Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-22
He appeared to hesitate.

He appeared to hesitate.
'You-yOu are not alOne:"
But Claire had left the window and
was waiting impatiently at the open
door. How long he kept her. 1t seem-
ed an age before his haltinS step was
heard upon the stairs, while she, on
fire to crave his forgiveness and mind
full OF nothing else, could not imagine
what held him back. Even when he
caee his eye was timid and his feet
slow to cross the threshOld-in fact
the inveterate conventionality of the
male was not Il little tiuttered at her
receiving him alone at this hour of the
night and that night her marriage eve.
Yet his qualms were entirely on her
account. Nor could they Quench the
ineXtinguishable lovelight in his hon
est eyes.
AS for Claire. however, she forgot
had done the man before her, the suf-
ferings cut so deep upon his bronZed
face and her own new and binding
realization of his innocence and hero
ism. For n space she could but stand
and gaze upon him with burning eye
balls. Then, with the noble uncon-
seriousness of Il woman stirred to the
soul, she took him by both hands and
drew him into the room and besought
his forgiveness upon her knees, but
with his hands still clasped in hers.
Tom released his hands, shut the
door nervOusly and then almost
brusquely asked her what he had to
forgive.
Il thought you guilty" she sohbed.
Il said sO-and you We're innocent all
the time. Oh, thank Cod
Watt he interrupted. How do
you know that"
What you lost l found. / have it
here. oh. Tom, l have read every
word. oh. why did you not send it
at the time? You were innoccnt-in-
nOcent! Can you ever forgive me?"
Get up" he said. You have for
gotten something"
Nothing" she answered. "Your
marriage has no more to do with 1t
| than mine"
MY marriage! With whom, pray?"
"The wife you applied for-at some
factory
She could not help her tone. It
| stung Tom into telling her the facts
and SO inadvertently exposing Dam
trees chcanery. He instantly defend
| ed it as the accepted course.
But that's not what | meant at ALL
he added hurricdly. You must have
forgotten what l told you the other
day in the boat shedr'
"My hero" she whispered "You
thought it best that | should never
know, and so you said you were not
an innocent man"
Nor was t. he faitered you soor
saw that for yourself. They may hang
me yeti"
And you wouldn't have me think Of
| you any more" continued Claire, &
| spaSm Of pain crossing her face at his
words. But l will will, I'll think
of you till l deny own heror'
He fidgeted horribly, looking TOWARD
the door. She would compromise her
, self she would do herself harm. Tha
was still his first thought. She saw
it. and it flOated her to the crest O
that emotional wave IN whose trough
he trembled.
Il believed You guilty-Inay God for
give me" she cried. "BUt-shall 1 tel
you something's"
"WeI?"
Il loved You all the same"
Il won't believe it," he said, Mt last.
81 did; know it now"
"Then forget it, lie cried hOarSely
For Gods sake, remember nobOd,
but the man you are to marry tomor
row morning. What? Claire:" II,
started from her She had shaken he
head. She shook it more pasSionatcl.
for that but she did not speak. S.
he began-hardly knowing what h
said-but pleading for his best friend
pleading for her DEMONSTRATING 70
sacred duty as his male eye saw ii
She was going to marry Il genCrou
and brave man, to whom he owed, no
only his life twice over, but any goO
that was left in him. Yet neither wa
the other a faultleSs. man, though $
generous and so brave, and his Oh
great anchor to good sense and goo
living was his love for Claire. ToI
, spoke plainly. even el0qucntly. as Ii
went on. He would have gone O
longer, but there was no need. Clair
sat meekly weeping lie bent over he
his face wrung with anguish nov
that hers was hidder-and SO took he
, hand i'll his for the last time.
God bless you always" he whisper
: ell in a broken voice. 'and make yo