Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-16

asunder ana an angels voice heard
upon earth for the delight of mankind
and the utter capture of his heart.
And then and then there
was that mans voice behind the door
You must love mei''-and no one
in the room.
Why did she laugh when he remind
ed her of the incident of the scarf?
Why did she not recognize him? And
why had she written to him? g.
Perros was reached at last. Raoul
walked into the smoky sitting-room OF
the Setting Sun and at once saw Chris
tine standing before him, smiling and
showing no establishment.
so you have Gomez" she said. Il
felt that should find you here, when
1 came back from mass. Some one
told me so, at the church"
/. "Who?" asked Raoul, taking her
little hand in his.
why, my poor father. who is
dead"
There was a silence; and then
RaouI asked:
Did your father tell you that l
love you, Christine, and that can
not live without your"
Christine blushed to the eyes and
turned away her head. In a trem-
bling voice, she said:
ME? You are dreaming, my
friend"
And she burst out laughing, to put
herself in countenance.
Don't laugh, Christine; am quite
serious" Raoul answered.
And she replied gravely: 81 did not
make you come to tell me such things
as that"
"You made me come Christine;
you knew that your letter would not
leave me indignant and that I should
[ hasten to Perros. How can you have
thought that, if you did not think
/ loved your"
'I thought you would remember OUT
/ games here, as children, in which my
father so often joined. l really don't
know what l thought. Per
haps l was wrong to write to you
This anniversary and youl
sudden appearance in my room at the
opera the other evening reminded me
of the time long past and made me
write to you as the little girl that
then was.
There was something in Christine's
attitude that seemed to Raoul no
natural He did not feel any hostilit!
in her; far from it; the distressed al
lection shining in her eyes told hin
that. But why was this affection dis
tressed? That was what he wished
to know and what was irritating him
When you saw me in your dress
ing-room, was that the first time yol
noticed me, Christine?"
She was incapable of lying.
NO" she said, Il had seen you sew
eral times in your brothers box. Ant
also on the stagei"
Il thought so." said Raoul, com
pressing his lips. But then why
when you saw me in your room, a
your feet, reminding you that l ha
rescued your scarf from the sea, VIII,
did you answer as though you did no
know me and also why did yo
!, laugh2"
The tone of these questions was s.
rough that Christine stared at Raou
without replying. The young man him
self was aghast at the sudden quarre
which he had dared to raise at tn
very moment when he had resolved I
speak words Of gentleness, love an
submission to Christine. A husband
a lover with all rights, would tai
no differently to a wife, mistres
who had offended him. But he ha
gone too far and saw no other wa
out of the ridiculous position than t
behave odiously.
You don't answer!" he said angril
and unhappily. We'll, l will answe
for you. 1t was because there wa
some one in the room who was i
your way, Christine, some one tina
you did not wish to know that 20
could be interested in any one else!
IF any one was in my way, m
friend" Christine broke in cOldly, 81
any one was in my way, that evening
it was yourself, since l told you t
leave the ROOM"
es, so that you might remain VIII
the other!"
What are you saying, monsieur?
asked the girl excitedly. And
what other do you refer?''
ITO the man to whom you said,
sing only for you! tonight
gave you my soul and I am dead!'"
Christine seized Raours arm an
clutched it with a strength which n
one would have suspected in so frail,
creature.
Then you were listening benin
the door?"
Yes, because I love you An
| heard everything :"
You heard what?"