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

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SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
Chapter Marian Trent and Mrs
Ventnor turn their backs upon upper
Bohemian society in New York and
retire to nearby town. II is a
fad Of Msrian's and distasteful to
her companion. Their house is twin
to an adjoining one. II-Dr. Hugh
Larremcre lives next door. Return
ing late one evening. he stumbles
into the wrong house and comes upon
q vision of Observation-Disclosures a
snow white wrapper by a glowing
crate fire. He retreats, after an
apology, which is received with q
pleasant smile. At his own fireside
he encounters a nagging. petulant
wife. III-Mrs. Ventnor summons
DIR. Larremore for herself profession
ally. The call develops into social
visit. Marian acknowledges herself
blase and miserable. She is rich, but
unsatisfied. DIR. Larremore tells her
that the best medicine for her dis
ease is to 60 about doing good. Nv
Marian devotes time and money to
n newsboys' home, but she is still I'M
happy and without q high motive.
Larremore becomes interested. His
wife is Jealous and makes o scene.
V-The doctors bosom friend, Mark
ThOrne, returns from the missionary
field. A stroll in Marian's garden.
The doctors religion. VI-The doc
tor and his wife. Mrs. Ventnor and
Marian accompany Thorne to mid
night mission in the slums. Larre-
more makes an appeal from the plat
form. Marian's soul is touched by
it. V1I-Marian. in tears, seeks DR..
Larremore to confess that she is a
sinner and morally no better than a
creature OF the slums. The doctors
wife overhears all and denounces
Marian with terrible vindictiveness,
insisting that she is treated rs an
outlaw. Love for the unfortunate one
springs no and masters him. DR..
Larremore's wife abandons his home.
Mrs. Ventnor and Marian decide to
go away. The husband pleads with
his wife to return. but she is obdur-
ate. A stormy and passionate inter-
view between Marian and the doctor
follows. Repentance is now i'm
possible. ! love you," she says. At
last Larremore goes with Thorne to
a distant mission field as an example
to Marian OF exalted sacrifice. Il
took your faith from you. l give it
back"
''Uh, what have you done?" she cried,
seizing his arm. "Ol,, how could you
take my happy dream from me: You
don't know what you have robbed me
Of"
There was silence for a moment, and
tear gushed from Marian's eyes, fall
ing heavily upon her clasped hands. To
what did she say farewell in that mo-
ment? What better life did she re-
nounce as impossible? What angel van
ished from her side? What devil took
its place?
A murmured laugh floatcd through
the room that seemed to come from the
lips Of lost soul whirling through a
wild Walpurgis night. She moved to
the curtained doorway, paused there q
moment and looked back.
GOOD night, Hugh" and all the
GOODNESS and mockery that had chilled
him in the first days Of their acquaint-
ance were shining in her eyes. "Come
to me tomorrow. shall not waste the
night in prayer-be sure Of that. You
have shown me the folly Of it. But I
want to think. 1t is not easy to come
from heaven to a black, familiar valley
in one little moment, is it? Oh, IN
derstand all SO plainly now, but must
grow accustomed to it," she said mus
ingly, with dreary calm that chilled
the awed and troubled man who lis
tened as if death had breathed upon
him-for there is another death than
that Of the body.
"You thought was cheating myself,
perhaps trying to cheat you when ]
sought you with my miserable story
said Marian. "Ah, yes, know it now.
You had no faith in the new strength
the new hope, the new life was look
ing forward to-"
| "Oh, yes-yesv' And in dumb an
| guish Hugh tried to take her hand. She
drew away, still with that strange, war
smile.
go away now, Hugh. I cannot beal
to see you-not yet" And she laughed
as he once heard q suicide laugh wher
told that he had but o few moments Il
live. "Not yet, but since you tear dow
the idol Of yourself, since you, Wit
made me hate my sins, have elorifiet
them, I'll live down to your estimate
What am I, that / should strive to b
better than You? I'll 60 away with you
You shall order my life as you will IL
be worthy Of you, never fear.
marian, do believe in you. Oh
you cannot think and he moved i'm
pulsively toward her. his heart in hi
eyes :.
She raised her hand in . mute com
mand not to approach or touch her. BE
lids dropped heavily.
Repentance il impossible. You hav
taught me this I love you. I accep
your conditions There Is no turninl
back after all Men can find forgiveness
women, never"
The curtain fell behind her, and b
was alone.