Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-05
CHAPTER XVIII.

Waiting alone in his warm corner and
thinking of Mamie, Will heard a snap
ping OF twigs. Il cracking of boughs
hard by, and the next moment Blake
Ireiawny was standing before him.
He carried a gun and looked calm
and Ill his sane mind, though his ebon
hair had become streaked with gray,
and his face was livid and scanned as it
had net been few short weeks ago.
"Cassilis,' he said abruptly, Il was
mad and blackguard the other day.
Forget it; make her forget it f you can
A man does not deliberately hound
down the woman he loves, and she is
safe from me. Ihave been away, where
God knows, don't, and can go again
If you have any doubts Of me. But l
have myself well i'll hand now," he
smiled erimly, land the grip I've got
Of myself-it wasn't lightly Obtained
I'll keep"
He paused. and Cassilis was about to
speak when Blake put TIP his hand.
"We may as well have it out now
he said, land then it's done with" The
clinched hand, the starting veins on his
forehead. bespoke rebellious blood and
denied his words. but he went steadily
on:
"You see, from the time when was
great, ugly, hulking devil of a school
boy and she q little toddling, mother
less thing with q head like "a soft vel
low ducklins, she would hang on to my
finger and so anywhere with me. I've
t,nr FOL
you were boy in white nankeen
breeches when l was man-and as
watched her growing up it never &C.
Cured to me how much nearer in age
you were. By every earthly law she
seemed to be mine, but there's no rea-
son, there never is any reason, why a
girl loves one man and dislikes anoth-
er, as she came to dislike me- And
still, his voice changed, Il thought
had a chance-ske had latterly expert
enced only my roughness, she did not
know what my tenderness could be-
and the man ism t born who would have
neglected the chance had in ycur alb
sence, but now it's over, all over" his
voice rang out harsh and masterful.
will You shake bands, MANI
T1elawny held out his hand, and as
Will gripped it all that was best in him
rose up III answer to that almost stern
look of trust as between man and man
in Wills eyes, which. to the honor Of
nan be it said, is very rarely betrayed
or only On greatest provocation.
There is only one thing" said
Blake, still holding Wills hand in that
close srip-.'if ever you treat her i'll,
If ever OF her Own free will she ;urns
to me without my lifting a finger,
mind, TO beckon her, / will take her.
Nor man nor devil shall hinder me. So
be kind to her, man; cherish her. Re
member yon have made pitch black one
mans dwelling to illuminate your own.
and never. never let that sweet. that
tender aud holy light grow dim for lack
Of tending"
PLEASE God, I never wiIl,' said
Cassilis, strangely moved by the fire and
passion, held well in leash. that smoke
in this strange mans voice, yet how i'm.
possible to think that Mamie ard him.
self could ever fall out Then thew tall
ed Of other thing, Of the shypess and
scarcity Of the birds, of Lady Lirriper.
after which they shot together. and
when luncheon time arrived they had
become Keen over their sport, and Nan.
ME. coming suddenly upon them talk.
ing as friends, stood petrifed, pazins
from one to the other.
Blake Treiawny came forward, and
she fneC IL a rolert t5st this was