Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-10

had known how much depended on him, he
would surely have hastoned. Philip dared
| not trust his mills in any hands but his. The
old man would be gentle with his charge; he
was patient, he had broader ideas than
| Philip Breton, he was less Of an aristocrat.
| And his mills were very dear 10 Phihp-only
| less dear than his wife. PERHAPS the old man
might come yet before the next steamer
| sailed, but there were three long days for his
terrible secret to work its way 10 the light
three long, dark nj ghts for blow TO fall.
Philip found Bertha in the drawing room.
waiting for him. The excitement that
| flushed her face seemed To have smoothed ont
| the lines of care her eyes were brighter than
| love for him had ever made them. She
seemed grown young as the first day in the
| garden she had fallen asleep ON his shoulder.
| How the poor girl lOnged 10 go. lie stood
| "A moment before her, and love and sorrow
| swept over his soul in alternate waves. She
was his beautiful wife, who looked to him for
her only protection. And out of pity for the
| mob that had insulted her he had let slip,
perhaps, his last hope of saving her, What
did the wretchcs desGrvcf Yet perhaps he
had sacrificed his wife 10 them. Perhaps this
delay would make those sweet, eager eyes
weep forever, that queenly, gold crowned
head bow in humiliation. How the world
would wonder that he had not saved her from
a felOn's cell, with such wealth and power as
his TO command, He had risked her saliva
ton TO soften the fate of the thousand UNI
grateful creatures in his mill who cared
nothing for him.
con, Bertha, forgive met he cried as il
his heart broke that moment. All his hope
seemed dead then; the waters of desolatiOn
were sweeping in ccaseless swelling waves
over his soul,
For a moment the woman looked at him in
silence, trying to interpret for herself the
meaning ON his wan, passion marked face
1t was for him the supreme moment of an
agony such soul as hers could not even con-
ceive of The man suffered more in that mo-
ment, than the foulest dungeon in the world.
or the SCOTS of "A city rabble, or the contempt
of every woman that ever spoke her name
could hurt her Then she drew herself back
from him: She thought, poor creature, she
understood the expression on his face.
"Then Won have missed the steamer, and
you knew, too, how much wanted TO go"
He did not speak, but Il ptiful look of con
fusion was struggling into his face.
"When can we go, thenf she asked coldly.
"The next steamer sails Saturday. sat
urday Poor girl! Poor Bertha! Tho furies
are folding their black wings this instant to
settle about her soul She only thought it
was her pleasure trip was deferred, it was his
plan to save her from impending ruin failed.
One of the ministers of evil was at the gate
this moment; now at the door; in the hall.
Then the servant announced name, and
Mrs Ellingsworth stepped into the room.
She had been smiling her best but every
smile vanished at the sight of the shawls and
travelling bags She looked sharply at l5er-
tina, who was dressed in her blue travelling
suit her hat was on the sofa beside her. She
glanced about the room. The Chnt1 covers
wore placed over the damask upholstery; the
piano was closed and packed Bertha looked
lstlessly at her
ooh, won't you sit DOWN. But this strange
visitor stood as if rooted to her nlaCc,
you are going awuyi' PElip turned
surprised glance at her, the tone she assumed
was crisp and mpcrious. He saw the dan
gerous look come into the dark, brilliant
ewes, which forgot their diGscInbling for the
moment The woman knew everything. In
some way she had learned the secret. W Guild
she dare denounce his wife before himi Was
he so poor man woman like this dared to
beard himi He did not speak. Her message
of scorn and infarny would come in a mo-
ment she would tear down the veil he had
spread before his wto's crime; he saw her
red lips fairly trembling with the bitter
words. Then Philip looked at her no more,
but his eyes rested pityingly on Bertha. How
would see meet it, Would she flush into
rare passion, Would she turn pale and faint
in OVerpowcriug shame3
Yves, we were going to Europe" answered
Bertha, utterly unconscious of the hate that
glowercd at her out of the flashing eyes.
"Phiip did not want me to speak of it or
should have told you before; but | suppose it
don't make any difference now, since we've
lost the steamer. 1t left the pier an hour
ago So we are not going now till Saturday.
Isn't that it, Philip dcari Why, you don't
mind my telling Janen 1t was Bcrthas own
words then that had decided her fate There
had been some hope before, Philipnow renem.
bered but ut last her deadlieSt enemy knew
everything The mine would be sprung be-
fOro to-mOrTOw's sun had set. He could sGo it
in the sudden triumphant CLEAN in the
woman's eyes before Size thought to smile.
But Bertha was the only one who could talk,
inst vet