
/ the thick boots.''
lit will be very impertinent of him
If he comes in thick boots, !" replied her
matter-of-fact protectress. Mr. Mar
grave says he is such an excellent young
| person"
Exactly, my dear Mrs Morrison-a
young person. He is described in one
word, person.
Oh, imy dream! my dreami'' she
murmured. under her breath.
Remember, she had but this day
passed wisdom's Rubicon, and she was
| new to the hither bank. She was still
very romantic and, perhaps, very fool
ish.
/ The servant announced "Mr. Mar
/ grave and Mr.. Dalton"
In spite of herself, Ellinor Arden
looked up with some curiosity to see
this young man, for whom she enter
tanned SO profound 6. contempt and SC
unmerited an aversion. He was about
| three years her senior; of average
height, neither tall or short. His hair
was. as she had prophesied, light; but
it was by no means an ugly color, and
it clustered in short curls, round broad,
low, but massive forehead His features
were sufficiently regular; his eyes dark
blue. The general expression of his
face was grave, and it was only on rare
occasions that quiet smile played
round bis firmly-molded lips. Standing
side by side with Horace Margrave, he
appeared anything but a handsome
man; but to the physiognomist, his
face was superior in the very qualities
in which the dark beauty of the LAWYER
was deficient; force, determination.
self-reliance, perseverance; all those
attributes, in short, which go to make q
great man.
/ Mr. Dalton has been anxiously
awaiting the hour. that should bring
him to your side, Miss Arden said
Horace Margraye. /" He has been for q
| long time acquainted with those articles