Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-01

did remember that warning and cursed
himself for the prudence that had di-
vided two such passionately loving
hearts and for what came of that part
ing.
Will Cassilis appeared in the doorway,
his face ghostlike.
AT least we may correspond, sir!"
he said.
mo. You will have to remember
each other without any aid to memory
whatever.
The door shut with . crash that shook
the little house, and Lord Straubenzee
rubbed his chin irritably as he walked
TO tho window and ON the low verands
heard the sound Of Nannie's hopeless
sobbing.
Yes, decidedly he was glad he was
going back to Straubenzee. At that
moment he did not feel that the Chud-
leigh Salterton had been a success. and
his usual philosophy little failed him,
for over and above this present irritation
against the folly of lovers he was aware
OF another and more wounding feeling
that of keen disappointment at the
attitude Of Miss Grcgorias, whose indie
pendent straightforwardnesso of character
had, up to now, SO strangely appealed
to him.
1t was one thing that he, as q etran-
ger, should have elected to keep silence
when her fathers murderer appeared
boldly in their midst, but he thought
she might have spoken to him, have
credited him with understanding the
motives that held her back from de-
nouncing and giving the man up to JUS
tice. The replies from Paris and else
where to those inquiries which Hagar
had insisted on Dr.. Martins making
all bore the same tenor-that she was
OF blameless reputation, but had been
completely sacrificed by her father to
his scientific pursuits and had led with
him life of the greatest privation and
misery. What those pursuits were DR..
Martin managed to conceal from Lord
Straubenzee, as he was under a solemn
promise to Hagar that he would do.
And her host had rejoiced to see the
Improvement in Hagar's health and ap-
pearance during tie PAST fortnight. and
lie may be forgiven if he felt the pride
III it that most people do in their own
,reatiCns. and now she had bitterly dis
appointed him.
The door opened behind him, and she
came in. Standing there, with the table
between them, she said in low voice:
lyon are blaming me in your heart,
and deserve it. But does the lark hate
the hand that opens its prison bars and
bids it soar upward to heaven? Does the
slave curse the smith who strikes the
letters from his wrist? He gave me my
liberty. let him CO.,
She bowed her head. He could only
see the clean, threadlike line that ran
from her brow to where her hair was
bound in masses on her neck.
Poor girl, poor girl!'' he said, with
weight lifted from his heart. She was
still sincere. She trusted him, and his
opinion of her was unaltered.
''Those babies out there are broken
hearted" he said as he came round the
table. Il am going to separate them for
q whole year.
"A year?"
The words leaped from her, she look
ed radiant as if she had come into a
kingdom, and a misgiving crossed Lord
Straubenzee's mind, and he frowned.
Is she in love with the boy, too?" he
thought irritably, and once more philos-
cphy departed, aid without answering
her he went across to the little drawing
room and sat down to his table, where
book and shaded lamp welcomed
him as old friends and unconsciously
soothed his ruffied spirit
But as be sat rubbing his glasses Ha-
gar drew near and stood Just outside the
circle of light, clasping and unclasping
her hands like child who wishes but
fears to speak.
He looked up kindly, and when he
saw how weary III soul and bvdy she
was he said:
"Whas is it, Ha2ar?"
lyon think l arr in love with Will
Cassilis, SIR" she said, land he docs
not even know that there is another wo-
man in the world but Mamie. Never
will know. You may send him away
Tor year, for ten, but he will come
back like bird to his nest, and Mamie
Mamie will be waiting for him.
Only they were all reckoning without
Blake, or as he was usually called Black
Trelawny, all save Will Cassilis, who
knew his man, the greatest daredevil.
the most reckless lover that ever woman
had, and in all whose wicked life, when
he had set his whole heart and soul ON Q
thing and wanted it, he had got it.
"Goodby, Willie. my own willie"
cried Mamie few days later, as, re-
ga-dless Of servants. porters and her
| father, she leaned ont of the railway
carriage window. with both arms round
her lovers neck, her splashipg tears
falling heavily en- his strained miser-
nble young face. ITS only a year.
| Willie" And then the train carried her
off, and Will Cassilis, in the first real
anguish Of a strong, passionately loving.
| loyal heart. walked blindly away.
thrustirg aside the hand that in SYM
| pathy Lord strsuhenzce held out to
| him.
It vas only g year, 10 Mamie said,
but Blake Trclawny vouId lave the
| start ard keep it.