Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-20

NA 40 ~ "dy OilioiHS, dS OF course
you know, and for the sake of simplify
ing things wish to say that we will re-
gard it as if it. had not been written"
"Unquestionably you have such right
to ignore this clause-legally and NOR
ally, Miss Dane. For my own part, do
not feel so free. need not particular
lie, but permit me to say that have
made decision. | shall make no claims
TO the estate under your grandfather's
will"
She turned slightly pale You feel
that your Inheritance is conditionalg'
Yes"
Il beg you not to think So The last
thing that grandpa would have wished
Is that we should-marry"- lovely
complexion turned paler still; she helu
her proud head aloft, the full lips trem-
oled and her soft, dark eyes met her
companions without wavering-"unless
we liked each other"
1T would be impossible for us even to
know whether we-hked each other or
not, Miss Dane, meeting under such pre-
arranged conditions. You are very
young
Il am twenty"
You might make a fatal mistake. 1t
is far better thatwe each retain our free
dom, and in order that we may ! re-
noInre all such caim as the viii gives
me to the property"
THE conditions are too severe" she
said with irony.
Pardon me-" They looked at each
other. You are the most beautiful
woman | have ever known" he re-
marked frankly.
But" she interposed, Il felt it from
the tirst-you are not free"
Il am free" Miss Dane. ut is not of
myself l am thinking, but of you, l
must spare You the embarrassment of
this position, and to do this l must leave
you at once-to-night"
81 shall not attempt to influence YOU"
she said coldly, further than to say
that the only train making connections
for the north leaves Queenstown at
noon, and l should be glad to have you
remain till morning"
~ nder the circumstances | will ac-
cept your invitation with gratitude" he
replied
Vincent continued his walk alone after
visiting Gideon Danes grave, Miss Dane
excuslng herself and returning to the
house. He ate his supper also in solitary
state with Miss Chatworth, who invited
him to play cribbage afterward. At 10
o'clock he ventured to ask if Gwendoline
were not at home. Miss Chatworth
opened her mild eyes and explained that
Miss Dane had ridden to Queenstown
during the afternoon, and would not re-
urn till morning.
She means to avoid seeing me again, ~
thought Vincent, with annoyance, and
strange to say the annoyance was keener
than that he felt in the determination to
give up nice property to which he had
so Unexpectedly acquired a title.
He was wrong, however, in regard to
Gwendolire's intention. The following
morning was rainy, and when he de-
scended to the breakfast room Miss Dane
was standing before the fire In her new
black gown, with the white hound stand
ing close beside her, she looked imperi-
ally calm and handsomer than ever
Vincent's own fine face frightened. Il
was afraid you did not mean to see me
again" he said frankly. Il feared you
We're disguised with Your new found
cousin"
You were wrong" she said gravely.
81 went to Queenstown in your interest.
have destroyed the will. AS the only
surviving members of the Dane family
the property belongs to us jointly by
law. As for the few requests, thought
you would not object to carrying out
grandpa's wishes. For the rest, we
stand as though the will had never been
made"
You have destroyed the willr' ex-
claimed Vincent, "but''--
What is done can't be undone," she
said, unmoved.
And what shall you do now?' he
asked with uncomfortable surprise.
IF it seems to you worth while,
shall advise you to stay and get the
property appraised and things in shape
should like to keep the place, if there
is any way of arranging it."
But surely you will not live here.
Iou must see the world"
''Oh, | have seen 1.-THE world of Lon
don and Paris and Washington. l have
been grown up these five years"
Vincent gave up his proposed journey
for that day. He set to work with
Gwendoline examining accounts. The
morning passed and other mornings in
the same fashion. In the afternoon the
thoroughbred horses were brought to
the door and he and Miss Dane, followed
by party of dogs, went galloping over
tho
'10 TO be contiEued.)