Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-11

versafion when she ceased to take part
in 1t. But she was not asleep, and her
face, protected from view by abundant
wraps and the growing obscurity, had
gradually settled into an expression at
once wistful, pathetic and resigned.
Maxey, whose power Of observation
was not wholly matter of eyesight,
had becoms annoyed and solicitous, but
he took pains not O. betray this fact.
As for philosophic, middle aged.
handsome Dr.. Lamar, the prime cause
OF the whole trouble, he was supremely
unconscious of any unhappiness ON the
part of his friends. He sat bolt upright
all by himself on the front seat, his
hands busy with the rcins and his at
tention apparently completely absorbed
in scanning the road as far as he could
see in front of his swift team. The truth
is that DR.. Lamar had blunderingly and
unwittingly touched upon a topic ex-
ceedingly disagreeable to his friends be-
hind him when he mentioned his ap-
preaching marriage with the wealthy
Widow Fersythe.
If Dr.. Lamar had only known how
fine and handsome he appeared in his
pretty neighbor' s eyes, it would have as
tonished him great deal, and he would
have been benceforth very much more
discreet in his remarks. If pretty Ellen
Maxey had imagined how well her keen
and penetrating brother had guessed her
secret, undoubtedly she would have dis
simulated great deal of glee and mer-
riment in despairing endeavor to have
thrown him off the scent, for the heart
beats proudly in the breast Of girl like
her, and this was snch secret as she
would wish might die with her.
They were all young The doctor was
the eldest, and he had barely reached
40. He was q brilliant young man who
had made something Of a name in the
medical world by n recent remarkable
publication. and whose practice was al
ready established on a firm basis.
Julian Maxey was 2s. He had painted
several hundred very unsuccessful pic
lures. Their merit, however, was plain
~ recognized by his friends, by reason
Of which accomplishment he was called
an artist. He was enabled TO keep ND
this nonlucrative pursuit and to satisfy
the craving in his soul for counterfeitinr
the beautiful by comfortable annuity
which he had inherited from his grand
mother
Ellen Maxey was "a. Since the death
Of her parents she had held the proud
though exacting position of her brothers
housekeeper, than which there was only
one other place in the world she would
have been better satisfied TO OCCUPY.
On went the spirited horses, while the
merry bells jingled and the steam spout
ed rhythmically in four evanescent
streams from their nostrils, and the foot
falls beat time on the hard crust. The
limitless black shadow settled down
slowly over the sea and the land There
was growing flush in the east which
might herald a coming moon, and fad
ing glow in the west which betokened a
departed sun, but these We're but poor
torches for a wayfarer cropping in the
dark, ami the stars overhead, obscured
by pEle mist. We're puny candles
against The observation Of the deepening
gloom.
On went the melted span toward the
faint light in the heavens made by the
distant city, held up to their steady gait
by tight rein in the doctors guiding
hand and encouraged by an occasional
stimulating cry. The ocean. stretching
out from the base of the cliff into the
darkness upon the right, grew more inky
from moment to moment, and the fading
white landscape upon the left became
exceedingly sketchy and Incomplete.
Still the four spoutinp clouds of steam
and still the merry jingling of bells
upon the frosty air.
All ut once there is break in the
rhythm Of the hoof heats. From steady,
onward, arrowlike flight the sleigh sud
denly moves laterally and almost stops
with terrific abruptness, narrowly cs-
capes overturning. trembles. jerks. snaps
II every joint and moves ahead again.
Hi! whoa, there! What the deuce
DIR. Lamar was on his feet, and his
strong arms Were refining i'm the fright
ened horses. In another minute he was
out IN the snow, running beside them,
ciinging TO the bride A plunge, a snort,
a shiver, n great jingling Of the bells,
and the sleigh had come 20 a standstill
Whoa, Polly! Gently, Dolly" said
the doctor, persuasively stroking the
noses Of the trembling and greatly
frightened animals, while his two com
panions. who had jumped into n snow
bank, struggled out into the road and he
gan to put themselves to rights.
Now, what the deuce do you suppose
made those horses shy so:''
There is something back there ON the
road. l am very positive, said Maxey.
And IL thought I saw somebody
jump over the fence and run across the
field" added his sister.
What you saw on the road were the
old scttees on the edge Of the cliff prob
ably, said DR.. Lamar. "You know the
Somerset summer hotel is Just back Of
Us here. and in the warm weather there
is row Of seats just above the bath
houses by the roadside noticed what
i took to be the gangway leading down
TO the beach just before the horses
jumped.
mo, no. What saw WINS in the mid