Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-29

hoPPhs.
Helen was lady. admit that I
at times associated with those who
could not be considered ladies. but l
never found the devil embodied In one
of them as did in her."
$50 1t was a case of blackmailr'
mo: case OF feared blackmail."
He Sroaned again. His former wife
noticed him glance at his covering.
which rested too heavily upon him.
and she removed some Of 1t. He looked
up into her eyes with the expression
so often seen in an invalid's face when
being ministered to by a nurse.
You'd better send for some one to
take care Of me-" be said. You'll
soon be worn out doing 1t yourself
OF course all the expense will be borne
by me. l have no claim on your at
tention whatever"
Tomorrow will be time enough"
Tomorrow came. but no other nurse
than Mrs. Upton attended upon the in
| valid. The afternoon of the accident
she telephoned to her fiance that she
was indisposed and could not see him
! that evening. He phoned back to her
| that he was sorry since he would leave
the city early next morning for
| short absence. AS an adieu he sent her
some flowers. These she kept from
the man with the broken leg. She said
to the servants that to preserve them
they should be placed In the refriger-
ator. but this was not her real reason.
She wished to put them where she
would not see them or inhale their per-
fume.
The flance in the course Of a week
returned from his trip and telephoned
to be Informed of the health of Mrs.
Upton. remarking that he had not
heard a word from her during his abb
sence. He hoped her indlsposition had
not developed into anything serious.
Mrs. Upton answered through her
! maid that her mistress was not I'll, but
was very much engaged In caring for
an invalid and would not be able to
receive her lover for a few days. She
would notify him when it would be
convenient for her to have him call
again.
Nothing was heard from the fance
for few days, when he wrote a for
NAL note asking Mrs. Upton If the In
valid she was nursing was so dear to
her that she could not spare few
minutes to receive q visit from the
man she was to marry. Mrs. Upton.
who would not have uttered a false
hood for the world, but did not con-
slider herself obliged to tell the truth
always, replied that the dearness OF
her charge had nothing to do with her
seeing the gentleman II he called: 1t
should be enough for her to assure him
that she was engaged in caring for an
invalid. The next communication be-
tween the two was a note from the
man stating that after careful consid-
Grafton he had discovered that his con-
science would not permit him to marry
divorced person and he begged to be
honorably released from his engage
ment. He had heard that tbe invalid
Mrs. Upton was nursing was Mr.. Up
ton.
There was no mention of the fance
between the nurse and the Invalid
since the day of the latter's injury till
after the receipt OF this note. Then
one morning after Mrs Upton had
made Mr. Upton comfortable for the
day. he said to her:
II hope my enforced sojourn here
has not embarrassed you with regard
to your fnnce."
mot at ALL
81 should be very sorry II on my &C
count you should get into trouble. You
see. when l was engaged TO you a
third person stepped in between us
and though she did not prevent our
marriage. she effected something worse
she caused our separation"
Mrs Upton made no reply for
time: she was arranging odds and ends
about the room
II have found ii difficult" she said
at last Ito keep a clear record between
two men. The one has been my hus-
band and the other my intended hus-
band"
And can understand the difficulty in
a mans passing from lover-like rela-
lions with one woman TO another?'
1T was not the passing In our case.
1t was remaining passed
with you. not with the. So long as
the object of my infringement lived
l was subject to enlargement. But
you have not assured me that my be
Ing here has not been an embarrass-
: ment to you with regard to your
fiance."
81 have no fance. He has broken
. the engn Gemeut."
; Louise
She stood looking down at him with
out reply.
You have deceived me- he con
tinued
, mo: have deceived him
: "And can forgive me for not-you
can understand my
, Yes. dear. Unless we make our con
, fessions on the moment we are liable
TO be placed IN an unfortunate position
I and making them instantly is not al
ways practical
He put out his arms TO her. and they
were locked ~ an embrace.
Oct. % in American |