Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-15

Il am surprised at your knowledge.
put OF course You know all about it.
Why not? You have probably seen
| my She Eesitated and finally said.
Mr.. DYE"
The physician in his calm manner
asked another question:
| Is there any reason why this Mrs.
Hapgood should hate you:''
| date me! What a dreadful idea! She
was the soul Of kindness. iwas so little
to her indeed that was quite sure she
rust have forgotten all about me. oars
was only the acquaintance of three DAVIS
ut the Somerset hotel, where my mother
took me. and two years have passed since
then"
| She Is q very old lady," put in Max
| cy. Undoubtedly that is the explana-
ton. She forgot her-at least so much
that the name Annette recalled nothing.
It Is perfectly possible. When you got
the letter which you supposed came from
| heT, you thought it was very strange
but still you went to meet her on the
beach road?"
| Annette looked into the artists face
and shuddercd, but tie tone in which
she spoke was more the voice of desola-
ton than of horror.
MY good, kind friends, it is due to
you that recall all this, however much
t pains me. have tried not to think
Of the past while l have been here, but
1t Is too blacl. shadow ever to let me
go"
Said MaSey eagerly, when you have
.old the story once, You need never refer
to it again"
| Il do not complain. 1t was my mis-
fortune to be born under it l do not
wish TO conceal anything Indeed
thought this letter very strange, but /
was so unhappy that anything Was bet
ter than the suspense l had nobody to
advise me. If l was iInprudent, it was
not wholly strange after the life / was
leading. i got the letter IL the morning,
and ct noon l had decided to go. l came
to the hotel on the beach road Just be-
lore SHUTDOWN. l had expected to find it
just as had seen it once before-fCl of
people and stir. twas shock to me to
eco it closed and deserted 1t was very
cold. At first walked up and down the
road, but after awhile, becoming tired,
l rested myself on scat by the way
side. 1t grew dark very fast after the
sun went down, and my heart misgave
me that had done wrong to como. The
ocean sounded so lonesome moaning
way below me, and it awoke such for
lorn feeling in my heart that believe /
was foolish enough to cry as sat there
to think how miserable and friendless
was.
| "What first brought me to myself
was the realization that the tears We're
almost freezing on my checks and that
it would soon be quite dark. l started
up and looked along the road There had
been but few passGrs, bit now saw a
man coming down On the side next to
me, and l waited for him to pass. He
was so muiled up that could only See
his eyes, and thought he acted some
whas strangely. He surely saw me, bat
he turned his head away quickly when
looked at him, Us though he did not
wish to meet my glance Then began
to realize what danger might be run
ming alone at this hour III this deserted
place. i watched him fearfully as he
went on, and saw him look around to-
ward me once or twice, and finally he
crossed over and came back again on the
other side of the way. This really
frightened me, but as he seemed to be
going by thought would wait till he
got past and then run for safety with all
my might. i started ont for this pur-
pose, but l had run but q little way
when 1 heard !. sleigh coming very fast
from the direction the man had gone,
from the direction of the city. / thought
by the sound the horses must be running
away. ] stepped back to the wall to be
out of harms reach, but it was only q
man, driving rapidly. TWAS not so dark
that could not see him. He wore one
of those caps which let down over the
face, with an oval slit for the eyes. Be
fore he got to me he began to rein in
the horses. They stopped so quickly that
hardly realized what was happening
He was out of the sleigh and coming to-
ward me almost before l really knew
it. j did not even then fully understand
that / was the object of his attack, and
when ] did had not the power to cry
out.
"He seized me with terrible strength,
putting q cold gloved hand over my eyes
and mouth and forcing me backward
across the wall. was faint with fear,
and his glove pressed me SO tightly that
| could not breathe. l struggled to get
my face free, but he held me too firmly.
He pushed me down in the cold snow.
He got my arms under his knees and
hurt me terribly. Then felt his free
, hand searching my pockets. The rest is
all q blank to me. must have lost my
, senses at that moment. Isupposed had
, fever for 1 awolSe in the hospites0sth
, strange dizziness in my head. ="
Her voice ceased suddenly. and each
of the three listeners drew sigh of re-
: lief Even Lamar had averted his face
lest she should see how interested ne
, was. She alone was free from excite
ment. The associations aroused In her
, mind by her recollections seemed only
to make her utterly sad and cast down.
L 4 Ill CO ms N