Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-31
CHAPTER w


Miss Gregorias came into the little
dim, sweet scented room, Uttered with
those odds and ends that are as daily
| bread to people of culture and breeding.
and for moment the atmosphere caught
her senfes, and she drew in a long
breath, as Of pure pleasure, and the
doctor said to himself, Life is new
| begun fer her today
Then she looked at him, and from
his soul he pitied her. Shame, revolt,
mental and physical agony, were all
written On face delicate i'll it's outline
as Phidian masterpiece, its beauty all
marred and ruined by a soul that had 60
far learned only to suffer, never to en-
JOY. He thought Of his own daughter
and swallowed something in his throat
as he said, Poor girl" and led her to
q seat.
Doctor" she said, 81 know your
face very well. 1t is kind one, or I
should not have ventured to write as
did. My father'-she spoke resolutely,
but was trembling in every limbs
dead. Help NE TO conceal every trace
of the studies in which he was concern
cd. the more especially as sney in no
way tear upon his death. His books,
his chemicals, wish removed and de-
stroyed. Personal papers he has none
ut least only notes decipl,eraOle to no
other person than himself You'll help
me, doctor, in this:'
MY dear young lady," he cried,
aghast, ''you ask mo what I have no
earthly power to do! Not q thing NAV
be touched till tho inquest has been
held. There might be a clev to the
murderer among those papers,
| mo clew is wanted,' she said i'm
patiently. Il know the man, and it is
simple retribution. My father deserved
his fate.
What harm can these things do
you:" said the doctor. 81 hold the
whole thing in horror. Still''-he paused
and locked searchingly at her-"unless
you too
She flung out her hands passionately.
| "No-no: she cried, then with an
ease that marked a supreme effort said,
BE it SO, then, and the daughter must
go out into the world alone, SCARED by
her fathers SINS"
But your people!" he exclaimed.
"You will send for them?''
| Il have none," she said. "If you
want references as to my character and
will write to an address in Paris can
give you, there are persons there who
will vouch for me to the three last
years, since when have lived entirely
with my father. and I can furnish you
| yitt, lofoc onA csS3roccoc IS o,,, ~o,:
dences up to the present time"
Il meant no HARM" said the doctor
gently, generously, land if you have to
fight the world alone I can quite un-
derstand that you prefer your fathers
pursuits to remain unknown. Still, they
were not dishonorable aud can reflect no
stain on you.
Don't tell Lord Straubenzee," she
said urgently. II it does not come out
at the inquest, promise me that you
will preserve silence -
this is little place. Every smallest de-
tail is certain to leak out"
Miss Gregorias had risen and was
looking out of the window.
"Oh, my God' she cried bitterly,
Il was well called Hagar! And have
an enemy in this house, already. Do
you see that cool, impertinent young
man yonder: But he is quite wrong
there is no harm in my life yet! And
that dear little girl is my friend.
And SO am l." said the doctor
promptly.
She turned and looked as one who
measured him. The evening breeze,
nimble and sweet, lifted the heavy rip
pies Of her copper bronze hair, growing
low on the brow above her blue eyes
and rolling behind her ears into heavy
knot almost too heavy for the slender
neck TO support.
"You are a good little man," she
said absently, and thinking so deeply
that she remained for some time look
ing at him without seeing him then.
Twill you give me a sleeping draft,
she said, something that will keep me
asleep from about 9 O'Clock tonight till
late tomorrow morning? And / want
You TO tell them they are not to disturb
me once it is taken"
Ives. 1 can do that" said the doctor.
looking at his watch. GOOD heavens.
have been here an hour. Goodby, my
dear And he hurried ont.
"How do you know she did not kill
him herseh?" Will was asking Mamie
in the room on the other side, where he
was enduring the torments Of Taptalus
as the servants came in and ont prepar-
ing the table for dinner. I'm sure they
always looked as if they hated each 9TH
er like poison
Mamie drew her hand away from his
with sense Of keen disappointment.
II never knew you harsh and unjust
| before, she said. and indeed he was an
altogether different person that evening
from the young fellow, bounding with
life and love and energy, whom she had
stQlep ont to meet that morning.