The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-21

at is not a bad likeness, is IL, Mr.. Jamie.
son ?"
Turning round, he saw Flora He bowed
and dexterously avoiding her protfered
hand, col nv replie |:
You wished to sec me, madam, and an
here"
There was a pause. You sec they met ur-
der The shadow of misunderstanding, ana
neither of them knew exactly how to bcgir.
She, of course. deemed herself wrongcl At
ono time she had made up her mind hat
she never would, never could, forgive Curly.
But after all she was woman. She wa
alone in the world now, for her father had
been dead for some months. Sh, did net
even affect to bewail him. though ine defer
encr to the pre- iudccs Of society she wore
mourning She was now free to think and
act for herself. If Curly could only explain
the past, il
or all her hopes and fears, of tn, terrible
trial throu I'll which she and her lover had
pas ed Willie knew nothing. He only knew
that his friend had been cruelty wrunged,
and then, he imagined, treacherously
abau oned by the woman he loved On the
other hand, it must be rcmcmb ned that it
was she who had most rea on to think her
self deserted and betrayed. Besides, she
was in total Ignorance of what had occurred
to Curly CT indeel what had become of him
name announced al the theatre, and she felt
convinced that if any man knew CurIy's
whcrcab utS Willie Jane-on was that man.
She remem cred, too, the promise of the
latter on the night of the eiopement. Hence
it occurred to her as an Inspiration TO invite
him to come and see her He had accepted
her invitation, certainly but he might APP
parently as well have been in Aberdeen, SO
cold and distant did he seem
bn "A toll
mo that should | need a friend, l might
rely on you
81 dill, but many things have happened
since that night. You were then about to
become the wife of the man whom you have
since SO cruelty abandoned'
Sop, SIR" she SAID, 'ona moment" AMI
she went rapidly to an escritoire at the
other side of the room, and taking out the
fatal paper with Curly'S signature, she con.
tinuei, ''beftre you speak further, perhaps
you had better read this"
Jameson read it, hen he exclaimed:
My Goll Whatdoes it all mean
, ''Taat is the question ! ask myself-by
day, on my Blended knees, by night on my
sleepless pillow-but answer never comes |
thought possibly you might have been able
to explain
II know less, Miss Mac Allister, than you
know yourself. After you left Aberdeen
IL.
until the day after last saw you The
next morning brought me a mo sage from
him. An hour later | was on my way to
Dundee, where / found him in the infirmary
how, | have II 1t the heart to tell you>
and he broke down utterly.
1t was astonishing how calm she remained
till he had recovered himself Then he re-
sumed and toll her everything which the
reader knows already. 1t was her turn
fhan Sln on and oh, 4
the next, with clinche hands AMI set teeth
she strobe to and fro, as she exclaimel:
''1hc vllain the cowardly, dastarily
villain. OH that ! were a man for your
sake, Daniel Deempsterr
Don't you waste your breath on that
geutlcman-leave him to meI'' said jamie
son. Now, if you please, Miss MacAllister,
We are friends henceforth, so give me your
hand She extended it frankly and he
kissed it reverently.
Since the time told you Of" he contin-
ned, your name has never passed between
US, but l know the poor fellow loves you
still, dearer than life
If he loved me. could he-could he have
done this shameful thngl And to call God
to witness 1t, tool Oh! the cowarli the
cowardr'
We must take human nature as we find
it God help him, if he is coward, and
God help me- for I eau love him none thu
less. Do you love him less than dor
81 did love him once, moro than all th.
world, but, OH Mr. Jameson she OK
claimed ''lhe MacAllisters have held their
own in feed and field since Scotland wa, a
nation. And a coward! Obi | cln't beat.
itn And she cast herself on the couch, and
wept bitterly. Then she got up and pointed
to the picture.
''Lcok there" she said, docs that looa
like a cowar'i
NJ" Willie replied, "and don't be-
ieve he i a coward, but there arr moments