Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-10

Marks hand ,rds on his arm quickly.
ed me. Come, don't be chary Of your
opinion. Tell me I have played the
blackguard Scourge me with words
like whips. Nothing you can say or
think of me can be half go searching as
the Judgment my conscience has passed
upon me.
Mark stood for q moment as if inca
pable Of realizing what the torrent Of
words meant.
Don't you see? The woman should
have sustained in her good resolve
have tried to drag lower. Don't you I'M
derstand? All, that's what hurts!' he
whispered feverishly. "Oh, if you knew
how she came to me, what she said,
how she relied on mel Ny words at the
mission touched her. She was to have
been SO true, 60 strong. She said was
the one good in her life My God!
Think of it! And now that is all undone.
am to blame. She loves me. We will
be shipwrecked together.
Mark leaned toward him, his pale
face illumined. At the first words spo-
ken in the same, gentle voice that had
won his boyish confidence Hugh's burn
ing eyes filled with tears.
"Since you suffer, Hugh, cannot re-
proach you. Your remorse seals my
lips. There are men who call themselves
moral Who would think lightly of what
you have done. Thank God, you are not
like them. Moments of temptation such
as you have described come to all men.
They have come to me; they will come
to you again. Your fine sense of person
al honor is wounded now. 1t hurts you,
and that pain means hope. But it is the
next affront to it which will be fatal
What are you going to do?"
II do not know"
"But you stand halting between two
paths. Which will you take?'
81 do not know"
Hugh, look up. Look at me- You
say you love this woman"
beyond the telling"
"Then temptation will come to you
again as surely as you both ive," cried
Mark, with vehemence. will You be
strong? Will you remember there is nc
joy in life like that which comes from
conquering self? What is life but sue
cession Of memories? Almost in breath
today becomes yesterday, gone forever.
But the poisoned recollection of guilty
pleasure stays and eats into the heart.
Our memories are all that last. Like
travellers, they keep pace with us through
life. Oh, keep them clean''
| "Yes, Mark, yes," and the look upon
his face wrung Marks heart; sit is my
| determination to undo as well as I car
what I have done. But how? Is that
| possible:''
! ''Go far away from Marian Trent.
Put her absolutely out of your path. In.
duce your wife to return to you. Make
the most of your life. Do not hesitate
do not parley. The way is clear before
you"
"That would be right" Hugh NUT
tered, and a tremor Of anguish passed
over him. Jenny to return to me-
Jenny to come back. That would bt
right, although my heart is like stone
to her. Well, I'll do it. She was sense
less as a block to go away. Had she
been little merciful to that poor CIR
this horrible conclusion would never
have been reached. But, no-oh, no
She to feel pity! The cruelest judge
woman has is woman. oneed to show
her stone ready for her hand. Neve1
fear, she will fluid one for herself"
A short, bitter laugh left his lips, an6
he started for the door.
lyon Will return and tell me the re
suit of your interview with Jenny.
Here is shey. Come, no matter how
late. Twill be here and waiting fol
you"
Hugh took it absently from the deli
cate, Drowned fingers and felt his OWL
detained in fervent clasp
do nothing rash. Come back to me
il only for q moment. without fail. Tbs
strong are sometimes weak, Hugh, but
strength can be born anew Of weak
ness.
He was again on the sunny, dusty
street, one Of the passing show, a feel
ing like death at his heart and Mark
Last words echoing in his ears. Strange
thought to be thinking On that thorough
fare filed with the whir Of trade ani
perpetual traffic:
Strength can be born anew Of weak
ness"
1t was the dinner hour at Mrs. Wal
toms as he went up the stairs and ran,
the bell The hall smelled of mutton
A woman's laugh iloated from the base
ment .mingling unmusically with Ii