Chicago eagle., 1896-12-26
CHAPTER x1v.-tContinued)


CHAPTER X1v.-(Continued.)
Gladys does not know how she comes TO
think Of Lady Renton In this extremity;
she has never appealed to her before for
counsel In her domestic difficulties. But
che wants TO hear wOman's views OF the
business. and she knows ElinOr to be per-
fnctly Trustworthy, and capable. more
over. Of delivering a sound Judgment. 30
she drives as fast as she can to Nutlcy'
and turns with alacrity into the familiar
gates. But as she enters the gravelcd
drivc--a much narrower and shorter drive
than the one TO Carronby House-shc
perccives another vehicle standing before
the front door. Not a private carriage,
but a hired coacll--On the top OF which
are two leather pOrtmanteaus--whilet the
driver is even then preparing to descend
from his box and help the servant to car.
~ them into the house. Gladys heart
stands still. She rcins In her ponies sud
denly, and addresses q gardener. sweep.
Ing away the dead leaves, In a scared ana
frightened voice:
"what 10 that gardener? Who has A.
sivedf"
"Mr. Brooke. my lady," replies the
man, touching his shady hat. He oe
just arrived from furrin parts. He's NOT
been passed here q minute, my lady.
Gladys gives n tremendous tug to her
reins that sends the ponies rearing on
their launches. The groom 10 at their
heads In moment.
"stand out Of the way! Let me tus.
them round" she cries. impcriously.
"You can't turn them here, my ladyi
there isn't room for It. You must dris@
past the house. my lady. and out Of the
other gatc," says the man In voice o.
alarm.
''Iet 20 their heads, I say! I shall turn
them here" exclaims the Countess, as she
suits the action to the word. The two
men Jump out of the way-the ponies
chafe and champ-tho hind wheel Of the
phacton gets into q ditch, whence II ID
rescued by the superhuman efforts OF
the groom, and then her ladyship goer
plunging through n clump Of American
shrubs, which she seriously Injuries. and
II once more In the open rond, with her
servant behind her wondering what stun
cOuntcsscs nrc made Of.
Gladys almost wonders herself as she
goes spinning back to Carronby. She Is
quite unaware how she got out Of that
drive, and that ditch, and those bushes;
all she thanks heaven for is that she did
get out Of them, ond saved herself from
the ignominy Of driving up to Mr.. .Brooke's
house at the very moment Of his return.
She forgets the Earl and Miss Rusherton,
and everything else. In the terrible excite.
ment of this meeting. She feels as II she
had just escaped from some great danger
some agonixing death. And yet. through,
all the sensation Of relief, there IL the
glad pacn ringing In her heart. He has
come back again."
Whatever may happen In the future
however he may have pledged and bound
himself to rcturn-for the present he ID
hcrc-cl0sc to her--and alone. She shall
see hlm-she shall see her Jennie again.
and when he sees her oil must be right.
He cannot resist her tears-he will be
melted by her misery. He will take her
to his heart, and the wretched past will
vanish like dream. Why did she run
away at sight Of him? Why had she not
the courage to drive straight up to the
house. and greet him as cousin should
dor
What must the servants think Of her
extraordinary behavior? Will they com
ment on II, aud trace It to Its true source
All these thoughts dit through the
Countess brain until she feels beside her,
self with mingled JOY, and shame, and
fear.
Her poor little steeds are made to fee
the variations Of her temperament %
plainly that they become rather unman
again and s00the them. Lady Mount
csrron becomes impatient. She tosses thu
reins down and leaves her seat.
kn <hosv, hou,o vEtl1ta n IVA
~ am tired of driving to-day. shall
walk back through the park"
The servant Obeys orders, aud Gladyl
II left to herself. This Il just what sh,
desires.
Her mind II In too perturbed and per
picked condition for the society Of any
thing--even too ponies and q groom.
= full Of Jemmie--n0thing In heaven O
on earth but Jennie. And she think
she would like to 60 aud work of the ter
rible excitement under which she II 10
boring by looking at Moonlight Dell
Moonlight Dcll-where he kissed her
Arst confessed he loved her. Moonligh
Dsll-where he parted from her. aud lef
her to Q life of agony and rem0rse. Oh
" she can only stand once more witt
Jennie In Moonlight Dell, and look up Il
bis dear eyes, and tell him Of all the pail
which she has suffered on his account
Gladys feels sure-Quite sure-that the!
will cement their love anew over the an
guish Of the past. II 10 Of no use 6shtini
against her feelings any more. She ha
tried II and failed; and therefore It 10 no
at all likely that Jennie shall have sue
ceeded.
The task IL too hard for them. The,
cannot live asunder. They must build VI
q sweeter friendship for themselves thai
heretofore. And full Of such thoughts a
these. with her eyes beaming and he
cheeks glowing with anticipation, 0lady
tolls up the hill that leads to MO0nllgh
Dell. She looks down the slope tOwar
the sullen pool OF water. Its borders ar
already occupied by two figures, pacin
up and d0wn-tw0 figures, 20 much OC
cupisd with one another as to be una
ware OF her approach-the figures Of Mis-
Rusherton and Lord MOuntcarrOn.
Gladys regards them for moment i
silent dismay. Then. with heart swell
Ing with q sense Of injury and wounds
pride, she turns swiftly back again, an
gains the house by less freQuented an
more ciscuitous path.
CHAPTER XIV.
To return to the moment Of Nj
Brooke's arrival at Nutley--Lady Rel
ton 10 az much taken by surprise at hl
appearance a. Gladys was to be.
She 10 sitting with her little son at hl
daily lessons, trying to keep bis restles
mind 6xed on the rudiments OF Latil