Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-10
By FERGUS HUME,

transparent, and she had little color in
her cheeks. With her oval face. her
thin nose and charming mouth she
looked very pretty and sweet. But it
was her expression that Paul loved,
That was trifie sad. but when she
smiled her looks changed as an over
cast sky changes when the sun bursts
through the clouds. Her figure was per
feet. her hands and feet showed marks
of breeding, and. although her graf
dress was as demure as any worn by
Quakeress, she looked bright and mer
ry In the sunshine of her lovers pres
ence Everything about Sylvia was
| dainty and neat and exquisitely clean.
tut she was hopelessly out of the fash
| ion. 1t was this odd independence in
| her dress which constituted another
charm in Paul's eyes.
| The place was too public to indulge
| in lOvemaking. and it was very tanta-
| lzing to sit near this vision of beauty
without gaining the delight Of kiss
| Paul Toasted his eyes. and held Sylyia's
gray gloNed hand under cover of her
dress. Further he could not go.
| Can you be jealous. Paul2" Sylvia
asked suddenly.
"Horriblyi You don't know half my
bad qualities. l am poor and needy
and ambitious and jealous and
There, there. | won't hear you run
yourself down. You are the best boy
in the world"
IL certainly have found an enchant-
| clio ctx-
guarded castle. What would your
father say did he known
Sylvia looked startled. 81 am afraid
of my father" she replied Indirectly.
Yes. he IS so strange. Sometimes he
seems to love me and at other times
to hate me. We have nothing in com
mon. love books and art and gayety
and dresses. But father only cares for
jewels. He has a lot down In the cell
lar. have never seen them. you
know" added Sylvia, looking at her
lover nor have Deborah or Bart. But
they are there. Bart and Deborah say
So"
HAS your father ever said soT"
mo. He won't speak of his business
in the cellar. When the shop is closed
at 7 he sends Bart away home and
locks Deborah and me IN the house
That is" she explained anxiously. lest
Paul should think her father a tyrant
"he locks the door which leads to the
shop. We can walk all over the house
But there we stop till next morning
when father unlocks the door at
and Bart takes down the shutters. We
have lived like that for years. Or
Sunday evenings, however, father doe:
not go to the cellar, but takes me Il
church. He has supper with me up
stairs and then locks the door at TO-"
But he sleeps upstairs!'
mo. He sleeps IN the cellar"
Impossible. There is no accommo
dation for sleeping there"
Sylvia explained. There is anothe
cellar--a smaller one-off the larg
: place he has the safes in. The door i
e in a dark corner almost under tn
street line. This smaller cellar is fitte'
up as a bedroom. and my father ha
slept there all his life. ! suppose h
is afraid of his jewels being stolen.
don't think it is good for his health,
added the girl wisely, "for often i
: the morning he looks i'll and his hand
shake"
sylvia, does your father drink a
. cohol?"
"Oh. no, Paul, He is a teetotale
u and is very angry at those who drin
to excess"
:, "He either drinks or smokes opium,
thought Paul on hearing Syivia's d.
e NAL. But he said nothing to her {
y this.
II 81 must go home now," she said, Ri
y ing.
"Oh, no, not yet" he implored
"Well then, III stay for q few mil
- utes longer, because have somethin
to say" she remarked and sat dow
again. paul. do you think it is quit
~ honorable for you and me to be el
- gagged without the consent of my fl
therT
. "Well." hesitated Beecot. 81 don
- think it is as it should be. Were
: we'll off I should not fear to tell you
y father everything, but as l am pa
- per he would forbid my seeing yC
!. did be learn that had raised my ey'
~ to you. But If you like I'll spea
though 1t may mean our parting fo
ever"
paul" she laid firm, small haI
on his arm, mot all the fathers In Il
= world will keep me from you. Oft
:, ! have intended to tell all. but my t
=, Their is so strange. Sometimes he go
- whole days without speaking to m
and at times he speaks harshly. thous
"a do nothing to deserve rebuke. l a
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