Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-13

Went to the Matron and Told Her.
ting me into an asylum. There would
be no hope Of appealing to them for
help. The only witnesses to my sani-
ty were far away in Vienna, and how
could I reach them II l were In Rich
ards power?
Il watched the names of the stations
as they few by, but it gradually grew
dark, and I could hardly make them
out. l thought one looked like the
name of Philadelphia suburb, but
could not be sure.
81 was freezing with horror and with
cold, but did not dare to move, lest
l attract their attention.
I'VE began to rush past rows Of
houses, and l knew we were approach
ing a city. Then, suddenly. the train
slowed down and stopped, with very
little warning, as If it intended to
halt only a second and then hurry on
There was a platform on one side
of the train, but We were out beyond
the car-shed. for our train was long.
l could not climb over the rail to the
platform, for l was sitting on the side
away from the station, and would have
had to pass the car door in order to
do so. l should be sure to be seen.
ION the other side were a great
many tracks separated by strong
picket fences as high as the car plat
form and close to the trains, and they
reached as far as could see in either
direction. l had no time to think, and
there was nothing l could do but climb
over the rail and get across those
tracks and fences somehow.
My hand were SO cold and trem-
bling that l could scarcely hold on to
the rail as | jumped over.
81 cannot remember bow got
across. Twice had to cling to fence
while an express train rushed by, and
the shock and noise almost stunned
me. 1t was a miracle that l was not
killed, but did not think of that until
afterwards. / was conscious only Of
the train l had left standing by the
station. / glanced back once, and
thought l saw Richard come to the
door OF the car. Then l stumbled on
L
until l found myself hurrying along
that dark passage under the bridge and
saw you just ahead. was afraid to
speak TO you, but l did not know
what else to do, and you were so good
to me-" Her voice broke in a little
sob.
All the time she had been talking
he had hold har hond hn ho "A
forgotten that any one might be watch
| ing; he did not care.
The tali girl with the discontented
upper lip went to the matron and told
! her that she thought the man and the
woman in the parlor ought to be made
/ to 60. She believed the man was try
/ ing to coax the girl to do something
! she didn't want to do. The matron
/ started on a voyage OF discovery up
the hall and down again, with pene-
! trating chances into the room, but the
; two did not see her.
/ "Oh, my poor dear little grill"
breathed the man. And you have
| passed through all this awful expert
ence alone! Why did you not tell me
about it? l could have helped you.
am lawyer"
81 thought you would be on your
guard at once and watch for evidences
of my insanity. thought perhaps you
would believe it true, and would feel il
necessary to return me to my friends
l think l should have been tempted
to do that, perhaps, IL any one had
come to me with such a story"
One could not do that after seeing
and talking with you. / never could
have believed it. Surely no reputable
physician would lend his influence to
put you in an asylum, yet know such
things have been done. Your cousin
must be a desperate character. shall
not feel safe until you belong to me
I saw two men hanging about Mr.. Phil
lips house last evening as I went In
They were looking up at the windows
and talking about keeping close
| watch on some one named Mary. One
Of the men was tail and slight and
handsome, with dark hair and eyes
the other was Irish, and wore a coat
too large for him, and rubbers. went
back later IN in the evening, and the
Irishman was lowering about the
house"
The girl looked up with frightened
eyes and grasped the arms Of heI
chair excitedly.
viii you go with me now to q
church not far away, where friend OF
mine is the pastor. and be married
Then we can defy all the cousins in
creation. Can't you trust me?" he
pleaded.
"Oh, yes, but"
rs il that you do not love me?"
No." she said, and her eyes
dropped shyly. 1T seems strange that
dare TO say it to you when / have
known you so little" She lifted hel
eyes, full OF a wonderful love light
and she was glorifed to him, all mean
ly dressed though she was The smooth
Madonna braids around the shapely
head, covered by the soft felt hat
seemed more beautiful to him than al