Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-08-07

I love him."
"Then why did you leave himr' asked
the duchess.
"r.et me tell you my story" said Lady
Hllda: "then you will understand"
Kneeling at the young girls feet, she
told her all. every detail, what she had
suffered through her love, her pain, her
struggle-the most pitlful story that wom-
an ever had to tell. When she had nm
ished she looked into 1.urline's face.
"Are you angry with me nOwT she
said. II never meant to make myself
known. I meant to keep my word In all
honesty and be dead to him for all time.
The only thing that could have forced
my secret from me was the fear and hor-
ror Of sin. could not see you marry him.
because I knew there could be no such
marriage while lived"
"You should have told me; II was 80
cruel, for l love him. TOO. ! love him
with all my heart. and now have lost
hint was cruel"
She wrung her hands with cry Of dc.
SPAR that Lady Hilda never forgot. Then
they both started and stood erect. for
Leonard. lord Dunhaven. had anticipated
his journey by a day: he had entered the
room and stood there, silent and bewil-
dered.
"1.urline. darling. what Is III" he cried.
lie Opened his arms and she hid her
face on his breast.
Leonard. Miss Dunn says that she Is
your wife. Hilda Dunhaven. and that you
can never marry me; you must choose be-
| tween us: here Is the woman who desert
| ed you. and here the woman who loves
| you: choose between us"
"Am I going mad, 1.urlinc? and Is the
whole world mnd? My wifeW
He went up to her. the duchess watch
Ing him with Jealous eyes: he took her
hands from her face, and looked earnestly
In II.
you indeed my wife!"
She raised her eyes TO him.
EYES," she said sadly. II am indeed
your most unhappy wife. Hilda Dun
haven"
He stood rooted to tho ground with
amaxcment.
MY wife! and I have known and seen
you all this time. and yet did not recog.
nixe your
II am sorry" she said: and the sadness
In her voice was ~ great that II brought
tears 70 his eyes. II am very sorry"
she said, II wish could have died.
Death would have been the most wei.
come friend to hold out his hand to be. but
I cannot die. and dared not stand by In
silence while this wrong was done. My
life has been all pain. but this-Of bring.
Ing myself back to you. Of telling you that
I live. Of standing between you aud your
marriage-this ID the kecnest pain Of all"
lord Dunhaven looked from one TO the
other-these two beautiful women who
both loved him. one Of whom he loved; II
was impossible to tell which was mos,
beautiful-the Quecnly. royal woman
whose exquisite face was bowed with
shame. or the fair young duchess whose
eyes were full Of love.
"May heaven help us air. he said
"There was never 80 strange q fate. J.
] am lost. bewildered. oh. Hiida, this al
seems wrong. Lurline. l know not whal
to say"
A new spirit came over the duchess. q
new light shOne on her beautiful face
something Of the grand spirit Of grand
race stirred 10 her heart,
"One Of us must suffer-" she said: ~,
must be I. You. whom God Joined togeth
er, no man shall put asunder. Leonard
, |
to you: she 10 true to you. Even II YOU
would bc divorced from her, you cannot
there In no ground for II; neither would
have 1t 70. You will learn to love her ant
forget me"
II shall never forget you. Lurline." h,
cried, In a passion Of despair.
"You must forget me now. Try to Low,
, your wife, Leonard; she IL beautiful ant
| In
now. DO not ask for me again. ! an
to ask God to help me to forget you; an,
,, lie will. ! know He will.'
She went up to him. all the bravery an,
nobility Of her race shining In her eyes.
I'VE have loved each other very much
: Leonard" she said. gently. ''but you see
dear, Il was not to he. Kiss me before
. 70, just as you should kiss me II you saw
mo lying dead"
He took her In his arms. and tho tear
that fell from his eyes On her face wer
/. no disgrace to his manhood; he loved he
20 well. He laid his lips GU hers for on
half minute.
"Good-by. my love-" he said. "good.by.
Her arms chung round him, her In
chung to bis; then she repeated the words
"G0od.by, my love. good.by."
The next moment she had passed frOr
!; his sight. and the name OF Lurline. Ducl
ess Of Marin had become to him memoir
and dream.
His wife went up to him. pale. grave
!. collected.
|. II am very sorry" she said; mo word
: can tell you how sorry. You love hel
|. and she loves you. l am the curse Q
; your life to come between YOU"
He looked at her SO royalty beautiful. q
Z graceful. so queen-like. and he though
to himself how other men would love an
worship her; he remembered, too. how sh
had loved him.
i "Iiilda," he said gently, II have give
u you no warm words of welcome, but al
glad to see you. have repented sincere
~ Of my cruel words. and have though
o 30 much Of YOU"
"That did not prevent you from fallin
y In love with some one else" she said. wit
% gentle reprOach.
= mo, It did not. 1t has been terribl
a mistake. all of II. Hilda. But there mu'
d be no more mystery; ! must tell Lad
q Darel at once"
n She looked the very image Of despair.
IA n n