Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-02

come too suddenly and developed too
quickly. Now and again, while rest
ing on their walks, turning his eyes
upon hers. he would catch her looking
at him with singular glance that he
could not interpret Then she would
arise. and as they strolled on would
put her arm through his conidingly.
The Huntingtons fingered at Mon
treux, and Melville fingered too. Alma
was pleased to remain. and she ap-
parently dominated her family. For
Melville there was something so Gu
riouSly fascinating about her that he
could not tear himself away. And
every day that fascination grew strong
err He wished that he dare ask her to
solve the mystery hanging about her.
but something in her manner. he knew
not what. prevented him. Once he
ventured to refer to the garnet heart.
but she gave him look so strange.
so forbidding. that he stumbled in his
speech and was silent.
At last Melville. seeing that his at.
tentions or rather Alma's encourage.
ment of his attentions. was producing
something that looked like discord in
the Huntington family. resolved to de-
part He announced his intention &c
Mrs. Huntington before speaking of II
to Alma. The mother appeared CRATE
full to him.
When he announced his intention to
depart to Alma they were standing on
an eminence overlooking the lake.
clear. placid Leman," as Byron has
described it. its bosom dotted with va
rious kinds of craft, was spread out be-
fore them. and the view had its effect
on Melville. He did not wish to leave
the girl who in so short time had be-
come so much to him. She did not
hesitate to dissuade him from his pur'
pose, and she was aided by their beau
tiful surroundings. After a long 81.
lence between them. during which she
was waiting for his decision. he said:
81 will remain on one condition. !
love you: assure me that my love Is
returned"
AS he spoke the words he turned apd
faced her. struggle was going on
within her. but what that struggle was
he could not tell. She put her hands
to her face to conceal it from him. he
waited for her emotion to pass. Al
last she took away her hands. and,
looking into his face with an express
sion entirely changed from that SEEM
ing revengeful spirit he had at times
noticed, she drew the garnet pin from
her bosom and fixed it in his scarf.
No words passed between them, only
a caress. Then she added, go to moth.
| er; tell her what has occurred and she
will explain what has naturally been
a puzzle to you"
When Melville told Mrs. Huntington
that he had captured the garnet heart
she gave 2 deep drawn sigh Of relief.
you have broken spell. Mr.. Mel.
ville." she said to him. that | am very
| happy has been broken. When Alma
! was passing from childhood to woman.
| hood she met one of those young men
who consider a girls heart a thing to
be played with. He may have been
eXcusable on account of his youth; in
many cases such firtations are inno-
cent But Alma is girl Of deep feel
ing. When she discovered that what
was an absorbing passion to her was
man she loved she was so far broken
down that we at one time feared for
her reason Her love was turned to
hatred. not only of the man who put
no value upon It, but of all men.
Not long after this l noticed the gar
net heart on her bosom. She never
explained its meaning TO me. but
knew Indeed. her actions since she
has worn 1t have confirmed my in
terpretation-a challenge to men OF
her class who might be inclined to re-
peat what she had received from the
one she first loved. These tourna-
ments of the heart have worried us.
We have tried to prevent them. Your
having captured her signG. of revenge
indicates that you have ended con-
dition which should never have ex-
listed"
Melville accompanied the Hunting
tons in their tour. which they adapted
to his requirements. Indeed. they
were making it entirely on account OF
the daughter they idolized Melville
was too deeply in love to blame her
for her past unreasoning desire tn
PUNISH MIN 1Or tDe Inuit OF 1DOtDer.
Indeed. the fact that he had succeeded
Ike a knight of old in Staying the
dragon and winning the imprisoned
maiden was n matter of pride with
him.
Mrs. Melville is now young matron
bringing up n daughter whom she
watches with the utmost care. She
declares that young girls heart
needs more guarding than the great
war chest of the German empire.
After she had become old enough to
feel ashamed Of her youthful freak she
asked her husband TO return her the
garnet heart. But he declined and has
never since consented. He says he
prizes It more than he would a medal
OF honor acquired in battle. There
fore the strange situation exists In the
family that what the wife considers a
token OF her folly the husband cher
: ishes as decoration for his prowess
June 2 in American