Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-08-31


had the look Of outwitting me, men.
tally mathematical. 1t was o mean,
sly thing to do.
OF course he would transfer the &C.
counts to bis own possession and re.
turn me the books. There were Ave
Of them. II he had worked oil the
night before, he could not have thor.
oughly examined more than one. This
private account Of mine was entered
on the latest. SO the thought came to
me. finally, to regain immediate pos.
session Of this one at least.
II was not the mere FIVE hundred and
odd dollars cared for the loss Of; It
was the right which this gave John to
infer that I spent more than acknowl.
edged, and that my personal expendi.
lures were not 80 inferior to his that I
could claim more than half the contest.
ed profits; and more. It was the disa.
grceable idea Of being defeated.
That very night started for Marie
vile. I arrived the next day. I went
straight to Johns house. He received
mo alone. his face set In unusual lines,
and his eye meeting mine burningly.
"John Marle," said I, "you have done
mean thing. You have insulted me-"
"You refer to my taking the books In
which our accounts have been keptT'
he said, quietly.
IL do"
II had a right to see them II wish.
ed" he said.
"But you had no right to come like q
thief In the dark and take them. until
I told you they were prepared for you
to examine"
"what preparation did they ncedY r.
said he with sneer.
This was too much. Before knew
what was doing struck him. He
was . large man. but he reeled and
clutched at the piano to save himself
from falling. His aim missed and he
grasped only tho rich crimson cloth,
and he dragged It with him 40 be
dropped into seat He was very pale
| WIS almost ready to beg his forgive.
ness when he looked at mo with such
case Of hatred that turned instead
and walked out Of tho room, kicking
an embroidered stool out Of my way
a. went.
This interview had not been salts.
factory, and was at o loss what to dc
next An amicable settlement Of the
matter was now out Of tho question.
I was passing the house that even.
Ing when saw the family carriage,
containing my brother, his wife and
his four children. drive away from the
gate. I decided instantly that they
were going to evening meeting In the
town two miles distant. Then the
house was left alone. comparatively
and the books were they there
Could not enter. find them. and take
possession Of them - unceremonious.
~ a. John had done2
It was growing dark. There was nc
light In the front Of the house, but
saw one cleaning from one OF the low.
er ones at the back. 1t was the family
sitting.room. approached 1t and
looked In.
1t was Q large. comfortable apart.
ment. with dre upon the hearth; and
before the fre sat young lady rock.
Ing an infant.
The child was probably the last.com.
er, the little nameless one ! had not be
fore seen, and which John wrote me Il
month before was to be called David
II approved. But who was its
nursef-this sweet-faced girl who han
died II 30 dexterously, feeding It from
silver porringcr. and then laying l,
over her shoulder and patting Its back
with her pretty. ringcd hand, to make
It 90 to sleep. as she rocked back and
forth before the dancing blaze?
could see the gloss on her braided hair
and the glittcring buckle upon her little
slipper.
The child seemed uneasy. 1t walled
and she rose and walked the floor with
1t. soothing It In low, cooling tone Of
cndearment. now and then singing Q
lullaby. At last It was asleep. with its
bit of face hidden In her neck, and
she sat down again before the fire.
stood and watched her; indeed, l had
forgotten all else.
She had soft brown eyes; I dom
know any other word to use; they Were
tender aud quiet. She looked quite
happy In silent way. As she swayet
back and forth, the lamplight and ther
the drelight touched her forehead, ani
cheek, and sweet mouth, and whit.
neck. with their different tinting-tht
Arelight making her rosy and radiant
the lamplight showing the lovely fac,
In q paler guise. ! thought. "What Il
this were my home? What II that wa,
tho darling wife ! had longed for al
these years. and that my child? VIVA
II might move now, and she woult
turn her head and listen for my step?'
The thought made me tremble.
retreated to the road, and walked bacl
and forth there, trying to think to some
purpose. OF course ] could not entel
the house, though It would probably
not be difficult to do SO. might &c
the books with little difficulty, for tina
young girl was probably MI the person
under tho roof; but somehow di.
not want them; the current of m!
mind had changed. walked half ,
mile down tho starlit road and cam,
back. Once more went to the win
dow.
The child was awake and crying
She was walking the door with
again. forgot to be cautious, she wa
90 unconscious. and quite leaned OF
the stone sill a. I stood. Turning 4
her walk. she happened to glance TOW