Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-08-24

treachery nj work, or he would
never have done such a thing. |
am sure of it," exclaimed Madge,
and am surprised at you remain
ing so quiescent about it. II | had
been you | would have demanded
an explanation.
with the ocean rolling between
usp" asked Claire. "That would
not have been possible. for how
could | have known where to
directP'
Where there's a will there's a
way" was the decided answer.
but you were too proud to do such
a thing. | know you, sister mine;
aud one would little think how
much pride is hidden beneath that
quiet exterior of yours"
Claire smiled family, but she
made no denial. She knew well
that she would have died rather than
show her suffering.
But" and Madge looked puzzled,
as thought struck her, mr.. Fame
must have been very young when
this occurred. Oh, Claire, / see it
all! You think mean that quiet,
dark, elderly man-Robert's uncle.
Why, sister, can it be that he ever
had romance connected with
him?
To Claire, the elder Robert Fame
was still the one of all others in the
whole world most fitted to win Il
maiden's heart, and as his young
nephew had hardly attracted pass
ing thought from her, it was not to
be wondered at that she had made
the mistake. But, to one of her
reticent nature, 1t was a sore trial to
think that she had revealed her
hearts bitter secret needlessly. To
save Madge one pang she would
have made any sacrifice; but-here
her mcditations were put to flight
by the clasp Of clinging arms and
the pressure of tender kisses.
claire, darling, | know what you
are thinking of, but don't mind
having told me. I'll love you all
the more dearly for it, and I'll never,
never tell"
And Claire, after a time, felt hap
pier for knowing that she had a
confdante and sympathizer in her
young sister
Madge kept her word. Neither
by word nor look did she ever refer
to what had passed between them
until-but we must not anticipate.
One dark, stormy night, when
the elements seemed warning with
one another as to whether wind or
water should do the most damage
to the earth, ring came at the
door of the Cedars at an hour we'll
OH to midnight.
Claire had been trying to finish a
delicate piece of embroidery as a
present for Madge on the anniver-
sary Of her birth, which came on
the following day; so she was still
in the sitting-room. The servants
were probably fast asleep, and for
an instant Claire hesitated as to
whether to call one Of them, or to
answer the ring at such an unusal
hour.
But she conquered the momentary
timidity and lifted the heavy bolts
from their places in the massive
doorway, and in another instant
stood framed in like a picture with
background of light which left
her face in comparative shadow,
which was we'll for her presencs of
mind, for she stood face to face with
Robert Fame!
A cold hand seemed grasping her
heart with its icy fingers, and she
felt herself grow faint, but with a
superhuman effort she regained COM
mand of her senses, and said. put
ting out her hand:
"How do you do, Robertp Is
anything wrong at the Hallp"
Something that has been wrong
is to be righted," he said. There
was tremble in his deep voice as
he spoke. =
"A woman is dying" he said,
land she calls for you in such pite-
Gus tones that / could not refuse to
come for you. II is Millicent
Waters-or rather the wreck of
that once beautiful creature. She
came to my door in this dreadful
storm, and insisted in seeing me,
saying she had important news to
communicate. and Clo;.o "a oo,,