Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-12


that the moment must inevitably come
when he would suffer terribly under the
wrench, and all the feeling, dulled now,
rush over him in food of binding,
biting strength.
When the boat was exchanged for the
train, he sat with absorbed gaze looking
cut ut the land, the hills rolling away
enpurpled in shadow, the breeze run
ming low through the long, bright grasses.
1t was very lovely. Strange that he felt
no regret at the thought Of leaving it
all.
But at the first glimpse of Macedon
place tiny shaft Of penetrating pain
twisted through him. All, this was so
endeared by long acquaintance, SO part
Of the busy life that had promised him
success, perhaps fame. Vain dreams
indeed, banished forever now.
He could not lock unmoved for the
last time ON the old place. How thick
and fresh the grass was behind the iron
palings. Not a bough, not branch that
was not nodding, not leaf that was
not joyously fluttering. The dew lay
upon the leaves; the clean sunshine ca
ressed them; the fretted, shimmering
tree tops whispered their summer songs
| to him.
For the last time!
He gave one miserable glance ut the
other house before entering his own. 1t
was shattered and silent Marian was
still asleep. That was well, for he had
much to do in small space of time be-
| fore going to her to ask her forgiveness
| and say goodby.
Half a dozen business letters, few
to friends, one to Jenny, the packing CT
| a trunk, instructions to the sleepy eyed
servant. who splashed with tears the
money he placed in her hand, and all
was done. So soon. He sat in the deep
study chair. his hands grasping its
| sides as he looked around at each famil-
lar thing. How easy it was, after all,
| to tear up the roots that habit and cir
cumstaDces had set!
The letters We're in his pocket to be
sent when he retained to New York
There was but one thing more.
| Marian! Oh, my dear, my dear!'
The muscles Of his throat contracted;
| film fell over his eyes. All, he loved
her and would while he had life! But
| for that love, forbidden to both, he
must leave her. Strength was his, and
he was glad to go. In the long vigil of
the preceding night he had learned
many things-how love INDUCED at the
cost of honor must fail miserably and
degrade, but how the voice i'll a man s
soul that whispers hope or condemna-
ton can never die, though for awhile it
may be forgotten or stified.
He grasped his hat, and stepping over
the low sill of the window, as he had
so often done before in life that SEEM
ed already over and done with, walked
slowly down the path and entered Mar
ian's garden.
A man was cutting the grass, and the
hall door stood open.
The servant who answered his ring
drew back the portiere before the little
drawing room where the sunshine filter
ed in through simmer of pale silk.
He waited fully half an hour for her
coming, a blur making everything in
distinct before him. Just behind him a
little clock struck the half hour after 9,
the silvery, threadlike notes stirring
him with u painful sense of uneasiness
He had not counted on this delay.
The train that would carry him to the
boat in time to keep his appointment
with Mark left shortly after 10. Why
did she not come? Surely such an early
visit must augur something important.
How cold his hands were! A feeling
of deathly sickness rushed over him; a
horrible, nervous something kept rising
in his throat.
He had reached the front windows in
his restless pacing when he heard a
sound. and turning saw Marian. At
sight of the living face his tenderest
memory of her paled.
In her passage through the room she
crossed a mirrors face and touched it
with color. Her plain muslin gown of
delicate blue and loosely braided hair
gave her an enchanting look of youth
and abandon. Her eyes We're still warm
from her dreams Her face glowed. She
had parted with regret and now reck-
lessly held ont her hands to love, cost
what it might. The whole woman had
awakened: her happiness followed her
like a melody, ana she was adorable as
the bunch of wild flowers in her sirdle.
But Hugh did not move to meet her.
BY an effort unspeakably hard he con
quered the quivering of his pulses, the
rush of yearning TRANSMITTING and chok-
ing him. His arms remained stoically
folded on his breast his lips We're ashen
How long does it take woman to
read the face Of tine man she loves, and
read it unerrin2ly: A moment: No, not
so long. A glance? Scarcely that.
Ii was two days since she had seen
Hugh. In the interval she had waved
aside penitence and was again the mon
daine who lived Int. in the moment.
Once the desire for good was taken from
her. she made no struggle, and forgot
everything in abandoned, stormy rev.
cries Of her love. For this was love in
deed. 1t had opened a new life to her
She looked On a tra1sfigurcd world II
| was to be the whole ecstatic giving OF
herself without thought as to the right
or wrong Of it. II it were called sin,
then he was worth the SHINING. Passion
L 80. l.s.- f<.x.I, ~