Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-08
CHAPTER xxi.

WIN Nd-NillS WIS u simple minded
English gentleman whose mind was not
adapted to tragedy or wrestling with
occult influence that made him feel an
out and out scoundrel, and rs il was
perfectly useless to argue with Mamie
about a passion which she clearly could
not resist, but must certainly he saved
from, he went clear away for AZ hours,
hoping that he might see daylight on
his return, though he scarcely expected
1t. How he spent that time he hardly
knew, but thought constantly Of Ire
lawny's wanderings. when he. too. tried
to escape from his pain and wrcstled
with and fought 1t down. Will had tho
manlinoss not to blame Trelawny for
what had happened. The 'uan had be-
havod extremely well. II was Mamie
who had taken the initiativc-Nannie,
whose seemingly true and loyal nature
had proved so poor and shallow that
mere breath Of jealousy could send her
fancy veoring TO Trclawny. II was as
though strong hand had taken q slide
out uf the girls heart and replaced it
with another. and tho lovo and devotion
flowed steadily as before, but toward
another object, one man being substi-
tuted for another. And how il happened
he could not tell. but it seemed as nat
ural to her now to turn with JOY to IRE
lawny when he entered the room Us it
had been formerly to turn to himself.
Yet what was before her? She had loved
him yesterday. She loved Trelawny to-
day. She might love third man tenor
row. and Will grcaned in his anguish,
rs he thought Of il and remembered
Lord StrauGcnzee's warming that they
were very young TO know their own
hearts. And was he not to blame, for
without being in the least tired of Nan
ME had he not slackened little in his
devotion simply because-aEd il is often
the vifo's solo crirne-she was ALWAYS
there when he wanted heri Alas, alas,
IL when we marry we could call and SEQ
each other, say. once week, with all
sorts of difficulties bristling in our way,
would not the first keenness and fresh
ness If love last infinitely longer than
it docs, and So keep US ever on the eager
tiptoe Of desire? And he had made a
fool Of himself with Hagar, not once.
but again las: night, not because he
liked her, but because she had some con-
founded influence over him that must
be directly attributable to tho devil.
He had left his dressing room and
gone into his wife's room early to leave
note ON her dressing table telling her
that he was going away. but giving no
reasons, and he had stepped softly TO
the side of the bed and seen her lyirS
there almost lost in its whiteucss. with
tho traces Of tears lying ON her young.
round checks.
II only he had staid. If ever Mamie
wanted friend. she wanted her now.
and viii, not knowing. had delivered
her over into tho hands IF the enemy, to
bo dealt with even rs II wilied. when
he drove away early to the station that
morning.
Mamie woke with an overpowe-irc
headache and said ut once before her
brain could form the thought. II will
send for Hagar." She did 30 after n ad-
ing Wills letter with indifference. and
to her own establishment received the
girl warmly. submitted to he sent 20
sleep by her rs usual. and for the whole
If the time that Will was absent hardly
suUtrtu HtT tUV VI HtE sirHt. Sne mao
forgotten her jealousy. or at mos: it
was a vague memory. and she seemed to
have gone back ut bound to the school
days when she was absolutely under
Hasar's sway. And they talked Of TIE
lawny-always Trelawny. Wills name
was never mentioned between them.
Lady Lirripor raised her b-ows when
she found herself alone ut almost every
meal. for Blake was also away. and she
thanked her stars that the inside Of an
other fortnight would see her at home.
Meanwhile she drove over to see Lord
Straubenzee. and left him wre.ched.
whereby her own eQuanimity was con-
siderably restored.
GOOD gracious, child" she said 70
Mamie after dinner that night, "you
look as If you Were walking in your
sleep. and why do you follow Has.-
abou: like u poodle? It fidgets me to
see your