Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-06-12
= &C. b. 0@s2ssss'

eyes. the sudden sound Of r. voicc--the
sudden hearing of what were to her ter
rible words. struck her silent and dumb
struck the smile from her lips. struck the
light from the sweet eyes and the music
from the saddened heart--the voice she
loved best In all the world. The words
stabbed her: they slew the bright young
life within her.
Lord Dunhaven was speaking; he had
entered the drawing room with Lady
Darel. and they had taken their seat at
the window, quite unconscious that the
young girl was sitting among the roses.
He was saying:
II cannot look happy, mother. 1t Is Of
no use trying. In whatever light l look
at II am quite filed with despair. There
IRE times when am inclined to give 1t up
and 20 TO America. Then again II seems
a great pity to do that when could make
everything bright for you in England"
"What induced you TO offer to marry
her II she IL distasteful to your said
Lady Darel. .
III did not exactly ask her. I found
that she wished for the marriage. and
well, felt sorry for her; she looked 80
young and 20 friendless. The truth is
I hate myself when I say It'll hate the
circumstances that have hcmmed me
round-but the real truth Is, I want the
money, but not the girl"
"Give her up. then. Better that than
making yourself miserable over her."
mo-" he replied, slowly. II do not love
her. certainly. am not even sure that
I like her. but nm sorry for her. She
has had q lonely. desolate childhood. and
she seems In some measure to cling to me.
I must take all the consequences myself.
It would have been easier had she been q
more attractive slrl-pretty. accomplished
or anything Of that kind, but there 10 moth
ing In her to win mans love. However,
we will not discuss Il; II has to be done.
Do not talk to me any more about II,
mother. an going down to my club
now"
Lady Hilda went to her own room. Her
first impulse was to give up the marriage.
How could she marry a man who said
frankly that Il was the money. and not
the girl, he wanted? Why had heaven
been 20 cruel to her? Why had other girls
and women this power Of winning love
which had been denied to herr
She would write little note 10 him and
toll him that quite by accident she had
overheard what he had said. and that the
marriage could never be. She lay down
to rest. tears raining from her eyes. the
keenest pain In her heart, and the deter.
mination formed In her mind that she
would not give him up.
She tried to sleep. but the silent dark.
ness Of the night brought back to her tho
strange silence that had rcigncd In that
death chamber Of her father; the awful
outline Of that rigid figure. the stcrn-set
white mass that had once been face.
All the shuddcring dread and fear came
over her ngain. What II that stern figure
and stern face appeared by her side now
What II he had not said enough; he had
said that unless she fulfilled his command
--obeycd his wishes--hc should not rest
even in his grave? Whit II he came to
her now and told her that his command
must be obcyedI She shuddcrcd with
mortal dread. There was u slight sound
In the corridor outside: she spring from
the pillow, her heart standing still with
fear. He would not rest In his grave un.
less she married Lord Dunhaven.
II II was to be 10 she had better marry
him, no matter how much he dislikcd her.
1t would DO easier TO live In his society
than to live In deadly fear Of that horrible
sight. II she could have mastered her
fear. all would have been we'll: but she
could not. No one had told her that sup
crstition was but ignorance. She was no
sorcly afraid OF her dead father that to
keep him at rest In his grave she would
have consented to live In torture for her
whole life.