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

theirs only. Oh, the delight that had
wrapped them about as they stood look
ing ever an unknown sea Of bewilder-
irg vastness into the crimson clotted
clouds Of an unearthly sunset, with not
a sail on the desert of waters, not a
sound but the harmonies of nature-they
two the only living things beneath the
sky. In that dream she had felt his
heart bounding against hers, had been
thrilled and dazzled under the passion
glittering in his eyes. as their signing
lips met i'll close, breathless kiss.
Then she awoke to the emptiness of
the room.
She did not know whether Hugh we're
still away or if he had returned during
the night. She did not know where he
had gone. hut she knew of a surety that
her world must be where he was; that
without him life now had nothing to
offer her.
She lay on her bed filed with these
thoughts, her dreaming eyes looking
beyond the confines Of the room, seeing
nothing but the shadowy memory of his
face, when the sound of the gate closing
had made her spring up, her cheeks
suddenly ruddy as the heart of rose,
and hurry to the window.
He was coming up the path to her
door.
Yes; he had come back. After re-
morse Of which she was now incapable,
after unsuccessfully fighting his heart,
no had sought her again.
Her fingers trembled as she hurriedly
dressed. The blood throbbed in her lips.
She was tingling with excitement and
happiness She pictured their meeting,
his savage tenderness, his admission of
defeat because his eternal love was too
strong to be mastered or limited by the
considerations of the hour. 1t would be
a sweet moment when she heard this
from his lips.
And the future-their future Oh,
it was indefinite. delicious! What mat
tered it how they spent it or where, SO
that they were together? Had he not
said so:
Hugh was poor. She was rich. That
he wou!d not use penny of her wealth
for himself she well knew. And she
laughed i'll a feverish, exultant way as
she pinned the starry flowers in her belt,
thinking how sweet it would be to 80
away from this. place where they We're
known and live with him even in small,
close rooms-work for him, with him.
too-and be his helpmeet truly as wo.
man with brain and imagination only
could
So she had dreamed until she stood
before him, and in the twinkling of an
eye had understood all that his pale, un-
yielding face and altered attitude i'm
piled. He had come back. Yes, but not
us she had fancied. He was the master
where she had locked for the slave How
fortified. how secure he was! That he
had suffered was evident, bat in the
glory of his eyes she read an aspiration
almost divine that lifted him beyond
her.
For moment she stood rigid, fasci
mated, dumb, but only for a moment,
ere she threw ont her arms to him with
an Undesirable cry Of love.
Come 10 nearer" he said i'll voice
thick from repression as he unfastened
her clingins fingers from his arm and
gently repulsed her. The word that
must be spoken between us had better
be said So
''What word, Hugh; what word?''
How the imploring love in her voice
racked him! He looked away from her
"Goodby. 1t is hard to say it, Marian
SO hard, but hard conditions make il
necessary. You understand that if yor
have thought at all. -
Goodby. Then her first, shudderins
thought was true.
The room was swallowed up in mis-
for q moment, aud she seemed looking
at him across veil spun by the years
She clasped her hands in sudden, awful
pain.
Il know-yes. Your wife. Well?"
NO he said clearly. mo; vii
never see my wife again. 1t is not that
am going away alone, far away, fo
my whole life, Marian
The words came pitifully broken a
he told her, emitting nothing of hi
temptation, his thoughts on the whar
before he became strong enough to max,
the sacrifice.
''But now 1 60 gladly for both on
sakes You will remember only the bet
ter part of the time we have spent to
gether, won't you, Marian? l must 60
Nothing less can help us. And you vii
say that you forgive me-oh, you will
say it-yes, here, with your hands il
mine! don't deserve it. Still you viii
say it:'
She made no reply to his appeal
There was only room in her thought
for one appalling truth which threat
ened to strip her life bare and leave i
| desolate.
II can't bear i'll can't" her voic
rang ont. lyon don't mean that w
| must separate now. You don't meal
that. Oh. take me with you. I'll 9
! anywhere-tot the ends of the earth wit
| yoU-on " take me, take me -
fTo III COSTTSrrrD1