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

She Is dressed in white satin gown,
creamy In shade, and rather severe In Its
folds. Some pale water-lilics lie upon 1t.
as though cast TO It lovingly, MS IL glad
to have found 10 soft a resting-plnce.
There Is no flower In her hair. and no
Jewels anywhere. except the three rows
Of priceless jewels that clasp her slender
throat.
There Is n discontinued line about her
mouth. a wistful, restless expression In
her eyes. She moves slowly. too. as IL
gladness Is far from her, and shows In
every glance and movement strange
amount Of lnnguor. As though her
thoughts compel her to action, she walks
aimlcssly from place 10 place. and now,
rs IL she is listening for something to
come: and ngnin. as II she II trying to
make up her mind to take some step from
which she shrinks In secret. At last,
drawing her breath with n sudden quick
ness, born Of determination. she opens II
drawer In cabinet. and taking from II a
little volume she opens the library door.
and turning TO the right, walks swiftly
down the corridor.
From out the shadow figure advances
toward her, a figure bent and uncomely,
that tries In vain to avoid the meeting
with her, and 10 get out of sight before
recognition sets in. 1t Is the old man
Slymc. AS she secs him there returns 10
Portin the memory Of many other times
when she has met him here In this CORR.
dor, with apparently no meaning for his
presence. Some unaccOuntable and ut.
tcrly vnguc feeling Of dislike for this nan
has been hers ever since she Arst saw
him. lie IL rcpugnant 70 her In remark
able degree, considering how little nc Inns
to do With her life 10 any way.
"Hc seems to haunt this part Of the
house," she says to herself now. uncom.
fortubly. III were Fabian I shoald
hate 10 know there was chance Of meet
ing him every time opened my door,"
When she has passed. the secrctiry
raises his eyes and watches her dcpa rting
form furtively. There Is great cunning
mixed with malignity and resentment
In his glance. lie muttcrs something In
audible. that carries no blessing In Its
tones, but yet, rs though fascinated by her
beauty. he stands still and follows each
step she takes upon the polished oaken
flooring.
As she stops at a particular door. lis
whole face changes, and satisfied malice
| takes the place OF resentment.
| tiers. with half.drunkcn chucklc. ".And
breathe when I nm by-that have power
| to wiring your proud heart"
He turns, and shamblcs on toward his
own den. Portals steps have grown
| slower ar she gets nearer TO the door be-.
fore which Slyme has seen her stop. Her
eyes have sought the ground; all along the
floor her Image may be seen, heightened,
| but clear; almost with every step she
seems 10 tread upon herself. As she
reaches the door she hcsitatcs. and then
lifts her hand as II with the intention Of
knocking. But again she pauscs, and her
hand drops 70 her side. AS II more nor.
vOus than she cnrcs 10 own. she leans
against the Intel Of the door. us one
might. DESTROYS OF support. Then the
weakness vanishcs; fastening her teeth
upon her under lip she rouscs herself,
and tapping gently but distinctly upon
one Of the panels, awaits an answer.
| Presently she gets II. "COme In" said
Fabinn's voice, clear, Indifferent; and
slowly turning the handle she enters the
room. The lamps arc nlight; u fire II
burning In the crate. At the upper table
Of this room, that II his study. his very
sanctpm sanctorum, Fabian IL sitting
with some papers and books before him.
At Rrst, being unconscious Of who his
visitor II. he does not lift his head, hut
now, seeing her, he rises quickly to his
feet and says:
"Youv' In accents Of the most acute
surprise. Gan ! do something for you y
"rhank you, no." Her little col1 hands
are ncrvously twincd around the b0ox she
holds. Speech has cruelty deserted her;
sob has risen In her throat, and she Il
battling with It 10 6crcely that for mo-
mcnt she can say nothing. Then she
conIucrs, and almost pitcOusly she lays
the book upon the very edge OF the table
nearest her, and says with difiiculty:
II brought you this. At breakfast THU
morning you said you had not rcad II
and tU night knew you would be alone
and th0ught-it N The Europcans'--i
might help you to while away an hour.
Her voice dies away. and again silence
follows II. She " really frightened now
6he has met many men, has been the &C
knOwietlged beauty Of London season
has had great homage laid ut her feet
but no man has had the power to make
her heart weaken, until she met this man
upon whom disgrace lies heavy. 1t II ks
met! She feels cold now, and miserable
/
~ be humbled before her.
1T MAS kind of you to think Of me,
says Fabian. c0ldly; "too kind. But Their
are some matters Of Importance mus
get through tonight, and ] fear ! shall
not have time for fiction"
She takes up the book again, the it'll,
instrument. that betrays his determine
tion to accept no benefits ut her hands
and moves toward the door, Comm,
quickly up to her, that he may open tn
door, he stands between her and It, un,
stops her.
"As you are here" he says. ''let M
look a. You. Remember have neve
seen You dressed for a ball before"
As IL astonished ut his request, sh
stands quite still. and. letting her round
J bare arms hang loosely before her, witt
her hands ciasped. she let's him gaze n
her sweet fairness In utter silence.
takes him some time. Then---
"You are very pale" he says--no more
Not u word Of praise escapes him.
She IL woman enough to feel chagri
ut this, and discomfort. Has her glas
lied ia her, then? One small word of ~
probation, even about her gown. woul
: have been sweet tOsher Mt this moment.
IL she 40 very pale? Is 1t that hi
: white gown does not become her?
quick dislike to the beautiful robe---an,
only an hour ago she regarded 1t wit
positive aifectiOn-nOw takes possession
; Of her.
II am always pale" she says, with sub
, ducd resentment.
"N0t always. Tonight one harll
knows where your dress ends, and wher
1 In Aho ho, hor Il 1,o m 4