The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-20

turn my glance; for the first time in his
long. honorable life. Warren Carlingford
could not meet the clear gaze of his
daughters eyes, lest he should read re-
proach there.
This is the only alternste-the last
hopper queried sharply. He bowed his
head
"And I am Arthur Grey's promised
wifel" I said slowly. Father father!
nothing but wrong can come OF this re-
quest, and Vetoed help mellow can
refuse?"
He caught me in his arms, and strained
me close to his heart, kissing me fondly.
Poor old father he meant to do no wrong,
but the temptation was greater than he
could bear 1t was terrible temptation
truly for himi ! thought of Athur-my
handsome, manly lover; from Allan
Beresford ! shrank in repulsion He was
man Of middle age-.a misshapen dwarf
but with a face of rare pathetic beauty
II seemed to me. as gazed upon my own
fair reflection in the mirror, that the
sacrifice was monstrous. 1t would be a
year or two before Arthur could make
me his wife; he was exerting every effort
TO make home for father and me; but
knew that, long before that day would
dawn. the house of Carllngford would go
down in ruin.
And so, at last, believing that the sac
riice was right, turned from my lovers
imploring words and shut my eyes to the
still, white anguish of the face loved so
well, turned away with outward calm>
ness. and the sacrifice was made. was
Allan Beresford's promised wife, and my
heart was brokenl After that | cared not
what became of me- The beautiful an
cestral home of the Beresfords was fitted
up in princely magniticence for my recep
ton. But / looked across the hills lying
green and fair in the summer sunshine
toward the adjoining hill. where stood a
modest white cottage--Arthur's home,
which was to have been mine. And |
grew to hate the great marble villa, which
was being reftted and upholstered in
grand style for the bride--the new Mrs.
Beresford He did not trouble me often
From the hour that laid my cold, shak>
| uhuu al anu
faltered brokenly: Il have no heart tc
give you, Mr.. Beresford; but if you art
willing to take me as am, l will be you
wife"--from that moment, when hi
stopped and laid his lips for brief in
slant reverently upon my brow, | hat
met him very seldom. He seemed to un
derstand the misery which it caused mt
to watch the dumb love in his eyes
great, sad, beautiful eyes-sO mournfu
and pathetic-and he Stunned me &C
cordingly.
So time slipped by. My fathers trou
BILE safely tided over, and he was pros
Iperous and quite happy, save for the re-
greet and remorse in his heart for my sor
row, which nothing could assuage.
| A silence seemed to lie upon our lives
a silence broken at last A green ant
sunny strip of woodland lay just beyonl
the limits of our village, and thither
sometimes went when my trouble weighel
hardest upon me, and my burden NOR
than l could bear. | walked there on
soft, summer evening; the red glory 0
the sunset paving crimson pathway owe
which l passed listlessly. There wer
, fierce desperadoes-wild lawless charac
/ ters-loaming about in the woods
though of this was ignorant. Ere ha
igone far, was accosted by a villainou
looking ruffian, who coolly demanded m
watch, and the diamond solitaire fiashin
on my finger in the sunset light, silon
reminder that belonged to Allan Bere.
ford. Impulsively, I resolved to resist.
was no coward, and determined not t
quietly submit to this pillsge; I.turne
; sharply about and fled back over the pat
down which had come. With yolle
, of brutal oaths the VILLAIN drew revolvt
and fred. In an instant more, woul
have fallen dead or dying-but slende
, figure darted between me and certai
f death. was caught 10 some ones arm
and strained madly to the loving heal
ready to die in my defense. | fell bac
in wordlass terror: it was Allan Beres
5 ford, but even as | faltered his name, b
I fell 10 the ground, the red blood pourin
from frightfui wound
That night i was summoned to ii
Beresford mansion; he was better, u
h physician said. and was begging ptifull
4 | to see me. Once there, father broke IL
tidings, bowling his gray head that /
might not see my anguish. Allan had sci
| for me, with the prayer that | would col
: sent to be his wife at once. He had o
1 fered his life in my defense, what could
do but answer yes. So, standing at h
bedside with my hand in his, the solen
words were spoken and / became Il
bride of Allan Beresford When it WI
; all over he drew my face down to his, an
. kissed me once upon the lips.
ut is well, my love--my lovel" |
whispered family. "Let me call you min
my little wife just once. and then yt
shall be freei Irene, had | thought that
should live, drag upon your existenc
| would never have accepted this sacr
fee | have made you my own that ! mi
bequeath to you my entire possession
and no kindred of mine can wrest it fro
you, since you are legally my wife. {
b not wish to live, it is better for me
) die. +"
He paused, and l saw gray shade
J creep slowly over his face. and the hal
in mine grew very cold.
II God bless your he murmured. IN
: -little-wife-bles
) He lay there very still and cold, al
: ere could speak or cry aloud, he w
= gone, and was alone; welded and wi
owed within single hour.
q
e 1t was found that when he had be-
v brought home, mortally wounded, he h
q made his win bequeathing everything
me-bidding me marry the man / love
Is and be happy.
Dear unseiiish heartl Through all 4
u long golden years that have come al
IL gone since then-though as Arthur Gre
P beloved wife am very happy, the mel
e DRY of that noble life is ever with me-
: noble life which was not lived in vaiI
u
/