Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-02-13
CHAPTER VIII,


I had anticipated many tears AMI
sig,,s from mother. hut the result outrnn
my anticipntions. When ! mentioned
whom ! had met. her agitation was a.
most uncOhirollab'c: and when ! de-
tailed the unlucky issue OF the meeting.
her sorrow was beyond description. Morn.
ing brought M comfort. Mrs. Burnside
had not replied to mothers letter. \
grim feeling Of disappointment stole over
me as ! saw the pOstman pass our door
without stopping.
Mother was subducd and melancholy. !
melancholy and suhducd. II was not u
cheerful position. At lunch hour mother
could cat nothing. and shivprcd with cold.
a sound of wheels stopping at the door
drew her to the window.
Good gracious, Olga. Here IL the
Gray Ashtcnd carriagc!'
"Oh. is IL Aunt ltosalic? I tell you
what. mother" ] suddenly announced.
rising from the hearth with flushed
checks and u forehead ornamrnicd with
s,rcaks of soot--"l tell yon what. ! don't
mean to stand any impcrtincn, messages
from Mr.. Carcwc. ] shall just snap my
fingers"
"rhcrc l. no one In the carriage NJ
nll." broke In mother. "rhc groom Is
handing n letter. Oh. Olga! Olga"
At this juncturc the errand boy from
the shop knorkpd at our door with the
note. ! brought il 10 mother. Il was
from, Aunt Itosalic. and simply contained
these words.
"Gray Ashtcad. Wednesday.
"Gct into the carriage aud come here
ut once. Bring Olga with you. Bring
night clothes. ! may nor say more: but
bc sure Olga comes. Come rs quickly as
you can. and excuse the incohercncy Of
this. In. a. tremendous hurry. yours us
ever. ROSE"
Mother grew white to tho lips.
snntchcd the letter from her hands AMI
read II.
"OIga. he II dying" she whispered.
] felt It must he 80. An excited desire
to cry surgcd up In my throat. I knew
that II would b. right to obey that SUM-
mons. but ! own I was frightened.
"Oh. Olga. you will come with me-
implorc you, my own darling"
"Of course we must both go. mother
dear. Don't be anxious. ] dare say he
IL not SO III as we fancy. Sit here and
will bring you your things"
A minute later we were seated In my
grandfathcr's carriage. and bound for
Gray Ashtcad. II was u very long drive.
but I did not feel It 80. ! did not notice
how the time passed. 40 absorbed was
In picturing to myself what our reception
would he. Mother sank back In the car.
ringe and began to shed tears cOplOusly
Ms the lOdgckcrpcr's wife opened the gate.
| aud we passed up II trimly-kept drive.
shaded by fine trees. The house was
quite modern, but built IN the Norman
fashion Of good gray stone. Almost as
soon rs the fOOtman touched the bell the
door was opened anu We walked In. ]
turned TO the solemn butler. who wa
preceding us down the tesselated hall.
and asked. abruptly:
"ls Mr.. Carewe very M"
The man seemed confused. and an.
swered. evaslvcly. that Miss Carcws
should be instantly informed Of our A..
rival. upon which cold fear shot through
my heart. My grandfather must be
dead.
We were ushcrcd into a long drawing.
room. with four French windows opening
on a garden. A minute licked by, then
] heard fresh baritone voice coming
from somewhere out In the garden. In
voluntarily | shrank back a little as the
| voice approached and u young man In u