Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-06


ed myself to be his lawful wife.
When he turned me off 1 was so
sunken that all sense of shame had
gone out of me, and when Maynard
took me up -
l heard no more. for. burying my
face in the pillows on my bed, l put
my hands to my ears TO shut out the
rest of the horrid revelation. Betty
quietly withdrew and left me to re-
cover from the shock alone. knowing
from experience that this was the
best way to comfort me- And this
was the finale of that blessed content
ment which for weeks had been steal
ing over me, realizing as l did that l
loved and was loved; this the girl to
whom my affections had gone out!
How could she have been able to hear
those first tender words had spoken
to her knowing what she was2 Had
she possessed spark of real purity
she would have WINGED at being ad-
dressed as 1 addressed her, she know
ing the while what she was. Bet had
said that she was penitent. Had she
grieved for her fall It would have
been impossible for her to accept
what 1 had said to her with that
modest look on her face. Her self
control had been marvellous. But 1
have always heard that those deepest
dyed in in!quity maintain consum-
mate assurance.
What should do? Not for the world
would meet again the girl who had
deceived me. / arose from the bed and
began throwing some clothes in a suit
case. Bet heard me and returned. She
asked me where I was going, and told
her anywhere that would prevent my
meeting that shameless girl again. Bet
tried to quiet me, but 1t was no use.
l was frantic. Fortunately l couldn't
go away that night, for l had not de-
cided where to go. Bet made me prom
Use that l would not go in the morning
without seeing her and left me to my
self She brought up my dinner to me,
and 1 managed to swallow u few
mouthfuls. After dinner l went out
and walked the streets till late, then
went in and to bed.
! awoke shortly before daylight with
a realization of some frightful trouble
hanging over me, but 1t was not till |
had rubbed my eyes that l remember
ed what it was. Then the whole thing
rushed upon me- / went down to
| breakfast and drank a cup of coffee
knew that it wouldn't do for me TO APP
pear at the office in my present condi-
ton of mind, so l telephoned that
was indisposed and would not go down
before afternoon. Then l sat down in
the library and took up the morning
paper. Bet came In and, standing be-
hind me, soothingly put her arms on
my shoulders. Then she called my at
tention to the fact that 1 was holding
the paper upside down. 1 smiled
sickly smile and reversed it.
About IL O'clock Bet came to me
again with a scared look on her face
and said:
"Oh, Henry, there's some awful trou
BILE between those girls l can hear
them plainly in my room. Margaret
has been treating Grace so badly that
the worm has turned She's desperate.
Margaret is goading her. and she will
either go mad or kill her sister or both.
l do think you ought to go in there and
stop it,
Springing up, followed Bet to her
room and, putting my ear close up
= against the wall where she indicated,
listened Grace was speaking, but |
could only distinguish what she said
when she spoke in her highest pitch.
Her apparently subdued nature seemed
to have been fired by haunting to de-
spair | listened till l heard Margaret
say calmly, Put down the weapon"
then | bolted for the hall and in anoth-
> er moment was rapping at the Bernard
sisters door. Bet followed me, and
when the door opened she and l stood
on one side OF the threshold. while the
: sisters stood on the other side.
} whats the matterf' asked both girls
{ in a breath.
Matter! What's the matter here?"
[ "Nothing."
| Nothing! Are confessed crimes,
l tauntings, threats at murder
: / paused. A change was coming over
a the faces OF the two girls. They look
ed at each other, then burst out laugh
l ing.
: did you hear?"
: "Of course we heard?'
'"We thought we had the sound dead
+ ened Come in and we will explain"
And they did explain. They sat as
!. models for artists who portray the pas
: sions. Just previous to a sitting for
any especial part they were accustom-
: ed to work themselves up to feel and
consequently to look it. They commit
e ted to memory scenes in plays and re-
hearsed them to each other, then went
{ at once to the sitting with the impres.
L sion fresh. 1t was these rehearsal5
we had overheard. There was nothing
L to be ashamed OF in their work. but 1t
e was unusual, and persons who knew OF
, 1t asked so many questions that the sis
c tiers became tired Of answering them.
e 1 married Miss Grace Bernard and
y stopped the rehearsals. Her sister soon
after married, and numerous artists
were disappointed at losing valuab bic
models.