Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-07

several times, veiitured to approach ana
touch him ON the arm.
Dinner is ready, sir. )"
As she waited upon him she cast tim
i'd glances at his stern, weary face. She
was sorry for him, but he asked no
questions, and she ventured no express
sion of sympathy.
bit OF flesh and blood as ever lived,
with no thought in the world but dress
and style" she confided to the tea cad
dy later, land he the best Of men, with
always kind smile and ready word. It
just hurts me to see him sittin there
alone, his dogs head ON his knees, SO it
does
Before Hugh left the table the hell
rang. It was a maid from next door,
with note from Mrs. Ventnor:
Come in for q moment, do. We
know what has happened. Your wife
stopped here today on her way to the
train. A little diplomacy will set the
whole matter straight.
A burning flush mounted to his fore
head as he read the words. Go in and
face them after the scene to which they
had been treated that day? He could
not.
"I'm sorry I find it impossible''- he
dashed off, and then hesitated. But why
not go? Might it not be better to carry
the unfortunate matter off lightly, act
ing as he would if Jenny's onslaught
had been utterly without foundation.
Besides, some sort of explanation was
required of him.
They were Just finishing dinner when
he was admitted. Marian was facing
the open door Of the dining room, and
rs he walked down the hall the entice-
ment of her delicate beauty stole out to
meet him.
Beautiful? Yes, she was that and
more. A whiteness from the newly lit
candles and the warm glow from the
lingering twilight wrapped her about.
lighting up the depths of her eyes and
the transparent delicacy of her skin. As
on the first night he had seen her, she
wore white, short wasted gown, her
supple throat uncovered, q star in her
hair.
Surely his last, torturing memory of
her was but a vagary. This woman
could never have sobbed out the confess
sion that had SO disturbed his life.
There was nothing of the Magdalene in
the untroubled, lovely face before him.
There was no difference outwardly, and
yet, yes, there was, for he had never
thought her eyes untroubled before.
She sent him smile that thrilled
him with joy, while it made him steel
his heart with sudden pain.
Every glad you've come, nv dear
boy" and Mrs. Ventnor gave him her
plump, jeweled hand. "Sit down oppo-
site and have a cup of coffee with me. I"
"Thank you, have but Just dined,"
and he sank into q chair, his brain in
confusion.
Marian rose from her seat, looking
steadily, thoughtfully at him. as if to
impress every expression of his change
full face ON her memory:
"In leave you to chat together for q
few moments. Unjust speak to Roberts, ("
and she walked slowly from the room.
II suppose you can guess why sent
for you in this friendly fashion-to give
you a motherly scolding," said Mrs.
Ventnor when they We're alone. "There,
you needn't deprecate. I'm old enough
to be your mother. I confess to As.
Whether am more is nobody IS business
but my own. Do take a cigarette
Egyptian-you' re sure to like it."
He obeyed absently, and she handed
him q lighted match.
$50 your wife has taken it into her
foolish little head to run away" she
continued, with shrug. "Young wom-
en- have a habit of doing that nowadays.
But when they find they can't tyrannize
over any one SO successfully as they
have over their husbands they cool
down and come back. No matter what
she said. Well wipe that out. Marian
and I are too sensible to remember it.
She was jealous without reason, and