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

Mamie sat quite still in her hidden
corner. looking out at the glorious ocean
expanse, aromatic perfumes of rare
shrubs all about her, heavy hearted in
the midst of so much to make her hap
py, for she felt the impending parting
with Willie intensely, felt, too, with a
woman child's pathetic instinct, that it
would mean much more to her than to
him. Suddenly at the end of a glade,
fully visible to her. though she was
herself concealed from them, there ap-
peared two figures man and woman
land even before she recognized one of
them sense that she was the locker on
at some terrific struggle between two
human souls seized her. and breathless,
Mortified, she sat gazing at the scene en-
acted in dumb show (for they were quite
ont of earshot) before her eyes.
Praying. excusing, denouncing, each
gesture stamped redhot with the over
mastering emotion of the moment, the
woman, clinging to his hand, his gar
ments, fought as one fights for her life
with the man, who held her from him,
rage. horror and disgust painting them
selves successfully on his pale face.
When he spoke, it was in the fiercest
invective, in deepest denunciation, and
yet Mamie somehow instinctively knew
that this man had loved this woman,
that he loved her still.
He struggled to free himself, clearly
bent on the instant accomplishment of
some deed that she had set herself to
Illustrate and which meant hl,r ruin, but
short of using brutal violence he could
not get away, and as they swayed hither
and thither, the delicate cameolike pu-
rity Of the woman's profile showing
against his coat, with leap Of terror
Mamie realized what she had but half
grasped before-that this was Hagar.
Hagar! Whom Will had hated ;
whom he was beginning to like even as
his prejudices against her vanished one
by one, and in a moment he would be
here-would see he-
She rose and fed, taking the path that
he had done, and almost Immediately
saw him coming toward her. Perhaps
she did the best thing possible under the
rcumstances-burst into tears as he
caught her in his arms, to his very great
alarm. though the reason as partly dis
closed was ver.- sweet TO him.
This day week, Willie" she said,
leading him a direction contrary to the
two whose duel was still raging. duel
horrible by reason of the contrast Of furi-
Gus human passion with the ineffable
loneliness Of nature that they had come
hlther to desecrate.
My own little love!' said Willie,
with sob in his throat, drawing her into
one Of those hooks that Lord de Spencer
surely had in his mind for lovers when
he Laid out the knowle gardens, but
Mamie was not to be cousoled and cried
and cried till Will, at his wits end,
suggested his immediate departure to
| town for a marriage license and their
prompt espousals the very next day but
| one.
Mamie had got shock, but she was
Tar too loyal to her new friend to betray
her. only she felt as if she must run
back and see how it all ended. add her
own entreaties if need be. and by sheer
importantly prevail on that miserable
man to grant Hagar' request.
BY Jove." said Will presently, look
ing at his watch, 1.-The carriage must be
round by now! And every one will
think. my poor little girl, that have
been bullying yen frightfully
lyon will when We ne married, dare
say, said Mamie, with a wan smile,
as she loosened the game that went
round her hat and tied it over her face