Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-10-06

On0 1Ofceu me 10 come and tell You
something that knew would he unwel-
come to you. What shall call that one?
observation-disclosures? The other caused
| me to desire that you should not receive
me, but allow me to go away UNDECIDED.
Shall call that other sympathy and
regard for yourself or for somebody in
whom you are interested? Never mind;
it is not to the point now. Your ears
were better than thought they were,
and you did hear me. / am here. Sir.
why did you not take my advice and
have me arrested? am a heartless, mis-
cradle wretch"
Theatrical air or not, this last SEN
tence came out with q sincerity and a
force that startled the artist The trem-
bling in the limbs increased; the somber
man made an effort to loosen his cravat
as If he We're choking. Maxey hastily
| pushed chair toward him.
"Sit down, sir You are ILL.,"
"Sir, am not i'll deny it Ide-
cline all courtesies Do not offer me
any. If you do, you will regret it when
l am done. I am to be spurned and spit
upon. That is my only use in society,
and may mention parenthetically that
society found that out some time ago.
| Don't forget that, sir. ! will not detain
you. l will not needlessly keep you
standing here. l have come to tell you
what l neglected to tell you before about
this child whom brought up"
"Well!' calculated Maxey nervously.
Mr.. Dye cast an apprehensive glance
at the artist
| Say You do not want to hear me, sir,
even now, and will go away, and you
nor she shall ever see me again. Do You
say it?'
| Mr.. Dyes tone was portentous and
beseeching. For an instant Maxey hest.
tated, but for an instant only.
| mo, Mr.. Dye, l do not say it Go on,
sir. Tell me the truth"
| Sir, you have pronounced your YER
dict. For better or for worse I shall
speak now and ease my conscience Of a
bad matter. told You did not know
this child's parentage ! told you a
falsehood know both her parents One
was scapegrace son Of a proud family;
the other was a servant in his fathers
house. Now you know the whole. am
done''
The blood rushed to Maxey's head.
| 1.-The proofs! Where are the proofs?''
| Mr.. Dye again glanced at him appre-
hensively and backed step or two near
er the door,
| Sir, there are no proofs"
'None:'
! Not a scrap. It all rests upon the
word of a worthless vagabond whom no.
body would believe, who is in fact such
a villain and liar that he can hardly
believe himself. If You wish to believe
that he has lid, there IL everything to
encourage you IN that belief, nothing to
discourage yor-''
"And why have you come here to
tell me this:''
Ibid not explain? Twas forced to- "
by whom:''
'Sir, not by whorn-by what. By
my conscience
| Maxey raised his arm with q gesture
of Impotence. The somber man shrank
back as if he expected blow. He cried
out apprehensively:
Don't believe me! Don't believe
mev'
do you acknowledge it to be q lie?''
''No. no. Not that, only-don't be.
lieve me-"
Mr.. Dye" said Maxey suddenly,
will you swear a solemn oath, here in
my presence, that you have told me the
truth:''
'Sir, will not No oaths. Not TO-
night. No oaths. I have said il. and
will do no more. No, not if the sword
falls, will say no more. That is all
came to say. / have said it will g
away again.
go. them" cried Maxey holly go
while You can with safety get out of my
reach, and if ever you show your fac
in this house again, unless you eithel
come to confess that you have lied OF
hold the proofs Of what you have sale
in your hand, you will regret it to tn,
last day of your miserable life HOLD
on bit! Not quite so fast, my goot
man. have not done yet If you evel
breathe word of what you have TOLD
me today to any living soul, and heal
it,
Maxey did not finish his sentence. bu
he was all the more impressive, for hs
looked unutterable things
Pardon me, sir, the caution is no
needed 1t has cost me much to say i
to you shall never repeat it. But
must. I must warn you that am no
the only person who knows this to be tn
truth. If l had been, I never SHOULD
have come. Sir. I thought it was bette
that you should know the whole befor,
before you took any rash step or steps
than hear of it afterward, when it would
be SO much more painful to both her and
yourself. You understand me now?''
Il Mr.. Dye suddenly turned, opened tn,
door which led into the vestibule ant
glided out. Maxey sprang after him, ex
claiming:
i stop, sir, stop! do mott do no
understand you!'
Maxey reached the vestibule only
second or two behind his strange visito
and would undoubtedly have dragge,
him back over the outer threshold, bu