Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-19

dislike aside, there was none there
who would again hinder the man who
had made that race with death.
For her own part. she only knew that
she had no longer fear of soul or sense
Of irrevocahle loss or suffering. The
Hugh she now loved was, not the Hugh
who had sinned
He must some time learn the facts
of his past. Was it not better to know
the very worst it contained now. to
put all behind him and face future
that held no hidden menace? She
alone could tell him what had clouded
his career. the thing whose sign and
symbol was the forged draft. She car
ried the slip of paper in the bosom OF
her dress. and every day she took it
out and looked at it as at some malef-
cent relic. 1t was a token of the old
buried misery that. its final purpose
accomplished. should I've forgotten for
ever. How to convey the truth with
as little pain as might lie. this was the
problem. and she had found the solu-
ton. She would leave the draft secret
ly in the cabin. where he must see IT
1t bore his own name. AMI the deadly
word David Stires' cramped fist had
written across II told its significant
story. How it got there Hugh would
not question. 1t would he to him only
detail of his forgotten life there
She was glad when late the next aft
ernoon DR., Brent came for his chat
| with David StireS. and the latter sent
| her out for walk.
All was quiet. No wisp Of smoke
cured from the cabin chimney. no
work was forward. for Harry had
, climbed far up the mountain. alone
with his thoughts. 1t was favorable
opportunity.
Jessica had the fateful draft in her
hand as she ran quickly down the
| trail and across the cleared space to
the cabin door. 1t was wide open.
Pecring warily she saw that both
rooms were empty. and, with a guilty
last glance about her. she entered. i
nail in the wall held an old violin. and
beneath it was a shelf of books. She
took one from the meager row and
opened it curiously. 1t was David
| NOII'et Itlu. anu she sit" Will hti-
ding interest that heavy tines were
drawn along certain of the pages She
| looked about her. Where should she
put the draft? HI bad left marker
in the book. He wou!6 open it again
no doubt She laid the draft between
the printed leaves. beyond tbs marker.
] Then, replacing the volume on the
shelf, she ran from the door and has
tened back up the steep trail to the
/ Knob.
Leaning back against the warm rock,
Tapped in the serene peacefulness of
the SPOT, Jessica fell into reverie
Never since her wedding day had
she said to herself boldly Il love him.
never till yesterday. Now all was
changed. Her thought was a tremu.
lous assurance: 81 shall stay here near
him day after day, watching. Some
day his memory will come back, and
then my love will comfort him. The
town will forget it has hated and vii
come to honor him. Some time, seeing
how he is changed, his father will for
give him and take him back, and we
1
house in the aspens. If not, then m!
place wifi still be with Hugh. Perhap.
we shall live here. Perhaps a cabir
like thai will be home, and | shall liv,
with him and work with him and car,
for him"
Thus she dreamed--a new day dream
unravaged by the sordid tests of yer
ity.
So absorbed was she that she did no
hear a step approaching over tn
springy moss, a sharply broken breatl
as the intruder stified an exclamation
She had drawn her handkerchie
across her eyes against the dancini
glimmer of sunlight. Suddenly it drop
ped to her lap, and she half turned.
In an instant of surprise, as Harry
look flashed into hers, name sprani
unbidden to her lips-a name tina
struck his strained face to suddel
wilderness, ringing in his ears like tn
note of sunken bell. All that wa
clamoring In him for speech rushe'
into words
"You call my name" he cried. '.Yo'
| KNOW me- Rave L ever deem hugh L
you? Your face, that white BAN
across your eyes, your voice, they cam
to me like something far away that
have known. I was mistaken. l wa
crazy to think that YOU
He stopped A wave of sympath
passed over her. She felt mad wis
to throw all aside, to cry to him: ''Yo
did know me! You loved me once!
: am Jessica-I am your Wife, So In
tense was her emotion that 1t seeIne
to her as IL she had spoken his nam
again audibly, but her lips had no
moved, and the tap of a woodpecke
A on nearby trunk sounded with hars
e distinctness.
r II have wanted to speak to you." sh
d said after an instant in which sh
e struggled for self control. you di
g a brave thing yesterday splendi
thing. 1t saved me from sorrow a
my life.'
He put aside her thanks with a ge:
lture. You saved me also. You foun
J. me i'll and suffering, and your hors