Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-28
~. z-;;z51 EGsSSSI .,:9,ssksssgs
~ SA.a 3 ~: ~ =. 80 Is. !. ~~if$"S
L. 1T 2sAtrs51; Il .s.,A,-. VIII w.
BfefoD
BY CHARLES J. BELLAMY.
Copyrighted by the Author, and published
by arrangement with him
BY CHARLES J. BELLAMY.
CHAPTER TX.
WEAK MAN.

SiAAi LIN A-N'
WEAK MAN.
II was at dusk few days after Jane Graves
had come to the EIlingsworths that she stood
at the dining room window.
1t was almost in sight of her old dreary
home, and yet another world; how strange
that the two should he so near and not change
or shadow each other But Jane Graves was
not the girl TO trouhls herself over hardques-
tions She breathed her new atmosphere in
unDixed delight, while latent senses awoke
each day only to be g-atlfed.
At this moment she stood in very charm
ing attitude leaning lightly against the
window casing, her prettily rounded arm
raised to play with the curtain tasael Her
master rather liked to linger In the dining
room I'd read his evening paper Occasion
ally he would glance at the girl who had
such pretty poses; he had quite taste for
pictures, and then she afforded NM an excuse
for not a little cynical philosophy. Mr.
Eningsworth had one regularity that would
certainly seem very cornmendable. He never
spoke rudely to any one it would have been
impossible for his finely grained nature. She
thought him polite and kind, and in her in
nocence imagined his was the usual manner
OF the well bred with their hlrellngs Tie
other servants knew that humiliation was Il
part Of their required weeks work, which
their wages We're considered b. pay for; and
expected to see the thunderbolt fuH on this
foolish girl Who did not know how precious
was the pur hased privilege of being ciinged
to. But strange enough the thundCrbOlt did
not hasten.
Suddenly the girl started, and deep flush
lit up her dark face Up the walk, 10 the
front doorway, came the man of whom she
thought with his own lordly stride as if he
were prince, indeed, as he deserved to be-
Her heart was in a sweet glow; he had found
her out, and had come for her. She would
leave all these beautiful things with rapture
for him.
Mr.. Ellingsworth saw the mans figure at
the front gate, and the girls start, and
smiled rather disagrecably. He had won
dered before why her lover didn't come, and
here he was at the front door, no doubt ex-
pecting to be enterta aimed in the parlor.
Jane Graves glicS-l into the hall. Suddenly
grown shy at the maiden passion of her own
heart she slowly opened the front door
What would he say fiTsti Would he take
her hand which had grown so white and soft
latelyi Would he ask to kiss her, and with
beating heart she stood in the open door
way.
II had now grown almost dark, perhaps he
did not see her plainly.
Ibid you rngr she asked foolishly, while
her heart sank down, down, would it never
stopa
AIS your mistress inY'
What was this-some strange mistaket
Could he not see who it was held the door
open for himi
my mistress, Miss Ellingsworth9 why yes,
she Is in the parlor" 1t must be a Joke, but
now he had frightened her enough, and how
they would laugh together over it. She was
attempting to smile, when she heard the par
lor door open behind her..
eyes, am here" 1t was Bertha Filings
worth's voice. The visitor passed in, and
Jane Graves shut the outer door heavily and
sank upon the floor, pressing with both her
hands against her bursting heart. Then she
leaped upon her feet in sudden madness and
hurried along the hall to the parlor door