Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-18

that mellow voice blend with hers
only to find that her ears had played
her false and she was alone with q
memory that would never die.
Boyd! Boydr'
He entered noiselessly and took her
in his arms.
Eyes, dear!' he murmured. But she
rose with a startled exclamation and
wrenched herself from his embrace.
The piano gave forth a discordant
crash. Shrinking back as from an APP
partition, she stared into his flushed
and smiling face, then breathed:
You! Why are you here"
Because l love you"
She closed her eyes and swayed as If
under the spell of wonderful music.
He saw the throbbing pulse at her
throat. Then she flung out her hands,
crying piteously:
go away, please, before I find it is
only another dream"
She raised her lids to find him still
standing there, then felt him with f1ut-
tering fingers.
"Our dreams have come true" he
said gently and strove to imprison her
hand.
"No, no. Her voice broke wildly.
'You don't mean it. YOu-you haven't
come to stay
81 have come to stay If you will let
me, dear"
She broke from his grasp and moved
quickly away.
why are you here? 1 left you out
there with-her. 1 made your way
clear. Why have you come back?
What more can do7 Dear God, what
more can do?' She was painting as
if desperately frightened.
There is but one thing more you can
do to make me happy. You can be my
wife"
But don't understand" She shook
her head hopelessly. You are testing
with me. You love Miss Wayland."
NO. Miss Wayland leaves tonight,
and shall never see her again"
Then you won't marry herr"
NO"
A dull color rose to Cherry Malotte's
cheeks. She swallowed as if her throat
were very dry and said slowly:
Then she refused you in spite of
everything and you have come to me
because of what 1 told you this after
noon. You are doing this out OF pity.
or is it because you are angry with
her? No, no, Boyd! I won't have it.
I don't want your pity; 1 don't want
what she cast off"
1T has taken me a long time to find
myself. Cherry. for l have been blind
ed by vision" he answered. II have
been dreaming. and l never saw clear
" till today. 1 came away of my own
free will. and l came straight to you.
because it is you 1 love and shall al
ways love"
The girl suddenly began to beat her
hands together.
'You-forget what I-have beenr
she cried in a voice that tore her
lovers heartstrings. You can't want
to-marry me-"
Tonight" he said simply and held
out his arms to her. u love you and
! want you. That is all l know or care
about"
He found her upon his breast. sob
bling and shaking as if she had sought
shelter there from some great peril
He buried his face in the soft masses
of her hair, whispering fOndly to her
till her emotion spent itself She turn
ed her face shyly up at length and
pressed her lips 10 his. Then. holding
herself away from him. she said, with
a half doubtful yet radiant look:
1T is not too late yet. l will give
you one final chance to save yourself"
he shook his head.
Then I have done my duty She |
snuggled closer to him. And you /
have no regrets?"
only one I am sorry that can't /
give you more than my name. 1 may /
have to go out into the world and be- ,
gin all over if Mr.. Wayland carries /
out his threat 1 may be the poorest !
of the poor"
show how we'll l love you. You can |
be no poorer than in this worlds (
goods"
you at least have your copper
mine"
81 have no mine" said the girl, mot
even the smallest interest in one"
Butt don't understand"
She dropped her eyes. MIR. Hilliard .
is a hard man to deal with. I had to |
give him all my share in the claims"
81 suppose you mean you sold out to
him" ,s,-a.sf:4szE -rsgs1-;S l$Sst:E f-s,
NO! When found you could not
raise the money I gave him my share
in the mine. With that as a consid- |
Grafton he made you the loan. You
are not angry, are you"
"Angryr' Emerson's tone conveyed |
n supreme gladness. You don't know |
how happy you have made me-"
"Harkr' She laid a finger upon his |
lips. Through the breathless night
there came the faint rumble of a ships /
chains. - ~ %
''The Grande Damer" he cried. "She
sails at the food tide"
They stood together in the open
doorway of the little house and watch
ed the yachts lights as they described
q great curve through the darkness.