Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-09-14

sleeping we'll, and to indulge In Q
long moment Of adoring worship, %
she strained her eyes to see the pale
face on the pillow. II will 60
around the verands now, dear" she
said, % Allen smoked. and bring
your things for the night. The couch
10 very comfortable. and IL will be
lovely to have you back"
The chill air struck her unpleas-
antly as she opened the door. She
shuddered little and drew her shawl
closer.
"what . fogi" she exclaimed.
THE beans will be again delayed.
It's worse than the conflict OF hay.
making and showers In New Eng.
land.
Coming out Of her sons room q few
moments later, with her arms full Of
his clothing che Was startled By .
slight noise across the court. II
seemed like some heavy thing drop.
ping with less sound than lie weight
would suggest. In the misty dark
ness she could see nothing.
Mary Livingstone was known far
and near - q woman Of unbounded
courage and self reliance. During
her husbands frequent business
trips to San Francisco she stayed and
ruled the little kingdom like . queen.
Not man on the ranch but was glad
when Mrs. Livingstone was boss.
The house In the canon was her cas-.
tie, where she and Allen, with the
faithful Sing. abode In security which
none dared to modest. II anyone
had told her . week ago that this
night she would be haunted crea.
turs, trembling and unstrung, tor.
mented by On evil presentiment and
dresding she knew not what, she
would have laughed the prophet to
scorn.
The parlor door had been left . liz.
tie ajar, and she pushed through II
and on to her own apartment.
please shut the door, Allie. MY
hands are full. I'll be ready for you
SOON"
Drawing the shades, she cot reso.
lutely to work about making her sons
room comfortable for the night. She
dared not think, or she felt that she
would scream from sheer nervous.
ness.
The dainty silver toilet articles,
which were his pride, she arranged
on the broad desk, and soon had the
low lounglng couch transformed into
an inviting bed, with even o hot water
bag tucked In OF the foot. She
took from her closet shelf his lit.
tie toy like night lamp, which had
been one OF his childish idols, and
lighted 1t. and, after one or two little
final touches here and there, she
called him.
ITS time small boys were asleep.
Lock the front door, dear, and come.
! have such . funny story to read
to you"
Allen hobbled In, . slight frown on
his delicate face at being babyed. and
surveyed the little room.
ITS a. cold 40 barn here" he
said. 'What makes II 90 coldf I
don't want to 60 to bed yet"
"Oh, yes, you do. It's getting
late. You'll soon be nice and com.
Portable In your old nest. You will
find 1t warmed"
''Oh. we'll, I suppose there's moth
Ing else to do, he complained.
Where's the story'"
'I'll begin II right now. while
you're getting ready" and Mrs. Liv.
insstons settled herself by her lamp
to read.
In less than half an hour she
quietly peeped In to find her boy fast
asleep. She wanted to stoop and
kiss the white forehead, but she de-
MED herself lest she wsken him.
Nearly closing the door she walked
restlessly about her room few mo.
ments. aimlessly touching this and
looking ut that.
She took her account book out Of
the draggled dress she had worn
down the canon and looked 1t over q
little, soon putting 1t aside. She
tried to read. but the words followed
each other under her eyes In an un.
known tongue. She took up her
Bible, and even that seemed to hold
no word OF peace.
Something rs people In great peril
go over their past life. she fell to
thinking OF hers, but she was soon
brought back face to face with the
present. The thought that she was
struggling so TO keep In allegiance ct
last seemed to break Its bounds and
I'LL her soul with an Irresistible fas.
cination she dwelt upon It and did
not try to put II aside.
Three nights ago. at midnight, she
had awakened suddenly, being con.
scious OF noxlous presence near, and
slowly there had grown from 1t two
dark. glittering eyes close to her own.
which held her gaze with terrible In.
tentness. The evening In the canon
they he'd been there before her oil
the WY, and she had almost cue
cumbed to their terror. For the first
time she had noticed that the brows
and corners OF the eyes had been
slightly upturned. like the Mongo.
liau. What did 1t oil meanP The
end was not yet. What would 1t be-
These thoughts seemed to enthrall
her.
1t was nearly IL o'clock. Would
1t come tonight? Outside, the
night WAS so deathly still. and so
lonely. Why didn't the wind blow
Anything that would break the spell
upon her.
She turned the light down, and
threw herself YEARLY on the bed as
she was.
With the first stroke Of the clock