Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-18


to hide it. '.Then hope Bob has read
it Alright. and that now he win have the
grace to let me alone. Why win unsuc-
cessful lovers come to chivy you when
you're just on a long journey and
haven't eaten anything since half past 6
O'Clock in the morning! And that is
what Bob did yesterday"
"Was your hurry to leave town 90
pressing as all that?" said Lady Grams
toun, raising the delicate brows that
went go well with the delicate aquiline
Of her face.
~ did not even wish my aunt good
BY" said Lesley, with guilty air. cor
Ronny." She brought the name out
boldly. She would have to get used to
mentioning her cousin in everyday con-
versation now.
''And who is Ronny? You never mem
toned him in your diaries"
"Rcnny Kilmurray. He 10 Lady APP
puldurcombe's son and my half cousin. ~
"Ronny Kilmurray is your cousin"
exclaimed Lady Cranstoun incredulous-
y. 1.-THE man Of whom every one is
talking-the most splendid fellow. I &C.
combe's son. and you never reminded
me" she added reproachfully.
Lady Cranstonn read the newspapers,
of course. All disappointed women do
when the page of life is unreliable or
not to their liking
II did not know it myself till got
| to town. Dad never even mentioned
him, and you know we never read the
| newspapers. don't think auntie ever
quite forgave me for knowing nothing
shout him, but he was very glad. He is
the most simple, modest
Lady C-austoun stretched ont her
arms and :Stew the girls face down 70
her own.
Dear" she said. I'm SO glad. The
| right man has come at last, and it is
Ronny Kilmurray."
He has come-and gone, said Les
ley in whisper. "He has never said
| one word of love 20 me, and-and there
is another woman. She loved him first,
! and"-
"He does not love her now" said
Lady Crarstoun, putting Lesley away
that she might look in her face, and
reading it closely adding: Perhaps
| never did. Sometimes a man has nc
choice in such matters-even u Ronny. +"
Lesley did not reply. Her forehead
| rested against the elder woman's cheek,
: and for the first time since Ronny' S soul
| had surrendered itself to hers in Lady
| Appuldurcombe's dining room she let
| herself go, and tho deep waters Of an
| guish rolled over her head.
| She neither moaned nor sighed, and nc
tears came, even with that human touch
| Of sympathy warm about her that un-
| locks most women's hearts, but when
she looked up at last, though her fore.
head was wet, the spirit that looked out
| Of her blue eyes was SO indomitable that
Lady Cranstoun knew, though the girl
herself We're broken in pieces like pot.
ter s vessel, that spirit would be broken
| never.
st can't talk about it-about her, "
the girl said steadily. "for she is my
friend. He is more than life to her, and
I-shall-get-over it."
Lady Cranstoun turned her head
away, and her eyes were dim.
"Oh, the loyalty Of 1.-THE young,
lavish, beautiful loyalty" she thought,
"that could make one woman thus give
up to another the man she loved. Only
youth could be capable of such self sac
rifce. Only such girl as Lesley could
make it.
''And che accepted it?" said Lady
Cranstoun slowly. Knowing that he
loved you, she was willing to make him
wretched, you wretched, to spoil both
| your lives, SO long as she fetched pitt
full rag of happiness to cover herself
withal? despise the woman from mJ
soul And. oh, Lesley, Lesley, my
dear"-and there was a ring of triumph
in her voice-'you have reckoned with.
out the man! You two women have
planned it all ont very nicely, but yor
have reckoned without-Ronny Kilmur.
ray. And from all have heard of Mr..
Ronny should say ne is a man never
to be turned aside from his purpose,
never to be baked Of his hearts desire,
and if Malincourt does not see him very
shortly I am very much mistaken.
ut would not matter, said Lesley,
who had risen and was now tidying he,
dark ruffied locks. "You-you DON,
know how I can make men hate me
when really try"
And while she SO Strengthened herself,
getting ready her keenest armory against
the man she loved, Ronny was lying
shot through the back, and Eastwood,
his last deed Of infany committed
rested, bullet through his heart.