Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-23

a Leyden jar. lie saw himself stand.
ing, facing a figure with bandaged
eyes. He saw the bandage torn OF.
felt that yielding body in his arms.
heard q voice her voice - crying:
Hugh, Hugh. My husbandr' and felt
! those lips pressed to his own in the
tense air OF a darkened room.
! A cry broke from his lips: Yes. yes,
/ remember. Jessica. my wife," His
arms went round her, and, with a little
sob, she nestled close to him on the
doorstep.
That hour on the mountain side I'M
der, the stars had left Harry possessed
Of a. melee Of perpleXing emotions
! Dreaming and waking Jessica's face
hung before his eyes, her voice sound
ed in his ear. The future held no long
er any doubt; it held only her. Where
was that future to be? Back in the
city to which his painful curiosity had
SO lately driven him? This lay nv
longer in his own choice 1t was for
her to decide now-Jessica, his WIFE
He looked up transfixed, for she
stood there before him ankle deep in a
brown whiriwind of leaves from a
frost stung oak, her hand to her cheek
In an adorable gesture that he knew.
her lips parted and eager.
| Il wanted so to find yOu," she said.
II have so many. many things to say"
at is all wonderfully strange and
new" he said. ct is as though l had
rubbed Aladdin's lamp and suddenly
had my hearts desire. How could l
have thrown my pearl away"
I'VE are not to think of that" she
protested, never. never any more
you are right" he rejoined cheer
fully. at is what is to come that we
must think Of" He paused an instant;
then he said:
Last night when you told me of the
white house in the aspens / did not tell
you that had just come from there
from Aniston."
She made an exclamation of wonder
Tell me-" she said.
Sitting with her hand in his, he told
or that nights experiences, the fear
that had held him as he gaZed at her
portrait in the library, the secret OF
the Korean desk that had solaced his
misery and sent him back to the ia
Their he was not to see.
At mention of the will she threw out
her hand with 4 passionate gesture.
THE money is not miner she cried.
lit is yours. He intended to change
1t. He told me so the day he died,
Oh, if you think T.
no, no." he said gently. There is
no resentment, no false pride, in my
love- Jessica. l am thinking of you
and of Aniston. You would have me
so back, would you not?''
She looked up, smiling, and slowly
shook her head. You are a blind
guesser," she said. Don't you think
l know what Is in your mind? Not
Aniston, Hugh. Some time, but not
now-not yet. 1t is nearer than that
His eyes flowed into hers. You I'M
derstand. Yes, it is here This is
where 1 must finish my fight first
Yesterday | would have left Smoky
mountain forever because you were
here. Now
Il will help you." she said. "AIl
the world besides counts nothing if
only we are together. l could live in
cabin here on the mountain always
in forest of Arden, till 1 grow old
and want nothing but that-and you"
AS he did not answer. she faced him
with crinsoning cheeks; then. reading
his look, she suddenly threw her arms
about his neck.
Hugh" she cried, Eve belong to
each other now! There is no one else
to consider. is there? l want to be To
you what l haven't been-to bear
things with YOU and help you!'
He kissed her eyes and hair. "You
have helped, you do help me, Jessica!'
he urged. But l am jealous for your
love. 1t must not be offended The
town of Smoky Mountain must not
sneer-and it would sheer now"
LET it, she exclaimed resentfully.
"As Ii / would carev'
But I would care" lie said softly.
CONTINUED on Page Eleven.)