Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-03
CHAPTER XVI-CONCLUDED

Then. many other people seemed bur
dened with troubles of their own Ellis
had never recovered either strength or
spirits since the events Of that Christ
mas week, and her lovely face was thin, |
and the bright, brave eyes of old were
shadowed with Il pathetic sorrow but
though this shadow had come into her
life another one, much harder to bear,
had been swept aside. Ever since her
lovers words had revealed to Ellis that
1t was her own brother. to save whom
Malcolm Leale had periled life and lost
his sight, h girls eyes seemed grad
ually to open to the utter cruelty OF her
suspicious. the injustice of her treat
ment of Helen Daunton. the woman
whose life that very brother had well
nigh wrecked forever. In the long hours
of her cOnvalescence she had turned to
Helen i'll humility that was sweet to
see, and now the love and trust between
them was something indispensable. But
there was something even Helen could
neither explain nor Justify, and that
vas Jack Ormsby's conduct since her
convalescence.
True, Ellis had told him in their last
interview that all was ut an end between
them that he had forfeited trust. faith
n even respect and placed u barrier
between himself aud her forever. She
had refused him further audience, and
her last words to him had beer full of
scorn, even of insult. But no word of
anger or resentment had escaped him.
and surely nc man who deeply loved
would harbor anger now. Sobbing her
heart cut, the girl had thrown herself on
Helen's breast just before their return
to Frayne and told q part Of her story
until then concealed-how, in their last
interview, Ormsby had gently said that
he would veX her no more with his
pleadings, but if d time should ever
come when her eyes We're opened and
when she could believe him honest and
worthy he would come ut her call. and
she had humbled herself aud called,
but all in vain. To Helen she had told
the whole story of that humble letter
and that neither By word nor sign had
he acknowledged it.
But Helen saw Il ray of hope. The
little note had been intrusted to Wayne
late Thursday night, and he had prom
Used to deliver it early Friday morning,
and all that day had Ellis waited eager
ly, and nightfall came without the Look
ed for visit. Wayne came on Saturday
to convey some conventional words Of
farewell from both officers. 80 sur
prlsed to hear of the sudden return from
California;; so sorry not to have seen
them, but time was very short, and
would she never hear the last Of the Sew
enth-"Ormsby had had to attend the
review at the armory Friday night. and
then there was Just time to re]oin Leale
and get HIM aboard, for their good shir
sailed at : a. m. to catch the early tide
at Sandy Hook. Falteringly Ellis had
asked If he Were sure he had given
Ormsby her note-it-if Mr.. Ormsby
had read it. Wayne was quite positive.
But Helen would not believe, and
with undated hope she awaited
Wayne's return to the post. They ar
rived a week before him, for OH leaving
his charge at Washable the previous
month he had hurried straight to Wash.
ington i'll response TO n from
the secretary of war. had made his re.
port and then gone TO New York. Not
until the Monday before the Wedding
did he reapDear. and then only by de-