Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-22

ichiark rs II he Were announcing the
most casual thing in the world:
on have set u trap for me-"
Maxcy was somewhat astonished at
ms cooincss. though he thought his at
utude n little theatrical. However il
might have been for Mr.. Dive, the meet.
ing was certainly very painful one for
.he poor girl who had been taught in
her early years to call him father Her
BOSOM rose and fell She became so
white that Maxey began to regret hay-
ing subjected her to the shock. In his
anxiety to ovcrwhelm the man he had
not considered the possible effect on the
woman. Still the worst was over. and
he could only proceed.
suppose you won't deny that Won
know this LADY, he said in voice that
was meant to be very uncompromising
and stern.
Sir, it would be utterly useless for
me to deny anything
Mr. Dye had not cast a second glance
Mt his former daughter nor did he do so
now. He made his answer in the most
grave. even dignified tones He punctu-
| ated perfectly. There was little pause
after the sir" and a full stop at the
anything" This calmness. which
! might be either the calmness of deter
mination or Of despair, rather discon-
ccrted the artist. He had often imagined
himself the central figure in such an in
terview, but he had never dreamed of a
| man like Mr.. Dye
Nevertheless will break his guard
yet, )" he thought
After a minutes silence Mr.. Dive
went ON IN the same measured tones in
which self consciousness and hopeless
ness We're strangely interminglcd
touching the lady now under your
charge, whom l once dissraced in per
uniting to be known by name by no
| means n synonym for integrity and up
, rlghtness. l do not hesitate to say that
! am exceedingly well rejoiced at seeing
her i'll such apparently excellent health.
She Is good girl, sir; she is everything
| the term implies, and yet sir, you must
be aware of the almost painful relations
| that exist between rs, and being aware
, of them and of the fact that they are so
strong that she left my house volunta-
rily, for the avowed reason that longer
life with so uncongenial q person as nv
self was unbearable, You can scarcely be
surprised that our meeting is not more
mutually pleasurablc and cordial A."
Mr.. Dye occasionally hesitated an in
slant for 4 word, but generally his dull,
sonibcr voice flowed on, measurably
and uninterruptedly, as if he were de-
livering himself of a speech that was
quite familiar TO him His dignifed
bearing was in such marked contrast TO
the dominant air Of faded gentility that
pcrvaded hum as to DO almost painfully
ludicrous- Marcy gazed at him steadily
and said:
You don't know where she went
when She left your house,"
Sir, she never made confdant of
me. Do not misunderstood me. i am
not roproaching her. was utterly unfit
for and unworthy of her confidence /
always avoided her, as the bad instinc-
lively avoid the good. She was right to
go. entered only feeble protest. l
aI.i aware, SIR, that il may seem incon-
gruous and artificial coming from me-
but even at the risk of seeming incon-
gruors and artificial desire TO say in
taking my farewell of the young lady
under your charge-for you can scarcely
wish to prolong an interview that IS
manifestly so painful to her-that l am
heartily, devoutly, sincerely sorry that
fate ever threw her into the way of such
a worthless mortal as myself and that
l earnestly hope that her future may be
y, if,l,t
dark aud unfortunate.
Despite the theatrical ring of the Sc
pulchral voice there was a tone Of sim
cerity and cardor about the last few
words that made an impression, even
against his will, upon the artist. The
tears came into Annette's eyes Timidly
ana tremblingly she approached Mr..
Dye and held ont her small white hand.
Mr.. no, father she faltered,
please do not think was ungrateful.
You will forgive me for what / said
about my parentage when | was angry.
If you have done right, it was cruel If
you have not, it is a matter for your
own soul l shall never forget that ii
was your roof that sheltered me when l
had no other. Believe me, did not run
away from you. met with-a terrible
accident. "
Mr.. Dye did not look at her, but he
unfolded his arms to take her hand,
which he held as lightly as possible and
dropped at the first opportunity. Max
ey, who was watching him closely, was
startled to see IL his face moinentary
betrayal Of sentiment. There was no
doubt about it Mr.. Dyes dim eyes Wa
tered, and the corners of his gloomy
mouth twitched The tone in which he
at last replied was very different from
the one in which he had previously
spoken.
"If said God bless you, it would be
mummery. The blessing of man like
me is poor legacy, but should like to
say something to show you that am
really sorry for the part / have played in
your life. You always We're good girl
and did your best to please me. am
not your father. could not feel toward
you as father Ought perhaps, but was
not insensible of your virtues. l never