Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-02-18

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frank brown eyes to his face.
MORA Desmond 7" she repeated
slowly. I'll don't know. The
name seems familiar. Was it mine?
And you-you are"
MORA, little sister, don't you know
Have you quite forgotten ms-my
Nora Machree r"
A sudden light crossed the fair
young face. "Then ! was not fever
crazy Ny name was Nora and
you are-my brother, Douglas King"
eyes, Marion's husband. Where
is my wife ?"
He had taken the hands so eagerly
extended and drawn her to him with
brotherly tenderness but his voice
sounded stern and hard.
marion naturalization ?" the
girl repeated, wonderingly. yet /
seem to remember it all now. Didn't
we live with you in lovely house,
with lots of books and an upright
pianoi Why did they tell me l
dreamed it all 7"
where is Marion 7"
"At home-at aunty's; she's never
any place else. What was the matter
Douglasi Oh, how it all comes back
to me! How could I fancy you weren't
real? Why did we leave your"
"WhyT His voice vibrated with
passion. "Ask henry wife. 1 left
her with the fondest lovers kiss-my
bride of scarce a year; left my happy
home-you. the child 1 loved as if
you indeed had been my sister and,
in two days, / came back to find be-
wildered servants, a deserted hearth
stone. There was note for me, say
ing that Marion knew all and had
left me forever. Nora, do you know
nothing of this 7"
Nora shook her little dark head
very decidedly.
81 knew nothing. / never heard
Marion speak your name but I have
seen always that she wasn't happy,
spite of aunty's love for her and
Gilbert's goodness"
"Who is Gilbert ?"
"Aunty's. son-don't you know ?
isn't she aunty? Oh, Douglas, isn't
Gilbert my cousin, Isn't he anything
to me? It seems as if / couldn't give
up Gilbert, even for you"
A rarely-sweet smile changed the
whole character of Douglas face.
even for me-" he repeated then
you accept me, do you. little sister,
withouta question: God bless for it ?
But where is Marion now3 must
see her."
"You will, in ten minutes" was the
unexpected answer. IF I'm the
least little bit late, she always meets
me by the convent school. I'm dread
fully late tonight, and I'm afraid
they'll be frightened. But what will
you say to her, Douglas? Do you
care for her still :"
"Say to to herr What can say
What have l done, all these years
heartsick, desolate mani Care for
her? There was time when / loved
the ground she walked on. the air she
breathed. thought l had lived it
down but, as recognize the baby
look in your features-as / recall the
old days-I'm a fool again"
The girl was silent, clasping her
hands about his arm and glancing
now and again. with troubled eyes,
into his colorless face.
Douglas" she said, softly, after q
few moments silence, "you are sure
you didn't do anything wrong? Oh,
there is Marion-I will stay here
while you 60 to her."
The wistful eyes, the loving tones,
robbed the words of any sting, and,
with tender clasp of the hand he
took from his arm, he went forwar }.
alone. The whole place was flooded
with moonlight the grim old convent
in it, winter dress of purest snow and
fringing icicles, sparkled like fairy
palace. Before Douglas, stood the
woman who had marred his life.
The years of pain had lined bis brow
and tinged his hair with gray, but she
was lovelier than ever.
Marion" he said sternly. Was it
a voice from the dead-or only from
the dead past? She clasped her
hands in sudden terror-it was not
dream-he stood before her, no plead
err for pardon, but a stern uncom-
promising judge. "What can. you
say7 Why did you leave me?"
Because Douglas-your conscience
must tell you-I was not your wife"
"Your authority for that statementr
"A woman came," she faltered,
failing before the GOODNESS of his tones;
"she told me her story. 1 was almost
wild. She showed me the certificate,
the marriage notice in the paper, the
marriage Of"
Douglas King and Mary Harvey"
he added. "You examined it2 You