Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-08-03

| Pagetown each Saturday-remainin
at the house of Squire Page until the
Monday following.
| She was in splendid voice on this
first Sunday of her appearance in the
| choir;-her full, round tones had a
charmingly sympathetic quality
and those even who could not say a
word on the subject of music felt
| that such voice had never before
| been heard in Pagetown.
The following Wednesday was the
| day for the monthly meeting of
| the sewing circle, which was to meet
on this occasion at the house of Dea-
| con Perkins. There was a much
| larger attendance than usual, for all
felt that it would be an opportunity
to get together, and talk over the af-
fair which was in the mind of every
one in the parish. There was con
siderable curiosity as to whether the
Prescott sisters would be present 1t
was soon satisfied Jane entered
alone, She took piece of work and
| seated herself. saying but little to
| any one for awhile.
When asked why her sister did nor
come, she replied that she had gone
away for a few weeks to pay visit
to friend. ''She has pretty well
lost her interest in the church work.
and reason enough. too"
Now said Mrs. Fairchild. plung-
ing at once in medias res, Il don't
think Matilda ought to feel just so,
Jane. ! don't like changes, myself,
and | thought we were getting along
well enough with the old choir,-but
we can't all view things alike, you
know"
If they'd only a good, respectable
girl. | wouldn't have said a word
why, you don't know anything
against Miss Wayne, do you? |
thought she seemed sweet, inno-
cent little thing as ever was, myself. ="
We'll, if you call a shoplifter an
innocent little thing, I've no more to
say"
"A WHAT shuddered Mrs. Fair
child, in stifed, husky whisper, her
very amazement deadening her
power to articulate audibly.
That's what she is.n said Jane,
nipping her lips together. Il saw
her in store in Boston, one day last
spring. as plain as | see you now.
She was standing right by me. at the
ribbon counter, and she deliberately
took up roll of pink ribbon and put
it under her cape. But the floor
walker happened to be close by, and
saw what she had done, and he took
her by the arm and marched her off. 3"
Where to?n faltered Mrs. Far
child, in another frightened whisper.
81 can't tell you that never saw
her afterwards, until she walked into
church last Sunday. But l wouldn't
have her in my house, that's all"
Can it be as George Eliot asserts,
with her terrible psychological analy-
sis, that there are moments when
our passions speak and decide for US,
and we seem to stand by and wonder?"
Certain it was that to Jane Pres
colt had come an .'inspiratlon of
crime" She had not premeditated
this, but she had given the demon
within her the heartiest welcome.
and had hidden him crush this young
interloper by any means in his power.
this definite charge in spite of her
self She was not cognizant of much
that passed around her the rest of
that afternoon. She was one of the
first to leave, and reached her home
dizzy and sick, AMI in a complete
palsy of terror
The poisoned arrow di, ID work.
Before the evening OF the next DAY
the charge against Edith Wayne was
known all over the village Squire
Page himself, enthusiastic as he had
been in favor of the young singer be-
gan to feel that perhaps he had been
too hasty in selecting a person of
whom he knew absolutely nothing.
The girl was charmingly modest in
manner. it was true, and seemed hon
est and sincere but it was so easy
for impostors to assume such WAYS
He had known Jane Prescott all his
life-so had many others of the
townspeople-and the one thing that
never once occurred to any of them
was to doubt this woman's wCrd.
Friday had come, the girl must be
notified: it would never do to have
her come again among them. 1t was
Il cloudy day and nearing dusk. Jane
had been informed that the squire
intended going up to town in the
early evening. and for what purpose
He must pass her house on the way
to the station. Already had Jane
Prescott re turned to her normal con-
ditto. Already was she repenting
VIII at she had done with a bitterness
of misery and remorse she had never
dreamed could exist in the soul of
mortal.
Squire Page was hurrying TO the
station; for, as usual with him, he
had given himself barely time to
reach it before the train would ar
rive. SO he did not see the white
face at the parlor window of Jane
PrescOtt's house. and that the front