Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-10-03

nail drawn-though I would not then
admit it-by q pair Of clear grey eyes.
There the ill-assorted couple always
sat, scarcely ever speaking to one an.
other, she listening abstractedly to the
music, he mostly reading newspaper.
As the last item on the programme was
begun they invariably rose to depart.
One night confess II with a certain
FEELING Of shame--l followed them with
the object Of finding where they lived.
Down the Hue de la Loi and the Rue
Royal they went as far as the Place
st. Gudulc. and there. in a crowd close
to the cathedral. I lost sight Of them,
although I apostrophized myself as q
blanked fool for doing so. I. a penni-
less playwright-l liked the name.
though still among the great unplayed!
Suppose met them. suppose my in
fatuation for pathetic pale face with
searching gray eyes should develop In.
to real passionate love for the living,
pulsing personality to which they be.
longed; what could dol, whose
worldly possessions consisted Of about
5000, q few Enacted plays, and some
unpublished stories.
Thus reasoned with myself, but
reason has little to do in governing q
mans actions In these matters; and,
besides. argued. probably shall be
promptly disillusioned a. soon 40
have spoken to Miss Gray Eyes"
The very next evening my oppor.
tunity occurred; nor was I slow to
seize 1t. I reached wau1hall early and
took my place close by the table where
the unknown ones were In the habit Of
sitting. Presently the man arrived
alone. My heart sank within me--she
was not coming-and then rebounded,
for there should be no difficulty in
tackling the man when by himself. I
pretended to be earnestly reading o
paper. but out Of the tall Of my eye OBJ.
served the new conner take his accus.
toned seat. The band struck up q
lively tune, and I was wondering how
I should introduce myself when a voice
at my shoulder said:
"Slr, when you have done with your
paper may glance at It for mo.
mentY'
I started at being thus suddenly ad-
dressed, looked up and found the bent
figure Of the father Of miss Gray
Eyes" standing by me. Here was luck
I automatically offered the paper nj
once, and before the evening was over
had had some talk with Mr.. Mortimer;
and fairly accurately did l gauge his
character as that Of q man premature.
~ aged and deeply bitten with the
gambling mania. So far as would
permit him his whole talk was Of
stocks and shares,of odds and chances
When he rose to 90 proffered him my
arm. He glanced suspiciously ut me
and then took II. Before we reached
his home ventured tlmorOusly enough
to ask after his usual companion, and
to express hope that she was not III
No; she had stayed IN on account Of q
headache.
I was not slow In pressing my nd
vantage. The next evening boldly up
preached the Mortimers, and. grudg
lngly, the old man introduced me. Now
said to myself. now for dlsillusIon
ment. What self-deceivers we are, fol
I neither wanted nor expected to bs
dlsillusioned.
And was not. Night after night
talked to Grace-I had heard bel
father call her 70, and thenceforward
she was Grace to me. and the more w
talked the more we found that We had
many tastes In common. became
daily more devoted to this girl, OF
whose existence knew nothing q
short month ago. Oh, II I only SHOULD
secure the first prize In the lottery, o.
II only my comedy were to be pro
duced at the Thespian, then. I Nigh
dare-what might not dare?
One morning went to the botanical
Garden. for Grace had said the even
Ing before that she often spent I'm hou
there at noon. A couple VI small chill
dren came playing near where l sal
They began chattering to one anothe
,, In French as they gathered up stone
from the path and arranged them o.
the garden seat. I tried talking to tn
youngsters. and they promptly bega
transferring the pebbles from the sea
to my knees, laughing merrlly til
while. was SO taken up with then
; that I did not notice any one apprOac
and was startled at hearing u sweet
familiar voice say:
Mr.. DrummOnd, what are thos
children dolngy"
I rose mt once, to the disturbance Q
their playthings. "GOOd-mOrning, Mis-
Mortimer; this Is an unexpected pleai
J ure."
,, She blushed at my remark, seeing,
supposed. with feminine sharpness, tina
I was merely there on the chance q
meeting her. The two little childre
evidently decided that was an unsa
isfactOry cOmMde, and returned
their garden seat as more stab
foundation for their buildings. Whe
!, addressing my companion they Gale
: her "Mees Mariner" aud l suppOs
that l looked surprised, for she said:
!. II was about to tell you, Mr.. Drum
mond. that my name Is not Mortime
Mr.. Mortimer Is my stepfather. Thes
are my young pupils" she adde'
|. whom bring out here every mOrnin
: as a recompense for having mad
= them try to twist their little tOngu.
= into speaking our language"
Durinp this morning and some auI