Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-23

Tue uay With ner among the papers II
Gideon Danes brass bound desk, oyel
the broad acres of the plantation, up ant
down the mountain roads, along the
trout streams, in the dairy, among the
acres where the Strawberries were red
dening-a round of business, pleasure
passion.
But at last, as even the lovers came tC
recognize, a change must come. Vim
cent must return to Boston and strai light.
en- up his neglected affairs. Then he
would engage board for the summer fol-
Gwendoline and Miss Chatworth, some
where at the seashore where he would
join them.
| For once, indeed the last night of his
stay, June night with a young moon
in the warm sky, he and Gwendoline in
the hammock on the veranda, parting
seemed impossible.
Marry me, Gwendoline, tomorrow, y
he sighed. DO not send me away from
you. Why should we lose month of
bliss out of life? Life is short enough
without wasting it."
But Gwendoline shook her head faint
ly, while Vincent, protesting against de-
NAL, lifted the loose, fragrant braids OF
| dark hair that fell across her shoulder
and kissed them, and kissed the pin,
finger tips and the rosy palms and the
curving wrists, and felt that a man had
never loved as he loved.
1t was a warm morning in August.
| On the broad piazza of large hotel a
gF
seated, idling away the after breakfast
| hour.
What lovely day to battle, l mean
| to stay in the water for hours" said Julia
| Marquand, a fair, elegant girl in sim
| pie white gown. Are you going in, Miss
Dane?"
She turned toward Gwendoline Dane.
who sat little distant, leaning her ell
bows on the railing and looking absent
| ~ off at the water
Gwendoline turned almost sharply
upon the interlocutor.
Really, l haven't decided l don't
suppose your pleasure depends upon my
company"
The two girls looked at each other
the one fine, keen. controlled, conven-
tional. the other. Poor Gwendoline. ac-
customed to supremacy, unused TO re-
straint, was no match for Miss Mar
quand, who replied with delicate malice:
''Oh. its great deal more fun when
you are along"
Why"
Julia Marquand smiled her sweet
smile and turned her heavenly blue eyes
toward Alex Vincent, who was talking
TO Miss Chatwprth, and trying not to
hear what Gwendoline and Julia were
saying.
The blood rushed crimson over Miss
Danes face and throat. She understood
the silent reply. Julia Marquand's Gun"
consisted m making her jealous.
i am fortunate in serving you for an
object of amusement" she said, with
unconcealed temper.
She rose and walked away to the end
Of the piazza. a moment later they saw
her, beach hat in hand, taking her way
alone toward the rocks.
You had better follow, Mr.. Vincent.
You may be needed to prevent a sui
eide" remarked Miss Marquand sweetlv.
4 think you could drive most any one
to suicide if you set out he said gloom
lily, leaving Miss Chatworth and stand
ing by Julia Marquand's chair.
''Oh. haven't so much influence as
you think. Over you, for example, l
have none at all"
Isn't that rash conclusion?"
mo, Alex. 1t rests ON sure founda-
ton"
What, pray?"
Your conduct last April" she said,
dropping her voice.
You are severe-too severe. I know
! broke an engagement with you with
out apology: but consider the 'snubs'
you had given me during the season"
4 was only acting the part of pru-
dence."
True. Twas beggarly fellow with
put any visible means of support in that
lorg ago"
And now you have a competence and
= keeper So convenient to inherit
them together"
Vincent bit his lip. Julia Marquand
had got hold of the story of Gideon
Danes will somehow, and she chose to
mslnuate whenever opportunity offered
that Alexis engagement to Miss Dane
was his means of securing the fortune.
That otherwise And there she paused.
But there were mutual friends who re-
me1nbered that Vincent had been
sweet on Julia Marquand in days
gone by.
We'll, must look after my Keeper
it seems he said, lightly, lifting his
straw hat to the ladies and setting out
IN the direction Gwendoline had taken.
Alex had a New Englander's horror of
scenes" He could not help admiring
Julia Marquand's tact and repose in con-
trast to Gwendoline's impulsive self be- !
traylls.
Gwendoline, on her great plantation, !
mistress Of all she surveyed, was the most |
brlIEa and seductive creature he had !
ever known; but Gwendoline in society |
was--he admitted-a little too demon |
STRAIT va. fpr