Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-06


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| of night. and sink into Portals heart, as
she sits silent. pleased. listening TO all
around. yet a little gricvcd in that her
host is strangely silent. too. and looks as
one might who Is striving to hear the
sound of a distant footstcp. that comes
not ever.
Sir Christopher. once reused, chatters
on ccaselcssly about the old days when he
and Charles Wharf, her father, were boys
together. aud before pretty Clara Blount
fell In love with Wharf and married him.
| And Por,ia listens dreumily. and gazing
through the open window lets part Of the
music of the scene outside sink into his
ancient tales, and feels II great longing
rise within her to get up and go out into
the mystic mOonbcams. and battle her
tired hands and forehead In their cool
rays.
what Is that faint streak Of white |
sec ont there. through and beyond the
brnnches!" she asks softly.
"Our lake." says Dulcc. half turning
her head In its direction.
II should like to go TO It," says portia.
with unusual animation.
"rlcn you SHALL says Dulcc. rising:
"havc ycu had enough Strawberries? Yes.
Will you not finish your wine? No. Come
with me, then. and the boys may follow
us when they can tear themselves away
from their cnrct" This. with n scorn.
full glance ut Roger, who returns II gen.
crously.
II shall find II very easy to tear myself
away tO.night." he says, bent on revenge,
and smiling tcndcrly ut pOrtia.
So. says Dulce, with shrug and a
little laugl, that reduces his attempt at
scorn TO u pucrilc effort unworthy Of no.
tice: IN compliment to you. Portin: and.
| the other thing to me. We thank you.
Roger. Come" She lays her hand on
Portals and draws her toward the win.
dow. Passing by Uncle Christopher's
chair she let's her fingers full upon his
shoulder nnd wander across II. 80 rs just
to touch his neck. with carcssing move.
mcnt. Then she steps out on TO the vcran.
da. followed by Portia. and both girls run.
ming down the stone steps nrc soon lost to
| sight amongst the flowers.
CHAPTER ".
Past the roses, past the fragrant mig.
nonctte they go. the moons soft radiance
rendering still more fair the Wilderness of
their rounded arms. Dulcc, plucking some
pale blossom. lifts II to her lips. and kisses
1t lightly. POrtin, drawing deep breath
OF intense satisfaction. stands quite still,
and. letting her clnspcd hands fall loosely
before her. cOntcmpntes the perfect scene
In mute delight. Presently. however, she
shivcrs; u passing breeze has east Il chill
upon Ter.
"Ah! YOU are cold" says Dulcc. unx.
iously. "how thoughtlcss l am! yes. you
arc quite pale"
cam II" says Portiu. ut was the
standing here. ] fancy. lndin gave mo
bad habits. Every silly little wind strikes
! chill to my heart"
II shall get you n shawl In no time"
says Dulcinea: but keep walking up and
down while am away, no us to keep your
blood warm."
!! POrtin, left alone, walks slowly along
the gravclcd path. and. pushing aside
some lOw.lying branches Of u heavily
scented shrub. finds herself face 10 facc
with II tail young nun. who. apparently,
II rs lost In wonder ut her appea ra nee as
she Il ut his.
Il beg your pardon" says the stranger.
hastily. II am afraid ! have frightened
you. But. really, 1t was all the fault Of
the moon."
His voice Il reassuring, and Portia,
drawing hcr breath more freely, feels Just
u little ASHAMED Of her momcntary terror,
II am not frightened now" she says,
with nm upward glance. trying to read,
through the darkness. the fncc of him she
addresses. POrtin. gazing At him with In.
! tcrcst, tells herself that years OF mental
suffering could alone have produced the
hard lines round the lips and tho weari.
ness In the eyes. She has no time for
further speculation. however, and goes on
quickly: 1T was more than foolish OF
me; but quite forgot, with some ull.
ccrtainty-''shOuld have remembered"
"What did You forgetY and what should
you have remembcrcdy"
II forgot that burglars do not, as rule,
I suppose, go about IN evening clothes;
and should have remembered" u
smilc--"that there was yet another cousin
to whom ! had not been introduced"
"Ycs; ! am Fabian Blount," he SAYS,
indiffercntly. IIc does not return her
smile. Almost h. gives her the impress.
sion that ut this moment he would gladly
have submitted another name for his own.
"Ah! you arc Fabian" she says, half
puzzled by his manner.
III you will take my word for It," His
tone Is even more strange ns he says this
and now he does smile, but disagrccably
"YOu have not asked me my name,"
she says. quietly. Il am POrtia."
"What u very pretty name!" lie has
had a hnlf-smOked cigar behind his back
all this time; now remembering It, he
looks ut II, and filings II fur from him,
1T reminds one Of many things: Shaks-
pearc, j suppose, principally. ! hope"
looking ut her, you will choose the right
caskct."
"rhank you. That is u very kindly
WISH"
slow does it happen that you are hero
all aloneI'
II was cold. always am. Dulcinca
saw me SILVER, think, and ran to get u
shawl or some covering for me. That Is
| ALL"
Voices In the distance. Roger and Dulcc
high In argument; Il faint perfume Of
| cigarettes; Dicky Browne places Il shawl
round Portals shoulders.
"You here, FabianT' says Dulcc, glad
". "And making friends with Portia ?
That's right"
| "Taking Il mean advantage of MS all,
call It," says Dicky Browne. I'VE got
introduced In the cruel glare of day, with
all our imperfectiOns on our heads. You
waited for moOnshinc, balnly air, scent Of
roses, DOpticnl offoct aud .n oni THAT'S