Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05

IN the bitterness of her heart. \ great
wave of pity for herself came sweeping
over her. 1t grew out of the dread that
he might, after all, deny her the place
that no one else in the world could
give.
Graydon's cold face was suddenly IL
lumined. The incomprehensible sweet
ness, of pain rushed through his blood
He had given up his hope as blighted
after the harsh hour with broom He
could not believe his new found sue
cess. Doubt, unbelief, enveloped him
as he raised her head, a kiss crying for
its kind. His arm crept behind her
shoulders. She did not offer repulse
Her wet cheek touched his in submits
sion. 1t was the first time his hungry
arms had held her in centuries, it
seemed to him-and to her 1t was the
first time their lips had met. except in
dreams. since that horrid night so
long ago.
"Jane. jane he was whispering in
her ear. Her plans. her purposes. .her
sacrifices. We're running away from her
in riotous disorder She could not hold
them in check. They fed like weak
lings before the older and stronger
hopes and desires.
They did not know of the blockade of
cabs at the corner OF Forty-second
street nor how long they stood there.
Shouting cabmen and police officers
tried to rival the white blizzard in pro-
fuseness. but they did not hear them.
"Oh. Graydon, l cannot, / must mott
she was crying, holding his hand with
almost frenZied disdain for the words
SO plaintively loyal. 1T is out of the
question, dearest You know it is. !
love you-oh, how l love you! But !
Il must not be your wife. II
1--WE had enough of this. Jane" he
said so firmly that she stiffened percep-
tibly in his arms. ITS all COMPOUNDED
rot. Excuse me. but it is. | know you
think you're right. but you're not. Old
Elias gave the best advice in the world
You know what 1t was. We've just got
to make our own happiness. Nobody
| else will do it for us, and it's just as
| easy to he happy as 1t is to be the other
way. I'm tired of pleading. I've wait
ed as long as l intend to. We're going
to be married tomorrow"
"Graydonr'
! Don't refusel It's no use, dearest
We've lost year or two. l don't in
tend to lose another day. What do
care about your father and mother,
| What did they care about you? YoI
owe all the rest of your life to your
self and to me. Come, will you con
sent willingly or He paused. Sh,
was very still in his arms for a Ions
time.
Il do so want to be happy" she
said at last, retiectively. NO. no
Don't say anything yet. l am only
| wondering how it will be after we've
been married for few years. Wher
I'm growing old and plain and yor
begin TO tire of me, as most men grow
! weary of their wiyes-what then
All. Graydon, II have thought abou
all that too You'll never reproacl
me openly--you couldn't do that.
know. But you may secretly nourist
the scorn which r.
"Jane," he said. dropping the tone OF
confident authority and speaking very
tendelly, you forget that my father
IS 4 convict. You forget that he ha:
done things which will forever keel
me a beggar at your feet. am ask
ing YOU to forget and overlook muct
more than you eoald ever ask of me
Old Elias. wretch that he is. has point
ed out our ways for us They run to
Gethcr in spite of what may conspir,
TO divide them. Jane. love my soul
but l love you ten thousand times bet
ter than my SOUL"
81 did not believe l could ever be 81
happy again" she murmured, putting
her hands to his face.
Tomorrow, dear?"
eyes"
Graydon. rejoicing .in his final vic