Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-05

arouse this worthy functionary and
held hurried consultation with him;
then he drove on.
Hattie's parents were somewhat sur.
prised ut being disturbed In their slum.
Der, but not 90 much surprised 40 when,
after a short conference between the
young doctor and his fiancee. who had
needed no waking, they were sum-
moned to give their consent to an i'm.
mediate marriage. They could think
Of no valid objection II the young folks
wished It, and an hour later Justice
Evans pronounced the couple man and
wife.
1t was then 3 o'clock and the young
husband had only time to leave his
wife In her parents care again, bid her
another loving farewell and hasten to
reach the train that was to bear him %
far away from HE native Pennsylvania
village and her whom he had loved
since his earliest recollection.
His three years trip was one Of min
gled hardship, excitement and pleas
ure; In all very enjoyable one to DR..
Hartley. A part Of every Sabbath day
was spent In writing long. loving let.
tiers to Hattie. And although he often
longed for . eight Of the dear face hs
felt no anxiety on her account, know.
ing that when he did return she would
b watching for him.
For the young wife the time did not
pass % pleasantly. Poor grit Her
"fun" was spoiled. She could not &C.
cept other escorts now, and % she had
no brother to act a. such she was
forced to remain at home, and there sht
moped and pined for Frank until her
parents bitterly repenaed the hasty
step they had allowed her to take. And
II 10 doubtful II In that nrst long, lonely
year she did not herself regret II, but II
20 none were the wiser, least Of all the
absent husband.
She had never really meant to grievS
her faithful lover a. she had In that
last year, and now that she realized
what heartachs meant she would not
have him suffer 40 she did. and 90 she
exerted herself to write cheerful. con.
tented letters. Frank almost believed
she did not miss him and wished that
she might feel just q little Of what he
had once on account Of her thoughtless
flirting, yet he was too honorable to
give her any reason for distrust and
too true for deception Of any kind.
Home did not seem homo to Hattie
any more. She herself was 20 changed
that unconsciously her parents dc.
mean0r changed toward her. Generous
checks from Frank much more than
supplied her wants, and whxt she did
not positively need was carefully
boarded to furnish the lovely home that
seemed yet 90 far away. and many
hours were "passed ID making pretty
tribes for the same purpose. Much OF
Ter time was spent at Franks home.
His mother was dead, but with hiG
father, aunt and cousin she seemed best
content.
One day gossipy ncighb0r bantered
her about her strange widowhood aud
remarked that likely DR.. Hartley was
having o fine time playing agreeable
to other ladies'. for Of course no one
would suppose him to be q married
man. The shot struck home, for only
that very week he had mentioned In
bis letter q lady that reminded him Of
her. TO be sure. how did she know II
what manner he was spending his time
And could she blame him II hs did
sometimes forget his loyalty to her;
And then she thought with shame OF
her own prOmiscuous tiirting Of the
past.
That night she hunted up the piece
Of paper that was legal evidence thai
the twain was one. In that last year
that little paper was one Of her great
est comforts. and thankful she wal
that she was bound to DR.. Hartley, fol
that same contract made him hers.
"IIe's mine. He will be true to me
He will come back" she often sobbet
to herself In the wee small hours wher
haunting thoughts would not let hel
sleep. And thus that last summer up
preached Ito zenith. II Frank hat
dreamed Of the torture she was under
going he would never have planned tn,
little revenge that was 90 foreign to bill
nature. He wrote that he hoped to b.
homo to celebrate their anniversary
but the party was unavoidably l0tain
ed. and he yielded to the impulse to re
pay her for her old t0rmeatipg trick
and "forgot to write" Her letters
Of late had been brief and uasatisfac
tory, but little he imagined that It wal
! because the poor girl could not WRIT
cheerfully and would not write an!
other way. She seemed to care 10 lit
tie that he thought q little anxiet!
would make his welcome tho warmer
The wedding day was fair counter
: part Of that other one, and Hattie wa
feverish with alternating hope ant
fear. She started with every sount
and listened at every football, but tn
, day and night came and went and NJ
Frank come. Worse yet. the weel
! went by and did not bring the missiv'
} that never before had failed her. An
! other week went by and still no tidinga
! Poor Hattie was almost wild with de
: spair. She was fully convinced tia
: some terrible accident had happened 81
, the homeward Journey. and she wa
> indeed widow.
: "But he's mine-he's mlne," Oh
moaned. clasping that piece Of preciou
paper to her heart. She was at frank
J fathers. The other inmates Of tn
house were sound asleep that Lowell,
July night, but poor heart-broken Hat
. tie sat by her bedside, with her fac
hurled In the pretty COyerS--Somo O