Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 152: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PRANKS fore the greater misery of losing you— of knowing that you were to be the wife of another. And yet, if you were free now I would not ask you again to be my wife, for that stain is still upon my soul. It can never be washed away.” He sank upon a chair and covered his face with his hands, and she went and knelt beside him, looking up into his eyes pityingly. , “ Felix,” she whispered, “ dear Felix, do you not remember what the Good Book says, and do you not know that it is true? ‘ Though your sins be as scar- let, they shall be washed as white as wool.’ I do not know what you mean —I do not know what it ts that you have done, but whatever it is, God will forgive you.” In the midst of his misery, strangely enough, he remembered the note that Millington had sent to Rita, and now he took it from his pocket, and without raising his eyes, gave it to her. Won- deringly, she opened it and read, and then she smiled through her unshed tears. “Look, Felix! Read!” she said; and mechanically he took the note from her and read the words that Pike had written. My Dear Rita: You must forgive me for the trick I played upon you. Never mind why; you will know when you read this. I release you from your promise. I don’t want you to marry me. I wouldn’t have you. Cause why? Because, in about half an hour I am going to ask Edna Trevor to do it. Bet you a hundred that she consents. Now one thing more. You made me another prom- ise. I’m going to hold you to that. You agreed to help me to save Felix. There’s only one way to do it. Marry him. PIKE MILLINGTON. Felix loosened his grasp upon the letter and it fluttered to the floor. Then he opened his arms, and Rita nestled into them, supremely content. There was an interval of silence, and then Felix murmured: “ Darling, it is true. rT” A Though my OF DESTINY. 143 sins be as scarlet, He will wash them white as wool.” CHAPTER XXVII. THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST PIKE MILL- INGTON. ~~ FELIx Parsons and Geoffrey Trev- or stood facing each other in the library at Trevor House. The former had just entered the room in obedience to a summons from the latter, who had risen from his chair to greet him. Felix looked perplexed and troubled; Trev-. or’s face was pale, sad, older, but firm. “T came as quickly as I could, Pater,” said Felix, assuming a lightness of manner that he did not feel. “Ts Rita with you, Felix? ” “Yes; she is in the parlor, with Edna.” “That is right. I am determined that she shall know who her father is, and that without delay, but there is one thing that must be explained first. Do you remember what you said to me in the carriage, the day that Carla was hurt? You told me that there was a chapter in my history which even I do not know. You must tell me what you meant by that.” “ Must I, Pater?” “You must.” Felix walked to the window, turned and came back again, and then, in a low, even tone, said: ‘“ Before my father died, he told mea part of the experiences which you and he had in Cuba, twenty five years ago, and he left me a mission to perform. He knew of Rita’s birth, and directed me to search for and find her, and al- ways to watch over her as if she were my own sister. He told me of your marriage to her mother, of your separa- tion from your first wife, and the rea- sons for it, and that you were ignorant of the fact that she had borne a child.” “ All that is true. Go on, Felix,” said the old man. ‘“‘I went to Seville. From. thers eo