Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-09

ncf's deserted bcudoir Marian was
standing, yoicing her heart in q fare
well to the love that, though forbidden,
had helped TO lift her near to heaven.
She was in the first glow that comes
from the ecstasy Of repentance and the
Remuneration even of her hearts desire
seemed little thing for the sake Of
right.
"Ah, Hugh, dare be glad I met
you," she was thinking; THAT felt
your power and truth lift me from the
slough was in? Dare be glad since
it made you suffer: All, you love me,
you will know the black reaction of de-
spair when ] have gone, but the pure
memory yoa will keep of me / would
not renounce for all the pitiable human
joy ON earth. You are so strong, SO true,
you will conquer where other men
might fail The thought of mo will be
blessing-the woman you saved, dear
mo, the woman you helped to save
for unless the longing comes from with
in as well there is no hope"
The bow slipped from her wearied
fingers, and with q sigh she looked up
Hugh stood in the doorway gazing at
her, and his face was marked by a
white and desperate look it had never
worn before.
A terrible fear leaped to full life in
Marian's heart. This was not the pa
tient, gentle hero of whom she had been
dreaming. She tried to speak, but even
when he had crossed to her side, his
eyes aflame with a reckless passion in
which there was neither hope nor joy,
her dry lips made no sound.
Marian he whispered, his yearn-
ing arms encircling her, 'you must not
60. need you. love you! ! care for
nothing else nowhere is nothing else.
You-you arc everything. God, beauty,
truth-all-you mean this to me. Oh,
my lovev'
The words were spoken! It seemed to
Marian that she had fallen from a great
height; that the hallowed voices which
had whispered of joy to her had one by
chill Of the night, the old WEAKNESS and
pain intensified a hundred times tug
ging at her heart. She felt cheated,
helpless. Her estimate of Hugh had not
been true, then? Oh, was there any
thing true? Or was this that faced her
new the only reality, and that other
impersonal, heavenly peace chimera
which had fled forever?
"Why are you here?" she cried pas
; sionately, and her beautiful face was
convulsed, as she tore herself from his
arms. 81 had rather you had killed
me-"
But Hugh had cast away self control,
and he did not fully understand the look
ON Marian's face. 1t was an expression
woman might have worn who, help
less, watched loved one drifting sure
ly to the black whirlpool which would
suck him down into eternal night.
''Listen to me-" Hugh pleaded, and
his words came fast. II have struggled
against myself, but what does it mat
ter? We are innocent, but We are con-
demned. My wife will not return. 1 am
| glad of it nOw-glad. The past is past
forever. Let it go. 1t is you love. All,
dear, I know your heart is mine! There
| are no words needed to tell me that.
Let us be happy" he said bitterly,
fiercely. "Who can avow, after all, that
there is anything greater in the world
than the happiness of the individual;
Each for himself! I tell you, the con-
ventional society for which we would
sacrifice ourselves would not understand
it, even if it believed in our sincerity.
Let's fling tho glove in its face and live
only for each other.''
She was still gazing at him with
those deep, pain darkened eyes, and
Hugh, laying his hands appealingly on
her shoulders, could feel her whole body
tremble.
What thoughts crucifed Marian
Hugh was making this prayer to her
he stood ready to draw her into the