Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-20

yourself. You viii not take advantage
of affection 30 unbounded, Of weak
ness so pitiable"
Was 1t the wisdom Of calculation, or
was it the wisdom of instinct by which
she chose her course? Resistance
would have been unavailing, in weak
ness was her strength.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall
inherit the earthi Yes, that was true.
She knew It now, IL never before, and
% did he.
Slowly the man released her. She
did not even then draw away from
him. She stood with her hand still or
his breast She could feel the beating
Of his heart beneath her fingers.
Il am right" she said softly. 1T
kills me to deny you anything. My
hearts yearns toward you. Why should
/ deny It? 1t is my glory, not my
shame"
There ID nothing above love like
ours" he pleaded, wondering what
marvellous mastery she exercised that
she stopped him by a hands touch, a
whispered word, faith.
NO; love is life, love is God, but
even God himself is under obligations
Of righteousness. For me to come
to you now, to marry you now, to be
your wife, would be unholy. There
would not be that perfect confidence
between US that must endure in that
revelation. Your honor and mine, your
self respect and mine, would interpose.
II can't have you with a clear con-
science, II you can't come to me In the
same way, we are better apart. Al
though it kills me, although life with
out you seems nothing, would rather
not live II, we are better apart. l
can't be your wife until"
Until what and until when?" de-
manded Newbold.
Il don't know" said the woman, ''but
I believe that somewhere, somehow,
We shall find a way out Of our difn-
Guilty. There is a way" she said q
little incautiously. Il know it"
SHOW it to me-"
mo. cannot"
What prevents?"
The same thing which prevents you:
honor, loyalty"
ITO a man,
"To a woman"
ct do not understand"
NO, but you will some day" She
smiled at him. "See," she said
through my tears can smile at you
though my heart is breaking. 1 know
that in Gods good time this will work
itself out"
81 can't wait for God want you
now" persisted the other.
Hush, don't say that" answered the
woman, for moment laying her hand
on his lips. But 1 forgive you.
|, know how you suffer"
The man could say nothing, do moth
ing. He stared at her a moment and
his hand went to his throat as If ht
we're choking.
Unworthy" he said hoarsely, "un
worthy of the past, unworthy Of the
, present, unworthy of the future. MAJ
God forgive me, / never can"
, "He will forgive you, never fear,
answered Enid gently.
4 anu dbhCu hOA lONCis nav
, ruined your life"
| NO, you have ennobled 1t. LIE
, nothing ever make you forget that
a Wherever you are and whatever yol
a do, and whatever you may have been
a love you, and shall love you to tn
end. Now you must go, it is so late
b. can't stand any more. l throw my
= self on your mercy again, grow weak
: er and weaker before you; as you ar
a man, as you are stronger, save m
A., from myself II you were to take m
: again in your arms" she went o.
a steadily, 81 know not how 1 could driv
a you back. For Gods sake, if you Low
!. me"
That was the hardest thing he ha
4 ever done, to turn and go out of tn
q room, out of her sight, and leave he
n standing there with eyes shining, wit
pulses throbbing, with breath comm
: fast, with bosom painting. Once NOR
!, and at touch she might have yielded