Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-20

IVu uTc nUTts sUyS OF SuTiS'VphNiS
anxiously. "11ow ?--whcrci"
''This arm," says Fabian, touching the
injured part lightly. ~ mere scratch.
away End goes quickly In the direction ~
the house. Dulcc, running down the hal
cony steps, goes up 10 him with very
white little face.
Darling, how brave you were.
happen TO you.
''Takc that terrified look OF your face"
he says, somewhat languidly, with
smile that Is family bitter. "Yon shonld
show more self-cOntrol. Take example
by your cousin: see how composed she Gun
be, and how sensible"
He smiles again, and indicates Portia
by q glance. For nm instant his eyes
meet hers. Is he wrong In thinking she
IL even shade palcr now than she was
moment since? lie IL not sure: aud he
has no time given him TO make the
thought certainty, us Miss Wharf, turn
ing slowly, goes toward one OF the draw
ing.room windows, and presently Ii lost to
sight.
There was something In her eyes. In the
hurried glance he got ut them, thn. sad
dcns Fabian. Almost forgctful Of Dulcc's
presence, he walks away from her, and,
having gained the house. goes mood'ly up
the stairs toward his own room.
A he reaches the corridor, and gains
the threshold Of his own room. n light step
behind him causing him TO turn. he !inds
himself looking once ngain Into Po:.'a's
eyes.
She II very pale still. and there Is some
thing pathetic about her mouth. Slowly
she comes up TO him, without utter;ns
word, until she Il NO close 20 him :hat
she can touch him, II she will. Then she
speaks:
"You wronged me Just now" she s:ys,
In low voice; you had nm evil thought
about me. But now now, Think regard
Ing him earnestly. "You have gone over
II all again In your own mind, and you I'm.
derstand now you misjudgcd me-
"YOu nre quite right In all you shy; l
did misjudge you. I have discovered my
error. You will forgive me-
"YOu IRE not very humble she says.
''cven now, when you have had to dcmnnd
my pardon"
prcssel sigh. II should be. Forgive me
that, too, and" lie pauscs 20 draw
his breath quickly, as II In pain. At this
abe lifts her head, and something she secs
In his expression tells her the truth.
"You are hurt" she says, hastily, going
nearer TO him. "Wherc!-how"
"My arm." confcsscs Fabian. who Is,
indeed, suffering greatly, laying his loft
hand upon his right arm, high up above
the elbow.
."rh1n let me be nurse for few min.
utcs," says POrtiu. with little smile. u
used to be Of great use to George ther
brother, Colonel Vibart) occasionally
when he came TO grief ut football, or IN
the hunting field. Let me see II my hand
has lost Its cunning"
Fabian follows her obedicntly 20 her
sittins.rOO IT oil seems to him some
thing like a dream that this girl, usually
30 listless, should now brighten into life
aud grow energetic and anxious for liz
sake. With gentle fingers she helps aim
70 take on bis coat, aud, In u business
like, very matter.of.fact fashion, unfas
tens the gold link ut his wrist, and, though
pallng little a. shc secs the blood upon
his sleeves. res0lutely rolls II up and lay
bare the injured arm.
When abe has sp0ngel his arm with *
cessive tenderness, she brings cambria
handkerchief, and, tearing II into strips
winds II round and round the torn acsh
perhaps that will do until DIR. Blant
can SEQ It," abe says, hopefully. "A
least tell me you are In less pain how
and that have done 70" some SINAI
"Sn,ullr' says Fabian.
"Ah! we'll" she says. lightly, "then
suppose have succeeded, but yOm mus
promise me. nevertheless. that you vii
have doctor to look ut YOU"
Her tone 10 still cxQulsitely kind; bu
there Is now studied indifference abpu
Il that hurts him kecnly. Perhaps In hi
surprise ut this sudden change OF manne
he 0vtIlooks the fact that the Indifference
IL studied!
"Now that the reaction has set H." h
goes on, bitterly, "yOu believe you hav
demeancd yourself In that you have Us
sisted one. who"
"YOu are saying what II not true" IN
says, II. q low but clear voice; speaking
sl0wiy. and with diniculty, because he
lips are white and dry.
"Am II" exclaimed he, passionately
"Ssy, II you can, that you believe me In
.nocent Of oil guilt, aud ! will believ
your
He passes--she is silent. A terrihl
moment ensucs, fraught with agony 10
Fabian, and still she makes no Sign. Hc
hands. tightly ciasped, are hanging be
fore her; her head 10 turned aside; he
eyes persistently seek the floor. As
every nerve In her body 10 strung to ex
cess. she stands ~ mOti0nless that sh
might almost be statue cut In marble
Her silence II painfully eloquent. Fa
bian. H. IN excess Of passion. tears of III
cambria bandages from his arm, IN
6ings them ut her feet.
II will have none OF your charity" h
says, with pale lips; and, throwing wild
the door, strides down the corridor, and
soon beyond recall.
When the last echo OF his feet his die
away. POrtia rouses herself, and, mOvin
toward q low chair near the fireplace
sinks into It, and presses her hand cor
vulsively against her heart.
She leans back In her chair as II ~
hausted; and, In truth, In the fair she
that tarbors her soul but very little p0wC
remains to battle with the varied thought
that rise within her. A faint, gray pallo
supetecdes the vivid carmine Of Will
ag0. She signs with evident difficult!
aud sinks back heavily amongst the cusi
Ions.
CHAPTER IN.
Time. as q rushing wind, slips by, M
brings us Dulce's ball. The night IL lOv'
~ and balmy as any evening In the sun
mer months gone by, though now Sci
temter shakes the leaves TO their fall. J
the library the lamps are lowered. NJ
body has come downstairs yet, and th
(OOtm0n. GIVING the last lingering tO,,c