Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-22
A MUTE FAREWELL.
Glltters the dew and shines the river

A MULE FAKEW ELL.
Glitters the dew and shines the river
Up comes the lily and dries her bell;
bu' Two are walking apart forever
And wave their hands in a mute farewell.
declare, Matey, you are really cross to-
day' fou snapped quite viciously at me Just |
now when spoke of your guest, Mr., Gerard. |
What is the matter with your
MY cousin Lillth sat up in the hammock in |
whieS she had been idly swinging for the last
half hour, and glanced curiously at me as she
spoke 1t was so unusual, this display of tenn
per on my part, that Lilith was surprised;
how was she to know that at the sound of
Felix Gerard's name my heart stopped beat
ing, and felt as if l was suffocating, and, If
spoke sharply, it was only that she might
TT guess how sufferedl
is nothing the matter with me-
lsald, In answer to her question. II feel
ured am going to my room. l shall take
anap and get rid of my temper before din
her.
lett her as spoke But when gained the
seelusion of my own room locked the door,
ana instead of preparing for nap, gave way
10 my bitter misery.
'ould it be possible that it was only
yesterday that Felix Gerard had asked me to
be us wlfe-I. an orphan and penniless, de
pendent on the bounty of my kind aunt,
wnle ne was rich and handsome, fit mate
Tor the greatest lady in the landa No wonder
that my happiness seemed too great to last
teit as II heaven had suddenly opened its
portals Oh, the rapture of that moment,
when his dear arms were about me, and
teit his s-touch mine!
~ shall speak to your aunt tomorrow.
little one" said he. II have something to
tell you both about myself, something you
ought to know; but for this one day we will
keep our secret, sweetheart
What happy day it wasl Think-only
one day out of lifetime; one day of happi-
ness, to compensate for life of misery
We spent the afternoon on the water, re-
turning in time for dinner As we said good
night, ne took me in his arms aud kissed me.
Dearest little woman, yca nave made me
very happy, and VII! try hard to make
your future life :. happy one. God bless my
own darling! Good night"
> @ie aaxt morning, when | awoGe, won
dered for a moment what had happened to
make me so intensely happy. l remembered,
and jumping quickly out of bed, began my
toilet; no foreboding of sorrow came to me
then.
Our letters were laid near the plates at
breakfast, and when | entered the dining
room, | noticed there was one for Felix. He
came in later, and when he saw the letter he
started, opened it, and when he read the
color left his face, and he looked like man
suddenly bereft of life. He recovered him
self and making an excuse left the room
Ny breakfast remained untouched; felt
that he was in trouble of some kind, but
WHAT
An hour fater, a note was brought me by
one of the maids; it was from Felix:
MArEY-I am in the summer house at the cor
ner of the lane. Will you come to me when you
receive this Something has happened 1 can
say no more till see you. FELIX
l snatched up a garden hat that was in the
hall and ran, instead of walked, until came
to where my darling waited Without giving
him time TO speak, said;
''Oh, Felix, what is itl l saw your face
when you read that hateful letter at break
fast, and know that something is wrong
have you lost any money!
'Would 10 God that were all! No, dear;
my money is quite safe; but, obi Matey, /
do not know how to tell you the truth
Whatever it is, tell me at once; l can bear
anything but suspense
You remember that yesterday l said |
had something to tell you about myself.
You never guessed that l bad been mar
ried"
staggered back.
married! And you dared ask me to be
your wife7
For Gods sake, little one, do not look ar
me like that | am not a scoundrel. thought
was free to win YOU, darling; you don't sup
pose | would have spoken TO you, had it been
otherwise
Then your wife is dead"
"For four vears believed so, but the letter
| received this morning is from her, saying
she is alive, the news of her death being 6
mistake But let me tell you the story of my
folly, Matey. Eight years ago, when | wa!
lad of 20, married pretty but ignorant
girl Too soon discovered that she was al
dicted to drink and when we bad been bu
two years married was compelled to sepa
rate from her Through my lawyer l mad
over part of my income for her support anC
went abroad. Two years later l read of he
uEdlI III Tile HiEEA5r L LEft WA al JIG y
my marriage, and had made up my mind b
live single the rest Of my life, but your swee
face, little woman, changed all my resolution
and l once more began TO build fanclful pic
lures Of my future-you, darling, being tn
chief figure in ALL Oh, Matey, it is 50 har
to give 1t all up
At sight of his anguish my own pain il
creased put my hand gently On his bowe
head
Tell me, Felix, what the letter says"
"Here-read for yourself"
! dare say you we're glad to hear of my dealt
hut an. still alive 1t was another woman wi
died and they gave her my name through mi
take: when I got we'll, did not care to CORE
the mistake. have been in England for the la
two years, and am now coming home am st
your wife, even though you did desert me-.
ANNE GERARD.
The writing was that of an uneducated pc
son, and Ipitied my poor boy more than eve
| bad no time then to think Of myself.
"Matey, dear, shall leave here today
must not remain longer; but how can pa
from youl Oh, darling, perhaps in the yea
to come, when you have forgotten the pa
of this time, some other man better than
may win you but no other can love "
better or as we'll
mo other man will ever win me I ga
you all the love had to give, and / am n
one to change, shall go on loving you
the end Of life. God grant it may be a sho
oneln
'Matey, dear one, can you ever forgi
me for bringing this sorrow into your YOU
lifer
"Hush Felix 1t is not your fault;
not blame you, dear"
MY precious girlm Then he pressed
kiss on my forehead, and left me.
| remained there for hours, hut at Ii
aroused myself and left the summer hou
My cousin was in the hammock, on the Law
and called me. | turned mechanically, a
sat down on the grass, paid no attent
to what Lilith was saying; in fact did l
hear her until she mentioned my darlin
name
"How strangely Mr. Gerard acted at bre
fast! Did you notice it, MateyT'
1t was then spoke sharply, and lief. b
and came to my own room.
How long | sat there do not know "
aroused by knock at the door, and Lilit
voice asking me if l was awake. rubl
my cheeks u gel d lie color in them 9
opened the door
My cousin came in and gave me a note
MIR. Gerard received news that compel
him to leave here at once, and he left t
note, as he did not wish to disturb YOU to
good.by. l am sorry he has gone; we 81
N-aa,n