The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-11
he says confusediy, almost apollo.


slow. and in nowise kindred spirit; SO he
hobbies away from him to where Lady Dali
ruth is standing. Dare, too YEARLY dis |
turbed in mind to find amusement in his |
present surroundings, follows his movements |
with idle, uuinteresting eyes, but presently |
is attracted by something he hears him say
ing to his hostess.
aLeft him at the point Of DEATH said Sir
Harry, unctuously. "as he thought; but il
was nothing of the kind. Gordon recovered
Clayne, you know. Fellow who upset him
was a cousin, and thought to come in for the
property, dye seep
"One Of the Gordons OF Clayne' is bosom
friend Of Sir Rawdon's so naturally ne
pricks up his ears
"What did happen to him9' asking Lady
Dalruth, looking Interested.
"Oh, mere triAel Nothing vital at all
events. One fellow told me it was broken
clavicle; another fractured Humorous; but
| haven't the faintest idea what either
means
"You should ask Evelyn for translation"
saws Lady Dalruth, with a merry laugh
Miss Monteith, who had been listening
silently to the conversation, turns her eyes
upon her. Is there entreaty or simple in
difference in her glances II entreaty, il
comes too late; Lady Dalruth does not even
see it.
Miss Monteithl" asks Sir Harry.
YES Didn't you know that she has
studied medicine, surgery and all the rest
of it,"
"You terrify mel" says Sir Harry, with
mock horror.
"That is quite correct feeling for the oc
casion, She is really terribly learned. Aren't
you, Evelyn
She smiles at the girl as though in pleas.
ant appreciation of jest that is known to
them alone. But Miss Monteith's return
smile is forced and very faint.
Learned? no; but | really have some
taste for that scrt of thing" she says quietly
and then turns away, as if anxious TO termin
ate the conversation. In so doing her eyes
met Dare's There is a pause in which each
regards the other with strange anx
iety, Then the blood slowly mounts tc
Miss Monteith'sS brow, until all her lovely
face is dyed warm crimson. Her breath
comes quickly; she waivers; then, with a last
defiant contemptuous glance, she move
away, and sinks into chair at the opposite
enl Of the room.
But to Dare there is no longer even q
chance for doubt. Just so had she looked
at him when in moments passion, he haC
called her Eva" in the hospital, and she had
coldly corrected him; jul so, no doubt, heI
| large scornful eyes had rested upon him
during that last fateful hour, when he had
half declared his love, and had heSitated-
and been lost
With terrible sinking OF the heart he
tells himself that he has sinned past for
| giveness in Der eyes.
The next morning all the world is clad
with snow The soft white, fleecy car pet i,
! covering the land far as the eye can see, anG
| is lying heavily on branch and bough. The
| Christmas bells are Ginning merrily. A soft
| gray mist is trembling between earth and
sky. Over all the merry sun is shining gaily.
| 1t is indeed, an ideal Christmas morn.
| Luncheon has come and gone, and they
are all standing before the glowing fire If
the bllliard-room discussing the costumes tx
be worn at fancy dress ball, to be given il
the neighborhood some time in the ensuing
month.
|
past centuries gowns" says Lady Dalruth,
dejectedly. 20 for something new. some
thing bizarre, out Of the commonl I'm sure
don't know what is to be done alb GU
Evelyn. She and are quite worn out tryin.
to imagine costume that all the work
hasn't seen hundred times before. Tn
anxiety has robbed me of my honest sleel
for fortnight past, have SO set my hear
on making her success. But each of IN,
ideas only seems more crude than the last
Dear, Sir Rawdon, do suggest something"
Il An uncomfortable impulse takes hold o
Dare He glances at Miss Monteith to fin
she, too, is looking full at him, that dream
touch of scorn that had offended him las
night now wide awake within her large eyes
1t spurs him to his half determined purpose
why not try the dress of hospita
nursep he says to Lady Dalruth pale bu
smiling. u don't recollect having ever see
! it at ball before, and think the pretty lit
tie cap and apron would suit Miss Monteit
admirably"
! "Sir Rawdon, what can you know abou
hospital nursesP says pretty girl from tn
opposite side of the hearth-rugs with a
amused laugh.
/ "Didn't you know was in hospital 70
many weeks-summer before last-when
smashed myself ups" returns Sir Rawdol
distinctly. "Idon't think shall ever forge
the kindness / received there; and at a.
/ events l shall never, under any circum
stances forget-my nurse"
"Ah, gratitude is a charming virtue,
says the pretty girl with second laugh
"Was it her cap and apron you were think
ing of just nowi"
Eyes. They are indelibly printed upo
my brain"
{ Again he glances at Miss Monteith
= she has grown little whittier, it is at leas
E only perceptiblo to lovers eyes.
"Do you know, the costume sounds well,
she says, quite calmly. LET us think of il
Mirabel," turning to Lady Dalruth. ut
the one thing you desire-out of tn
common"
Lady Dalruth's answer is little COZ
fused Miss Monteith looks full at Sir Raw
don. her eyes dilate, and
80 what deal of scoru looks beautiful
a In the contempt and anger of her hpSW
With a little passionate movement of th
, hand, unseen by all but him, she crosses tn
: room with slow, graceful step, and disai
pears through the doorway.
, 1t takes Sir Rawden but a moment to il
y vent some idle speech, that leaves him, to-
| free to quit the apartment without arousin
suspicion of the real motive of his d.
parture.
Finding himself in the hall, he comes to
standstill, and asks himself what is it /
means to do. He cannot forget the la!
glance of hers, or the passionate anger cor
tanned in it. He feels that he would Civ
. half his possessions to be able honestly I
7 hate her, but yet knows by the sheer impo
! sibility of his being able to do this, that
loves her.
As he stands irresolute, one OF the foo
I men passes through tho hall. Then an
there a sudden resolution comes to Sir Raw
don. He will 60 to her, tell her all-ln
: bare his heart to her, and, that will blal
his life forever. Anything will be bettt
q than this crushing suspense
"Where is Miss Monteith2" he asks IL
I man US he goes by.
In the library, sir. Saw her go in thel
8 just now.
Opening the library door he enters IL
room and finds himself alone with her.
q "So-now you know me-" she says del