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

hand, while Lady Hilda sat down with
despair In her heart; II was quite useless
to say more, her only hope had lain In the
duchess refusal. knowing her dislike to
divorces; now that hope was ended, and
she stood face to face with reality. The
days and weeks were like one dream Of
pain to her; the earl came twice and they
talked quite freely Of their future before
her; they discussed II, where they should
live, what place they preferred; there
were no secrets. =.
She had read Of tho extremity OF human
suffering; che had read Of men being brok-
en- on the wheel, torn on the rack. but II
seemed to her no one had ever suffered as
she did while she listened to them. II
must not be. Her temptation was to 30
away and leave them, to let them marry.
and hide herself from them forever; but
there was her conference.-the could not
drown Il, she could not deafen It. 1t
spoke loudly. and she must listen; her con.
science told her there was but one thing.
only one way, and II was to make herself
known.
The duchess gave elaborate orders for
her trousseau; June passed. Il was tho mid.
die Of July, still Lady Hilda had not
found courage to make her appeal. She
must do II. she saw no possible way out
Of tho ditIiculty-there was nothing but
death or disclosure. She could not stand
BY and see Lord Dunhaven marry the
duchess, while she. his wife, was still liv.
ing-that she could not do. The only al.
Tentative was to tell tho duchess oil and
throw herself on her mercy-tell her the
truth and then she would see herself that
the marriage was quite impossible.
II was the end Of July when q letteS
from the earl announced his coming.
II hope to be with you tomorrow" he
wrote, "although my movements are very
uncertain. l am going to Havendale;
think Of asking you to spend our honey
moon there"
The duchess read that sentence to Lady
Hlldu, who answered never word; she
was stunned by the near approach Of the
tragedy.
'He likes to surprise me-" said Duchess
Lurline, "and want to talk to you about
my marriage. You must Interest yourself
you must listen. Although ! am JUS,
twenty I cannot dress like bride; sup
pose there can be no pretty veil ant
wreath for me. ] must have bonnet
How old I shall feel In q bonnet!'
Then she looked up In utter wonder. fol
Lady HIlds had fallen on her knees o
her feet, with passionate tears and pas
sionate cries.
II cannot bear itv she cried. Oh
heaven. help me to tell her! ! canno
bear It'll"
The duchess grew very pale and grave
"What 10 itw she cried. "YOu frightel
me. Has anything happened to-him"
Such passionate cries, such bitter tears
such q white, woful face!
"Do not brighten me-" said the duchess
"tell me what II wrong. Have ! grleve,
you by speaking Of my marriage"
Then the white arms chung around he
and hot rain Of tears fell on her.
my darling. do not speak, do not thinl
of your marriage; 1t can never be. lie
me tell you, and yet, oh. II would he easie
TO die. Lurline. II ! could die. I would
II I dared kill myself, ! should not tel
YOU, would rather have suffered an!
death than have lived to tell you this.
must tell you. Lord Dunhaven spok
to you Of his wife-did he nOt?"
"That shadow" said the duchess, scorn
fully. "What 10 she to you, that yol
should always think Of herY
'Can you not guess, Lurline?"
mo, ! cannot guess. What IL she /
you, this girl2 Why do you speak OF her
DO you know anything Of her? Tell ms
You must see that suspense tortures mt
DO you know her?'
Eyes, l know her. Lurline. All, grea
heaven, how we'll! He told you who sh
wss-Lady Hilda Dunhaven. the oil
.earl's daughter. oh, Lurllne, darling, d
not hate me. do not turn from me. ! az
his wife,"
There was one minute Of dead silence
then the duchess. all white and trenl
bling. unclasped the arms from her nee
and flung them from her. She sank Int
a chair that stood near her.
"You! You trsitor!' she said. "YO
traitor! ! will not believe It! You ar
not his wifev
Nothing but passionate tears answere
her--nOthing but passionate cries.
"YOu traitor! she repeated. "You hav
lived under my roof. smiled In my fac'
called yourself my friend, knowing THU
But do not believe It! I will not beliey
TIT 10 all false!'
CHAPTER XXI.
"Iisten to me, Lurline; you have neve
found me false. treacher0us or untrue
Why should have told you my secret
When ] went to live with you In tha
gloomy northern abbey there was n
thought then OF your ever coming to Lol
Inu. how shOuld I Lro,,, th.k vo,, xvOul