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

hoped THAT, left entirely to themselves,
the young people would come to bet
ter understanding by now.
'Wha5-is the matter:" he said and
/ drew hr into the morning room and
shut the door. He scarcely knew her
face for Nannie's.
They say" she said in q strained
whisper, her hunted eyes fixed On his,
that l was tipsy last night; that it is
in the blood that shall die a disgraced,
ou:cast woman in the end"
"If it we've true hundred times over,
& would sticl: TO you through thick and
thin" cried Blake Trelawny passionate
ly. But, my poor little girl, it's impos-
sible. Tell me all about it."
- can't remember" said Mamie,
locking bewildered. 1.-The last two DAYS,
while Will was away. have spent al
most entirely with Hayar. We talked
about you," she added as one thinking
aloud.
1.-The devil You didr' exclaimed
Blake suddenly and violently, then turn
ed 70 pace the room with uneven steps,
racking his brains as to how all this
was to be traced to Hagar, for Hagar it
undoubtedly was.
How can viii ever love me again."
cried Mamie piteously. HE can only
have disgust for me - disgust and
shame She covered her face with her
hands and wept aloud.
"Oh, it is not I! Not Nannier' she
said as the door closed and she found
herself alcEe, but almost at the same
moment Will came in at the open win
dow, and taking her in his arms soothed
her like a child. while like child she
chung to him, her fears gone.
TrelGwny found Hagar in the draw
ing room, and walking straight up to
her gripped her wrist with no gentle
| hand
"You devil" lie said. "What do you
mean? What are you up to now? am
neither boy nor gil, like those two poor
victims of yours ut the castle. What
your influence over them is I don t
know, except that it's vilely evil, but
II defeat 1t get, madam, though you
have every los; soci i'll hell to help you
and do yorr bidding"
Hagar laughed, their eyes meeting
two strong wills rushed together and
| grappled, but with unequal advantages.
| for suddenly Trelawny began to feel
himself losing ground, not advancing in
| the contest. It was as though some
| nUnhins influence We're upon him, some
unhcly power streaming i'll electric cur
rents from the woman. but he set his
teeth hard exerted his utmost will pow
er and reg;Iined mastery Of himself by
| an effort that brought tie sweat to his
brow and left him trembling.
In ether days you would have been
burned &c, a WITCH" he said, shaking
her, AID at that moment Lady Lirriper,
who had convulsed her household by de-
scending thus early, appeared en- desha-
billie, and with a piece of lace tied over
the hastily arranged toupee by jose
phine.
Il heard you were here, Trelawny,"
she began, land as every one appears to
be maG-are you mad as weil:" she add
ed, as he let Hagar go with scant cere-
IlUny and came toward her.
send her away ne said, pointing
to the girl, ''tefore she does you and
yours any more harm. Send the wicked
devil away
Really" said Lady Lirriper, raising
hea SroTys IN way meant to Re i-onical,
but was only weary, what with two
lnheciles rhapsodizing in one room and
two savages coming TO blows in another,
and at this hour of the morning. too.
Bachelor cottage may be said to be look
ing mp. There-run away, Hagar, I
want 10 talk to TrclawIy-theo old Ire
iawny," she added as they were left
alone together, ''for methinks the sin
her ruhs through. the veneer Of the saint
today
send that devil away'' he repeated
vehencntly. Il mistrusted her from
the first. and now l know l had good
cause. What her Internal arts are. l
don't know. but she nearly got grip
Of me just now. Das Damon;sche is not
an old wives tale yet-and l believe
that woman has the power-and uses
it,
"Pooh!" said Lady Lirriper. "The
girls right enough Don't try to make
her responsible for that pair Of idiots in
the next room. No doubt you We heard
about last night voice faltered.
"Pshaw!' said Trelawny. "You re
making mountain ont of a ,noIehill.
BY merest accident she drank some wine
that was too strong for her-it's impos-
sible that she has any faint. The serious
thing Is, that body and soul she is un-
Ger that woman's thumb as Will is also,
but in less degree. For once in nv life,
dear lady, shall be glad to see your
back, as IL means the GreSorias' also.
Won't you give me some breakfast? We
are too tragic by half. The onlv person
who has real cause for unhappiress''-he
made WY face as he lightly touched
his heart-"is myself"
And as he was in the best Of shirts.
and early rising had, in spite of every
thing, undoubtedly given her ladyship
sharp appetite, she and her beloved
Trelawny breakfasted very pleasantly
together, Hagar's empty chair being
considered. in this instance, great deal
better than her company.
CHAPTER XIV.