Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-19


going to tempt you both with 'Woman's
Love" She glanced up, smiling as her
fingers swept over the keys.
Mary danced with the beautiful I'M
dulating movements of a daughter of
the south whose feet have learned to
follow the mazes of music from the very
cradle. and Dan was the partner whom
every woman he danced with felt at
once that she had waited for for years.
Never was waltz more beautiful, never
seemed waltz more perfect, since
music and movement first lent them
selves to the embodiment Of dreams
and received a soul from love-
As Ned Anthony's eyes followed the
pair, moving softly to the softness of
the music, FOR the first time suspicion
of what might be impending broke
coldly, like the dawn of a winter day,
upon his mind. He was stunned for
moment and stood quite motioniess, with
his lids dropped us was his custom. Ella
spoke to him once or twice, but receiv-
ing no answer glanced at him over her
shoulder. The pair were passing close,
Dams head a little bent, as though he
were speaking; his mustache almost
grazed her hair, for he was but little
taller, and Mary was smiling and her
eyes were downcast. Ned's jaw squared
itself cruelty, and about his mouth deep
ened lines that would have shocked the
girl who was watching him, could she
have seen them-hard, wolfish lines that
the beautiful brown beard concealed, as
the soft fur conceals the leopard's claws
and the soft marsh grass the serpents
The dropping lids seemed to intensity the
sullen fire of the eyes, which glowed like
a furnace through half opened doors.
Ella stopped suddenly, and obeying a
curious impulse touched as if by acct
dent with her own the hand that rested
on the edge of the piano. She after
ward described to her sister the sensa-
Ition experienced:
1T was hard and tense, you know,
like mans hand is when he is about to
deal blow, and the knuckles stood out
a little. just touched it-barely grazed
it-with my fingers. but it made them
Itingle. If had taken hold of it or laid
my hand down on it 1 should have got
an electric shock. 1t was curious, Nan, to
be within the circle of his sphere. He
was almost rigid with jealousy and yet
was quivering with emotion. That man
can be dangerous. felt as though
wanted an insulator between u.s."
Nan found the topic one of more than
ordinary interest. You think that Mr..
Anthony is in love with Nary" she sug-
gested.
To be sure he is. terribly in love
quite head over ears. If You were not
in love yourself. and consequently pur-
blind, you would have discovered il
ages ago"
Il did think so at first" Nan re-
sponded, thrusting aside the imputation
of obtuseness. Lately | haven't no.
ticed much, because Mary has been
throwing him with you ever since we
came. She has really unanswered to
do It; and that is unlike Mary. | took
it into my head that she was trying to
bring on match between Mr.. Anthony
and You because of all that money"
She has been trying ON that very
game" quoth Ella, who occasionally
elected to be slangy, ''but it hasn't
worked at all 1t wasn't the money,
though, Nan Mary doesn't care for
money She's the most unworldly crea-
ture alive, and has lived in the woods so
long that she has lost all appreciation Of
the dependence of mankind on the root
of all evil. With Mary it isn't the uni
versal root, the tap root, the real fOunda-
ton. What she wanted was to rid her
self of an unwelcome adorer and to hand
him over to me-the inequalities of the
house. You know. | saw through her
e Il.
Hector's widow, and all that, and she
can't bear the man besides; so tried to
help her"
Il don't think you've succeeded,
either of you," remarked Nan impartial
ly, not meaning to he disagreeable, but
as one who states an undeniable fact.
No, we haven't" admitted Ella,
whose belleship rested on too sure n
foundation for her to resent occasional
failure. I'VE might as well have tried
to alter the course of the Mississippi
The mischief was done, past all remedy,
long before l entered the engagement.
From my observation, should say that
Mr.. Anthony is a man of one sentiment,
and that of the colossal type. He is
madly in love, and SO is the other man,
and both with the same woman"
Nan was standing before the mirror,
brushing out her long black hair. She
turned with the brush in her hand and
regarded her sister earnestly.
MARY doesn't care for Ned Anthony
! the value of wooden toothpick," she
, said slowly.
Il know she doesn't | think-that is.
: I'm afraid ~-hesitated Ella
What"
; Never mind. ia rather not say. I'll
! wait little before telling you"
Very well; it doesn't matter. ! think
so too"
CHAPTER. XVIII.