Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-29

learned. Moreau was a good friend~tO
have warned him. Was she part of a
plan of reprisal-her presence there "A
tentative threat to him? Could his ia
ther mean to adopt her? Might that
great house. those grounds, the bulk of
his wealth. go to her, and he. the son.
be left in the cold? He shiveIed. Per-
haps he had stayed away too long!
AS he turned again. he heard sound
in the hall. He listened. a light step
was approaching-the swish of a gown.
With a sudden impulse he stepped into
the embrasure of the window, as the
figure of a girl paused at the door. He
felt his face flush. She had thrown a
crimson kimono over her white night
gown. and the apparition seemed to
part the dusk of the doorway like the
red breast of robin. She held in her
hands bunch of the pale Marechai
Mel roses. and his eye caught the long
rebellious sweep of her bronze hSir
and the rosy tint of bare feet through
the worsted meshes of her night slip
pers.
To his wonder the sight of the light
ed room seemed to cause her no sur
prise. For an instant she stood still as
though listening. then entered and
placed the roses in a vase on a reading
! stand by the bedside.
/ Hugh gasped. To reach the stand
| the girl had passed the spot where he
stood. but she had taken no note Of
! him. Her gaze had gone by him as il
he had been empty air. Then he real
| lied the truth; Jessica Holme was
! blind! Moreau's letter had given him
no inkling of that So this was the
girl with whom his father now threat
| ened him. Was she counting on his
not coming back. waiting for the wind
| fall? She was blind-but she was
beautiful! Suppose he were to turn
the tables on the old man. not only
climb back into his good graces through
her, but even
The thin line on his brow sprang
suddenly scarlet. What supple,
graceful arm she had! How adroit her
fingers as they arranged the rose
stems! Was he already wholly black
ened in her opinion? What did she
think of him? Why did she bring
those flowers to that empty room l.?
Could it have been she who had kept
it clean and fresh and unaltered against
!. his return? A confident. daring look
grew in his eyes. He wished she could
see him in that purple tie and velvet
smoking jacket. What an opportunity
for romantic self justification.
Should he speak? Suppose it should
, brighten her!
J Chance answered him. His respira
ton had conveyed to her the knowl
, edge of presence in the room. He
t heard her draw quick breath. "SomC
one is herer' she whispered.
. He started forward. wait, waitr
! he said in loud whisper as sht
? startle her the more. and before b,
= could reach her side she was gone. HC
, heard her flying steps descend the stat
, and the opening and closing of II door.
t The sudden flight Jared Hugh:
t pleasurable sense of novelty. be thrus
his hands deep into his pockets. Now
he was in for il, She would alarm tn,
p house. rouse the servants. He shout,
have staring domestic audience 70
n the imminent reconciliation his sobere,
! sense told him was so necessary
! Struggling his shoulders. he wen
quickly down the stair to the library.
He had known exactly what h
+ should see there-the vivid girl witt
;, the hue Of fright in her cheeks, tn