Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-09-21


Mabel shrugged her shoulders, but
che said no more.
was o careless creature, % Mabel
said. In proof thereof retired that
night and left my door unlocked and
my key In my trunk. I walked some
tins In the middle Of the night and
saw. by the dim light, form kneel.
Ing beside my trunk, and in the act
Of unlocking 1t. l had some ado to
keep myself from screaming. I had
o vague idea, however. that such .
proceeding would call to life q pistol
or knife. There would be plenty
Of time for this cool intruder to Sc.
cure my diamonds of whose locality
he seemed we'll aware, and to make
of with them before hindrance could
come.
Cool intruder, I say, for he was BY
no means noiseless In his operations.
! think it must have been the noise
he made In opening the door which
walked me, and he fumbled at the
lock OF my trunk in q perfectly audi.
Bile manner. lie seemed to have
some difficulty in getting the trunk
open.
Imagine my dismay, when seem.
ingly getting out Of patience at last,
lie rose to his feet and gave the lid
q resounding kick, that caused the
refractory spring to loose Its grip
and expose my treasures to his
hand.
Now, I was very much attached to
my diamonds. could not lie coolly
and see them depart without making
an effort In their behalf.
However, was just about to speak,
just about to make a wild appeal to
the wretch's generosity, when he.
having CROPPED hitler and thither
through tho trunk In the most as.
founding manner, muttering to him.
self some curious expletives, sudden.
ly reached the burner and turned
up the gas:
The blaze showed me the face Of
my encounterer OF the morning; 1t
showed hlm-me!
I don't know which was most con-
founded. He swept the room with
dancing eyes. and vacated II very
abruptly indeed. but could hear
him softly laughing in the passage.
or I fancied 20, probably a. the
ridiculous figure / must have been,
o. sat up In bed. my face like ashes
with fright, and my head bristling
like . porcupine's back.
I got up presently, and locked my
door, and saw that my diamonds were
safe. Then I lay down again, but
not to sleep any more.
So this was the end OF my romance.
Mabel had said the hotel was full Of
thieves, and l had only q most un-
looked for chance to thank for hav-
ing saved my diamonds.
Such an elegant man, 80 hand.
some; ah, me! In the few hours
sleep that finally came to me, I
dreamed That was promenading the
beach with my midnight visitor, and
that I had Just discovered that l had
only o waterproof cloak over my
night.dress, and had forgotten to take
my hair out OF Its pins. l dreamed
that the stranger was making love tu
me In that absurd rig. was angry
enough with my dream when walked.
] went down to breakfast In anything
but q pleasant humor.
The first face that my eyes fell
upon was that OF the stranger.
Ridiculous? ! should think so.
believe / turned pale with surprise
at his eiYrontery. To dare to present
himself there. after last nights pro.
ceedings. lie did not meet my
glance ut first; his eyes were
dropped demurely to his plate, %
though he had seen my look coming.
and 10 chose to meet 1t, but fancled
could see that silken mustsche
witch slightly. Ho dared to laugh
ut inc still! ! averted my eyes i'm
,nediately, and did not once lool;
toward him again.
Later In the day my sister and !
went for our bath, ana while we were
In the water, Mabel confidently in
formed me that just the match for
me had como ut last.
HE arrived night before last, dear,
but I would not soy word till ! was
perfectly satisfied as to his ante
cedents and belongings" she said
eagerly. He is rich, and from one
OF tho finest families aud can't bear
the sight OF o fashionable woman ;
so you are sure to suit him. II you
half try"
l said nothing and Mabel went on.
"You must have seen him at
breakfast. The handsoniest man ct
our table. He sat half way down,
and ] saw him look at you several
times-a gentlem IN with curly hair,
and such funny eyes"
! turned my face towards my sister
with . start OF recognition. "Oh.
you did see him, then?" and Mabel
laughed.
Then I told her OF the night.
To my amazement Mabel began to
laugh as though she would 60 into
convulsions before l was half
through; and when refused to 60
on. she laughed the harder. We had
to quit the water, or she would have
drowned herself, ! believe.
! never liked to be seen In my
bathing rig, and ! was hurrying away
to my "house, /" when Mabel stopped
me.
"Bessy, Mr.. Trevelyan; Mr.. Ire
velyan. my sister, Miss Winston"
and there no was again.
'Will be back In q minute"
heard Mabel say as she dragged me
away to dress, and still laughing so
as scarcely to be Ineligible. She