Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-29
What do You want!''

do not blame me-" said Mis- Makes
at last in a voice the clearness and steadi.
ness Of which surprised herself 1T i.
not my fault that am in this room.
asked only to see you The servant
brought me, / might almost say dragged
me, here"
The idiot! The idiotr' cried the wo.
man, with more anger. but not less sus.
picion. This blunder will cost her hez
place. Whom did you wish to see:''
"You, madam"
Me? You have chosen an odd houl
for your calls' The woman breathed
painfully in her agitation. dropped Miss
Maxey's arm and tore open the door In
a fever Of haste.
There she cried. This is not my
reception room! Here. little fool, show
this lady down stairs"
The frightened servant, who appeared,
obeyed her. Ellen followed her TO the
floor below. As she descended the stairs
she passed an elderly female, with IN
energetic stride, coming up. Ellen was
very sure the newcomer went into the
chamber from which she had just come,
and she thought:
That Is the person, whoever she may
be, for whom was mistaken"
Miss Maxey was conducted to dainty
reception room ON the first floor The
gas was lighted. and she was left alone
with her reflections. She sank into a
chair. a long time, a very long time
elapsed She heard many footsteps 60
along the hall outside her door before
any one sought again 20 turn the handle
She listened with all her power. She
even held her breath. The sight she had
seen in the chamber had made so power
full an impression upon her that il al
most seemed TO be- before her still. She
did not understand il. buf the very mys-
terry made the possibilities so much the
more dreadful What was the nature Of
the strange horror she had surprised.
Who was the fashionable woman who
had such curious acquaintance in the
outer world. who sheltered such name
less enornities under her roof:
Miss Maxey was a young woman who
had been protected from the rough
breath Of the great world from her in
fancy, TO whom evil in all its greater
and more repulsiye forms had ALWAYS
seemed unreal and dreamlike. Int vet
Is she sat there in that silent room her
active mind, busy with the logic Of the
events Of the past few hours, saw before
1t such possibilities of the depth Of hu-
man depravity as made her tremble for
the powers Of her own imagination.
What did il mean? What could il mean.
The pretty girl who but few hours he
fore had been riding for pleasure in her
carriage through the city streets now
PROSTATE and insane: The ether, the red
hot curling iron. the smell Of burning
flesh: Miss Maxey's mind reeled under
the fancies Of what it might mean, and
yet il the midst Of it all she was aware
Of a latent impression that nothing in
all these wild speculations was plausible
enough to he the truth
What hazardous, foolish thing this
following Of Mr. Dye had proved. Was
IT not an unladylike action. and might
she not live 60 regret having committed
II? A vagne fear haunted her
The time came when her reflections
Were interrupted She heard no warning
step in the hail outside. The knob turned
quietly. The door swung noiselessly,
and she whom she had come into the
house TO see came in
The woman was exceedingly pale, and
her eyes seemed unnaturally large.
There was a slight trembling Of her
hands, but no tremble Of the lip. She
spoke at once upon her entrance in a dis
dainful manner and q steady voice
ITO whom have the honor Of speak
ing:''
ITO a lady who desires TO remain IN.
known"
Miss Maxey wolld not have made
that answer an hour ago. but events had
brought her 10 a wise determination. A
slight color came into the handsome
woman's face.
This is very extraordinary. VIVA.
do ycu want?''
Il wanted TO ask you a few ques-
tions."
"oh. indeed, Well, ] can relieve YOU
Of any further necessity Of waiting on
that score. shall not answer questions
addressed TO me by q person who desires
20 remain unknown.
There were the most bitter irony and
contempt in the tone Of this speech. But
for all that the hand trembled still.
though ii was laid upon the back Of a
cushioned chair 10 steady it
Ellen arose at once, reddening in spite
of herself
Il have no means 10 force you" she
said quietly. I'VE are at least on an
equal footing do not know You any
better than You know me-"
The woman caught her breath in a
painful way.
You do not know my name, and vet
you are in my house?''
Il came into your house because saw
a person about whom am very anxious
TO know come ont Of it. mean Mr..
Dye"
The woman gasped again. Her eyes
were .ixed upon Ellen's face with burn
ing intensity. She did not even attem,t
TO speak. Ellen went on:
THAT man arm very much interested
IN. 1t is family matter. am aware
that 1 did very bold thing. and heart
n