Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-17

curricIe br1dged the stream of lamp
light issuing from the hall. And Tom
stood among the roses he had strewn,
silhouetted against the doorway, with
out moving hand or foot or once lift
ing his unseen gaze from Claire Hard
ings face.
What followed seemed to be happen
ing to- another man. Daintree cried to
him. and he helped the ladies to get
down. He touched her hand. Their
ewes never met. Daintree jumped
down and led Claire on his arm
through the roses. Fawcett came up.
the currfcle was gone, and Tom stood
alone In the drive watching the ladies
go upstairs within, followed by their
maid and Daintree, and after that he
stood watching the staircase until
| Daintree ran down 1t and had him by
| both hands.
"You dear good fellow. you have
| thought of everything" he cried. you
| couldn't have done more If you'd been
| the happy man yourself, and l shall
never forget it-especially the flowers"
"Nor l." cried Tom bitterly.
w ny, NlldL > the
"You might have told me who 1t
was, sir. / recognized Miss Harding
at once. Her family used to come to
! our village for the shooting. and her
| father was my fathers enemy. It's
| hard for me to meet her like this after
| that. I'd have run away If I'd known"
| Precisely why | didn't tell you," re-
! Joined Dalntree triumphantly. Come,
come, my good fellow. l know all
about the relations between the two
| families. and you mustn't flatter your
self that Miss Harding will remember
you. You've altered considerably. for
one thing. and dropped your surname
on purpose to spare you any such reg
IGNITION. Miss Harding won't know
you from Adam"
81 would rather not wait upon her
| all the same"
Daintree showed his teeth.
"Not wait upon the lady who is to he
my wife and your mistress? You dare
| to say that to my face? Let me find
you at your post when 1 come down.
stairs-or take care"'
And he stood a moment at the door,
with the most significant and malig
nant expression. after which he went
upstairs to dress, leaving Tom to re
| gret for the first time his impulsive
confession of completely in the Castle
Sullivan outrage and to reflect upon
the many sides of the man whom
Claire Harding had come out from
England to marry. Memories dashed
him BY the score. He had seen how
the tyrant could treat hA servants and
his dog. He had pitied the bride In
the abstract, and was it to be Claire
Harding. and was he to stand there
and see them married?
His head was in q whirl of conflict
ing emotions and anxieties. Still stun
ned by the mere shock of seeing her
whom he had never thought to see
again in that outlandsh place and all
but another mans bride. he was faced
by an immediate dilemma which called
for instantaneous decision. If Claire
were TO recognize him at dinner, then
she was pretty certain to betray a Sc
cret which Daintree on the other hand
was almost as certain to guess if his
servant absented himself after what
had just passed Well. Claire knew
best why she had made a secret where
none was necessary But if more trou
bic was tc come of 1t. let him be there
to take her part. Let him be there
forever to watch over her in those
$ passionate hands! And Tom found
: himself mechanically lighting the can
i dies on the dinner table and lowering
the shades to lessen the chance of his
face being seen.
While he was so engaged the inner
: door opened, and Tom and Claire stood
D face to face.
g Her eyes were great with horror
: She shut the door behind her and ther
D stood close against II, shrinking from
0 him TO whom she once had chung.
c 81 can't bear itr she gasped. &C.
I must either speak to you or go mad
:. Yes, yes, 1 know we may be caught
: I can't help thatl Tell me quickly, di
you know who was before camel"
I mo. indeedr'
I SIS it by accident that you are hi
g servant?"
+ mo; he sought me out. So you kne,
Il me again, Clairew
k What did you say? Never call m
f that again. OF course / knew yoJ
s How could forget you after all 70
e have made me suffer- If 1 onl
It couldr'
s The cruelty of this speech struck hil
s dumb. He drew himself up and griml
C challenged her with his eye. Her su
n ferings, indeed! What had she SUI
1t fered? She was on the point Of ma
IS rying rich man. No doubt 1t we
e distressing to her to encounter hi
e again at that juncture. His lip curle
at such distress.
= She read his thoughts to the lette
Is "You think / have not suffered ST
e cried in low voice "You little know
Is but this Is the last straw-the punisl
g ment SO richly deserve! Mr.. Dali
n tree saved your life. You knew tina
g of course? But l don't think yo
n know why he did 1t. 1t was because
ceI- 1I g.