Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-25

piest man in the world But we won't walt
till Jane comes back We will he married to-
morrow
"Oh, nor Her smile was very beautiful
and sweet, but as cold as the river Of death.
1.-THE day after, then. Say the day after
tomorrow, before anything has time to hap
pen"
He saw her lips were forming for "no,"
but he kissed IL away; and another and
another, till she broke away from him with
a laugh.
"Well, yes, then; but you will be sorry for
it to the end Of your life" He made her put
on her hat after tea and they went across the
fields to the village cemetery.
He had stirred her by his enthusiasm TO an
unwonted pitch, but now she had become
colder than ever, and very silent, II seemed
as If she were sorry for what she had prom
ised and Philip was afraid each moment
that she would open her lips and take it all
BACK. He talked very eagerly TO her all the
way to take up her mind, telling her all the
plans he had made and how gloriously they
seemed TO he succeeding. She did not make
much response to what he said, but he was
only too glad that she did not repeat the
words she had met him with in the after
noon. At last they stood by a massive pillar
plcto life work, but perfect in symmetry and
finished in outline. Bertha could make out
in the deepening twilight tho name Of
Ezekiel Breton cut deep into tue everlast-
ms stone.
Il wish my father had seen things little
differently, and could have laid the founda-
tons of all the mills in justice and charity.
He could not see that weare all men together
Gnd tho wants that be had the workmen S1f-
tered too. He did what he thought was
right as do SO many thousand men to-day,
whose every breath means a harder burden
for the poor"
"What is the use of considering the poor
They have no gratitude And then they are
made differently from us; they have their
place; let them be content with it. Your
father was right
How cold and hard her voice was and he
had seen her so enthusiastic over the wrongs
OF the poor.
"But they ought to have a chance TO enjoy
a little more of what they earn, there are so
many of them" But she made no answer,
and Philips heart sank with the conviction
that he must carry out his great work as he
had begun it, alone He had counted ON her
sympathy; he had felt sure of it, and he was
so lonely among the grand ideas he had
summoned into his soul, but perhaps it was
not best for him; man never knows.
IL was quite dark when he babe Bertha
good night at her gate He had kept her
hand for n moment after she would have
gone, in the thrilling Indulgence of the sense
of possession His heart was very full his
hope was almost blosSoming into reality; at
last when it had seemed blighted once into
despair. Only two more days, and all the
storms that might rage could never separate
J,,t 30,
arms cling the closer to him. Why had she
not said tomorrow it was almost too
much too hope that God would hold back all
his thunderbolts, and all the myriad messen.
gers of evil for two days. The wonderful
fate that had brought her back as from death
to him, that had saved her 50 strangely from
another meeting with the man whose voice
would melt hor will, and madden hor brain a
second time made him the more afraid now
The tide might turn, perhaps to morrow,
perhaps tonight, and carry his darling out
to sea, away from harm once more and for |
over
But how cold aud firm her hand was All, |
how glad he would have been for one little |
tremOr in it,
"Bertha'' he said almost piteously, "have |
you nothing else for me tonight"
81 think it is all you should asl; if don't |
take back my promise" Then she seemed to |
be musing for an instant 81 am sorry you |
like me SO much, What is there about NEE
"How are the mighty fallen" 1t was Mr.. |
voice, as that gentleman saun-
tered toward the two young people.
"There is something in this newspaper l
have marked for you. Ono of our old friends
has found his level at last--must you go this
minute' Well, good night"
1t was long time before Philip could get
to sleep that night in his great quiet house.
There were so many tender thoughts and
now coming out in clear relief in
his brain, now grouped with Others and
again lost in vague sense Of delight. He
Bertha's attitudes and her
he imagined how much
more kindly she might have meant than
she had said, and he blessed her that
she had yielded to his prayers when he so
nearly had lost her forever. But what could
she have been afraid of, how could Jane
harm her! What was there in
her history worse than he knew Poor
little girl could There be anything more
terrible than what he had forgivenf How
far she was from knowing how wonderful a
thing love can bei Well, he might as well
look at Ellingsworths newspaper now as any
time, he was not able to sleep apparently
Who could it be that had found his level at
ast2 Philip struck match and Lit the gas
Then be fumbed in his pockets and finding
.he newspaper at last, unfolded it, looking
'or the marked paragraph. 1t was not in
he editorials, nor in the locals. Philip
5Hrned the inner pages ont, nor in the
political news. 1t couldn't be al advertise
nent; yes-it was this:
Divorces obtained without trouble or pub
lefty for any cause desired. Address, In
trictest confidence, John T. Giddings, No.
9rrick square, Lockout.
"The idea, laughed Philip to himself, "of
ny getting up to read his card in another
,aper. l hope 1 shall never hear of him ,
gain now