Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-05

folk jacket over the hills
was not thinking of the
sights and sounds of the pleasant even
ing. He had tramped miles since sun
down and had returned as he set out,
gloomy. unrequited, follower of baf
fed quest.
Set back from the street in a wide
estate of trees and shrubbery stood
great white porched house. Not
light had twinkled from it for nearly
year. The little city had wondered at
first, then by degrees had grown indif
ferent. The secret of that prolonged
honeymoon Harry Sanderson and the
bishop alone could have told, for the
bishop knew of Hugh's criminal act.
He was named executor of the will
that lay in the, Korean chest, and him
David Stires had written the truth.
His heart had gone out with pity for
Jessica, and understanding. The secret
he locked in his own breast, as did
Harry Sanderson, each thinking the
other ignorant of it.
Since that wedding day no shred of
news had come to either. Harry had
wished for none. To think of Jessica
was a recurrent pang. and yet the very
combination of the safe in his study
! he had formed of the letters of her
name! In each memory of her he felt
| the fresh assault of new and tireless
foe-the love which he must deny.
| Outcast and criminal as Hugh was.
castaway, who had stolen banks
money and q woInaA's love, he was
still her husband. H1g4fs wife! What
could she be to him? And this fevered
conflict shot through with yet another
pang. for. the. waking smart of CON-
junction which had risen at Jessica's
bitter cry, You helped TO make him
what he has become- would not down.
| That cry had shown him in one clarity
ing instant the folliesand delinquencies
of his early career reduplicated as
through the. facets of q crystal. and in
the po.arized light of conscience Hugh
-loafer, gambler and thief-stood as
the type and sign of an enduring &c.
cusation. tl'
Bct If the recollection of that we'd
ding day and its aftermath stalked al
|
to cling again and again to his lips as
he sat in the quietsof his study-no one
guessed. He seldom played his violin
now, but he, had shown no outward
sign. AS time went on he had become
no less brilliant, though more inscruta
BILE; not less popular, save perhaps tc
the parish heresy hunter, for whom he
had never cared straw. But beneath
the surface great change had come t.
Harry Sanderson.
Tonight as he wended his way pas
the house in the aspens, through the
clatter and commotion of the evening
there was a kind of glaze over hi:
whole face-a shell of melancholy.
Tomorrow began Harry's summe
vacation, and he had planned I
months pedestrian outing through tn
wide ranch valleys and the farthe
ranges, and this should set him III
again.
Il Now, however, as he walked aloni
he was bitterly absorbed in thought
other than his own needs. He passe,
more than one acquaintance with
stare of nonrecognition. One of thes
!, was the bishop, who TUNED an instan
: to look after him. The bishop had see
that look frequently of late and ha
: wondered If 1t betokened physical ii
ness or mental unquiet. More tina
/ once he had remembered, with sigi
:, the old whisper of Harry Sanderson
early wildness. But he knew yout
; and its lapses, and he liked and RI
spected him. Only two days befor'