Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-22

troubles: strong enough to bear your
own if God sees fit to send them?"
came hesitatingly from her lips as she
watched the effect of each word, in
GREATNESS anxiety.
Troubles? There can be but one
trouble for me-" was his unexpected
reply. That ! do not fear-will not
fear in my hour OF happy recovery.
So long as Edith is well-Doris!
Doris! You alarm me. Edith is not
ill--not ill.,"
save with her sympathetic look and
hating, tremulous breath; and these
signs, he would not. could not read,
his own words had made such an echo
in his ears.
I'll! / cannot imagine Edith i'll.
always see her in my thoughts, as
saw her on that day of our first meet
ing; q perfect, animated woman with
the joyous look of a glad, harmonious
nature Nothing has ever clouded
that vision. If she were i'll | would
have known it. We are so truly one
that-Doris, Doris, you do not speak.
You know the depth of my love, the
terror of my thoughts Is Edith ill.,"
The eyes gazing wildly into his.
slowly left his face and raised them
selves aloft. with a sublime look.
Would he understand? Yes, he I'M
derstood, and the cry which rang from
his lips stopped for a moment the
beating of more than one heart in that
little cottage.
Dead" he shrieked, and fell back
fainting in his chair, his lips still
murmuring in observation-disclosures
Dead, dead"
Doris sprang to her feet, thinking
of nothing but his wavering, slipping
life till she saw his breath return, his
eyes refill with light.
But the rest must be told; his
brother exacted it and so did the sit
uation Further waiting, further hid
ing of the truth would be insupport-
able after this. But oh, the bitterness
away from those frenzled. wildly-de-
manding eyes.
"Doris?"
| She trembled and looked behind
her. She had not recognized his
voice Had another entered? Had
his brother dared-No. they were
/ alone; seemingly so, that is She
/ knew-no one better-that they were
not really alone. that witnesses were
within hearing, II not within sight
Doris" he urged again, and this
/ time she turned in his direction and
/ gazed. aghast. II the voice were
/ strange, what of the face which now
confronted her. The ravages of sick
ness had been marked, but they were
nothing TO those made in an in
slant by blasting grief. She was
startled. although expecting much
and could only press his hands while
she waited for the question he wa.
gathering strength to utter. II wa!
simple when it came; just two words
How long,"
She answered them as simply:
Just as long as you have been III, =
said she; then, with no attempt tC
break the inevitable shock, she wen
on: Miss Challoner was struck deaf
and you we're taken down with ty
phoid on the selfsame day"
Struck dead! Why do you u.s.
that word, struck? Struck dead! she
young woman. Oh. Doris, an acci
dent! My darling has been killed il
an accident"
They do not call it accident The.
call it what II never was. What
never was" she insisted, pressing hin
back with frightened hands. as h
strove to rise. Miss Challoner was
How nearly the word shot had lef
her lips. How fiercely above all else
in that narrowing moment had rise
the desire TO fling the accu station o
that word into the ears OF him VIII
listened from mis- secret hiding place
She refrained out OF compassion TO
the man she loved, aud declared in
stead. Miss ChaI'1ner died from
wound; .hoW given, why given, no on
knows. l had rather have died my
self than have 70 tell you this. Oh
Mr.. Brotherson, speak, sob, do any
thing but"
! She started back. dropping hi