The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-11

obscure, you designed to fancy yourself
in love with me. Your momentary
infatuation went even SO far, that as the
hour approached that was toput an end for
ever to our intercourse with each other,
driven by some puerile impulse, you deemed
it even possible to declare your love-. and
offer me your name. But when you CT one TO
the point you quailed; you drew bac1L -FOUR
half uttered words; you shrank from Mlying
yourself with one beneath you. Knowing
myself scorned, rejected, without being af-
forded so much as the poor qualification OF
being able to refuse you, l left the room,
hoping, praying might never see your face
Il shall ever forgive all that~
"Hear me-"
81 will not. If your life, and heart, and
title were all at my feet now, L"
"They are at your feet"
"Then l reject them," returns she with
vebemence.
"As You will But at least you shall listen
to what have TO say in my defense" says
Dare, with dignity. THAT morning Of
which you speak-my last in the hospital
truly meant as you say, to tell you Of my
love-
"Mean! And then you hesitated."
IL did, stys Dare simply. my name and
the honor OF my house is dear to me- Is it
a crime beyond forgiveness that j should
have paused before offering that name and
honor to a woman who, though the most
beautiful and lovable in the world, was still
Unknown
"Why should you seek to excuse yourselff'
interrupts Miss Monteith hsus htily. 81
know all thatp
There is, however, one thing that you do
not know You saw that did battle with
myself that morning, but you did not wait
the termination of it. Love and duty fought
a hard fight, but when it was over your
that is love-had won the victory. raj ed
my head again to tell you ALTO beseech
you 10 be my wife, but you were gone.
adyertised-all to purpose. For eighteen
months sought for you-in vain"
Her face is turned away from him now,
but a faint sound that is either sigh or a
Irotest, escapes her
about ali this you must believe me OF
not, as you will" says Dare quietly. 81
have only my simple word to give you, but
it is at least word that has never yet been
dishonored. VIII you not say something
to me?"
"An have to say has been said long ago
| cannot forgive you," says Miss Monteith,
but as she saws it she bursts into tears.
Il will not accept such words from your
lips" exclaimed Dare, with deep agitation
And then all in a moment his arms are round
her, and his cheeks pre- Sed to hers.
"Belovef," he says, have pity on me
Just think of it. You who have q name a,
| old as mine, can you not understand The
| struggle endured"
al can" murmured she, sadly; Hand-yes
| honor you for it. But =" Here he
voice fails "Oh, if you could only know
what have suffered" she says, sobbinl
| bitterly.
Il do know it. 1t was Just half what
| suffered" he returns, gravely. 20 darling
| put an end to my misery now-Aherel OF thu
| two am the more TO be pitied, because
You still prove unkind my unhappiness vii
| last forever Eva speak to me-"
| Evelyn" corrects she softly
| "Ah, of course. But you must remainder
| how long you have been Eva to me. VIVA
| an eternity lies in that year and a half Tn
| very length of my wretcAedness should buy
my pardon"
| "You are a special pleader," whispers she
and then she makes him a present of a lit
tie arch smile, and a tender glance from un
| der her drenchel lasheS.
"Tell me you love me" persisted he
a cannot-yet. There is first some
Nothing that shall separate us" declare,
he stoutly.
There may be. Who-who was that Ally.
you were raving about during that dreadful
time when you were ill"
"Alys My sitter of counsel" says b.
triumphantly. Had a letter from her only
Yesterday. She has been in India with hel
husband for the past four years, or probably
you would have seen her at ths hospital dur
ing that lucky time l was i'll Now, wha
have you got to say" He is fast waxin
into the widest spirits.
Nothing" returns she demurely; $50 nov
let us go back TO the others"
She makes movement as though to 90 t
the door, but he seizes her
, ooh, yes, there is somethingw he say,
"and you shan't go without oonfessine
Now, then-you viii marry met"
"Yes."
"Soon?'
"Ye-es"
"And you are sure you love mel"
"As sure as sure can bel" says Miss MOI
| teith solemnly, with a shameless disregar
, | of maidenly reserve.