Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-11-20

| he more thpn charmed, he captiyated NJ,
| He was about 80 and exceedingly handsome.
with fair curly hair and bright blue eyes
| He had a bronzed complexion and hearty
| laugh, and was altogether a most attractive
| specimen of a young EngliShman When |
had finished luncheon his manner changed
| abruptly as he began speaking of his Young
wife
! Il did not ike to enter upon the subject be
| fore YOU were rested, y he began courteouslv:
but | am intensely anxious You should see
her For some months past she has been suf-
| fering from intense meiancholia, and lately
she has taken Il deep distrust of those around
her, most particularly of me" He stopped
abruptly and bit his lip doctor, simply
| worship her, he went on passonately when
| married her five Years ago. she was the
blithest, merriest girl in all the shire; and
now, to see her like this-why, it breaks my
| heart'' and he dropped into a chair and
| buried his face in his hands.
There was an awkward pause for in those
days | was too inexperienced 10 be much of a
hand at consolation, and then stepped nearer
to him, and laid my hand upon his Shout
der Come, come, said cheerily, there is
no need to despair like this We must hope
for the best. How does she show her distrust
| of YOU
He raised his head TO answer me "By
keeping the boy from me, for one thing She
will hardly let me touch him."
The boy. \ son of yoursi"
J Our only child, he answered-"a dear
| little fellow OF nearly four; and she betrays
a terrible fear whenever / have him with
me-
Does she eat well9'
| Hardly at all
Sleep at night"
He shook his head; and then followed
string of various professional questions Our
conversation at an end, l requested TO he
shown to my room, promising to be in the
| drawing room for ) O'Clock tea, when Ishould
| be introduced to Mrs Crawford
"As Mr.. Lennox, if You please suggested
| her husband as we crossed the hall You re-
member that l asked You to drop the doctor,
and seem an ordinary visitorf'
! OF course agreed; and then he told me he
had spoken to her of me as an old college
friend, and finally he left me to myself.
| When | descended to the drawing room
found both Crawford and his wife waiting for
me He was standing by the open window
| playing with the climbing roses that were
nodding by its sill; be was talking merrily as
7 entered, and looked the persOnification of
life and good spirits. \ girl was standing by
the mantcl shelf with her back toward me,
| and | had barely time to admire the slight
figure and graceful pose before Crawford'S
| voice rang out in hearty cordIalitv:
All, there YOU are at last. Let me intro
duce Won to my wife Beatrice, this is Mr.
John Iennox"
She had half turned when be began speak
| ing; hut Us lie said my name, she gave a sud-
den gasp and confronted Inc with large
startled eyes. | have seen the ewes of n
shared bird and those of a hunted stag, but |
have never seen such a look of piteous fear as
dwelt III hers then. For one moment she seemed
| half mad with terror, but the next it fled as
quickly it came and she held out her hand
| i'll greeting. As she did SO, an ugly scar on
the smooth white wrist caught my eve. It
| looked to ne like an unSkillful but Intentional
| cut from knife. and while We were ex-
changing commonplace as to my journey,
| etc: | was wondering as TO whether she had
ever attempted her own life. She was in tho
first flush OF her wunanhoOI: and her glOri-
OILS blue eyes and coil of auburn hair would
alone have suficed to stamp her as beautiful
woman, had 1t not been that the curious ex-
preston Of her face outweghed every other
fascination. She gave me the impression of
being literally consumed by 4 terrible dread,
to the nature of which l. of course, as vet
held no clew; and with this dread, an dlually
strong desire to suppress all outward indlca-
ton Of it. Add to this the fact that her face
was entirely colorless, and that the nand she
lad given me, in spite of the June sunshine
WIS as cold rs ice, and it will By, seen that
my first case promised to he full OF interest
She poured out the tea silently, while her
husband and went on chatting, and she did
not speak again until ne Proposed TO ring the
nursery bell.
I'VE have not seen BERTHE all day." he
added, land ] know you would like to show
him off to Lcnnox"
He Is having his tea she rejoined quickly.
Show him oil in the morning, Arthur;
don't think WE want BIN now"
"Oh lic There Is an unkind mammal
wonder what bcrtie would say to you. He
AN finish lis tea here, dear. I'll fetch
him
No, no; III 50" She ran out of the room
as sh. s-roke, ard Crawford turned to me with
weary looking smile.
You see, Lc1inox! generally give way
nut am afraid of it growins upon her, if
never see the child He is such splendid fel
lowl" As he spoke his wife returned witt
the boy i'll her arms
II met him in the hail." she explained. al,
was just coming in from his walk. No, Ar
thur, don't take him: he is not at all heavy
This last to her husband, who had advanced
with outStrctchcd hands Look here, BERTHE
darling. Who likes cakei" She seated her
self on low chair, still keeping jealous arm
around the child, and went on talking, th.
time to Inc. Arthur and quarrel over thi.
small boy" She laughed a little, but il
sounded very mirthless. 1.-THE last cause Of
dissension is his health think he is grow
ing delicate and wants change and papa
doesn't agree. Does he, my beauty"
The boy laughed as she held him yet
more closely to her; and looking at hi,
rosy cheeks and bright eyes, it seemed tc
me that there could not he healthier
youngster
a am afraid / must take papa's SIDE" ]
said. you must not alarm yourself unneces
sarily, dear Mrs. Crawford, for l think
] stopped abruptly, alarmed by the expression
on her face. l was new at my work, be it re
membered, but think that older men than
| would have been frightened BERTHE Had re-
J helled against the OBTAINING arm, and sliding