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

NOAAi 'As' - a NAA~ eNA>@ - $3.50
he led Claire into the library
where he had left Millicent.
She was lying upon sofa, upon
which q pillow had been placed to
support her head. In the wasted,
sharply-outlined features little re-
NAMED of the beauty which had
made her remarkable.
Whatever harm had been done
to her by this poor, dying creature,
she forgave her fully. Her only
feeling was one of intense pity. As
though her touch had aroused the
waning embers Of life within the
wasted frame, Millicent opened her
eyes, and fixed them upon the ten
der, sympathetic face bending over
her,
$50 yon have come she said
family. 1T is good, for now can
die in peace"
Then she turned her eyes upon
Robert. 1T was | who wrote that
letter, and it was | who met James
Grant, lie was my lover, and he
hated you and wished to wreck your
happiness. ! borrowed some Of
Claire's clothes under a pretense Of
taking pattern of them, and in the
moonlight you could not tell the
difference, as | was of an equal
height with her. | do not expect
to be forgiven, but must do even
this tardy justice before | go to meet
my offended Maker
Her words were q complete enig-
ma to Claire, as Robert had made
no explanation of his conduct,
thinking, ins his hot anger, that
Claire had been making fool of
him, and, of course, being guilty,
would know that he had discovered
the truth.
What does she mean?" she ask
ed wonderingly, turning to Robert,
who stood pale and stern beside
her. What letter does she speak
of, and what has James Grant to do
with my life9 | do not under
stand"
1T means that you and | have
been the victims Of q designing
villain, and that yonder poor crea-
ture was made the instrument of
carrying out his plans and of wreck
ing our happiness. believed the
letter she wrote me saying that you
cared only for my money, and that
your love was given to another, p I'd
went to the spot designated b. the
writer, where she said yor were TO
meet the one whom YOU really
loved. Blind fool chat I proves
myself to fall int trap like that
Clalre's lip r,uivered, and her eyes
hlled with f.ears. She said gently:
u bould have thought you
[ Il
would. have understood my charac-
tor better than to have thought
that of me-"
"When jealousy has taken pos
session of man, reason vacates her
throne. | was mad with anger and
disappointment. For, Claire, l
loved you with a consuming passion
and-though l am hopeless of win
ming even kind thought from you
Il love you still, and have wor-
shipped you all these long years,
notwithstanding that / had Gas l
though ocular proof that you had
been false to me-"
Millicent's large eyes, brilliant
with feverish excitement, had wand
cred alternately from one face to
the other, and with woman's I'M
erring intuition, she saw that Claire
still loved Robert Fame. With a
convulsive effort she rose and went
to the side of the woman she had
wronged.
"Love forgets all-forgives all"
she said. as it not sog"
Claire's face was crimson with
bushes, but her great eyes were
luminous with happy light.
She turned to Robert, who was
watching her with an eager, hope
full expression which had long been
absent from his face. She put out
her hands with a timid gesture.
The next instant she was gathered
to her lovers heart.
Nothing but death can come
between us now" he murmured.
Again the CHASTITY pallor crept |
over Millicent's face. She sank
down apnin upon the sofa.