Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-03-26
CHAPTER VIII.

simply but very cxquisitcly and expensive
~ dressed, and she was rs calm and sinil.
ingly sclf.c0mpOscd as though loves tn.
mults were unknown 10 her. She rose ms
Wriothcsley entered, and greeted him
with precisely the proper amount OF gray
ity due to a young man who had recently
lost his mOther--fOr Lady Mary, she
knew, had been quite that to him.
Il was wondering when you would
come" she said.
He looked at her quickly. When he
would come! How strange her tone was!
Had she forgotten?
ibid sou get my n0tcT" she went on.
"NO? Oh, am 10 sorry about that! You
must have thought me 10 cold, 80 unfcel.
ing; but nowadays don't you think the
postal arrangements arc very dcfcctiveI
I wish you had had that note; but even
without II, dear Wriothcsley, you know
you had my sinccrcst sympathy oil
through.
ibid you think I ought to have GOMEZ"
he asked, clinging In dull way to her
first sentence. Perhaps he had offended
her by obeying her too closely and keeping
away until the day named. He hoped 10
with o passion Of which he himself was
hardly aware. He had heard nothing
more that she had said-only those first
words.
20, no; In the circumstances I could
not have expected or desired that you
should call! I hope I am too much your
friend not to know when to ciIace my.
SELF" She smiled her usual brilliant,
Accting smile. "lndccd, I did not dare
TO think should have the pleasure Of
seeing you again for quite long time
10 come. But you have been very good to
me. DO you knOw"--lcaning toward him
-''the very last thing expected was to
see you to.dayT'
what did Il oil mean1 Why did she
sneak to him like that2 His friend! How
strange II all was! He fet daxed, con-
fused, and o surging sound came into
his ears and tormented him. The very
last thing she had expected! Then the
singing sound died away, and he found
himself quite calm and cold. She was
still talking, her soft trainante voice was
subtly sweet 10 ever.
''Though personally unknown to me,
feel from all I have heard that Lady
Mary Craven was friend not to 10 re.
placed"
"You are right" he said. gravely; Lady
Mary's was singularly perfect nature
IAN her acquaintance say that. And
the little girl, the pr0tegc- Of her?''
'.rhat II a matter that has been trOu.
bling me-" he said. "She IL such child
that Il II Impossible to make her under
stand certain things. Yet Of course she
cannot 20 on living at the Towers In the
old way. hardly know what to do with
her"
"Why, marry her. Of course!' said Mrs
Scarlet, laughing. "That II the best and
readiest way to solve such problem ai
that"
''You are jestinR," he said. very slowly
"Indeed am not. Why should you
think SOL II all that we outsiders hear Il
true, she was well named Marvel BY
you; she II q very vision Of loneliness, !,
she pot2 Why, how conscious you look
I do believe that that marriage scheme
has already suggested itself to YOU"
"Your usual sightedncss II at foul,
there" said Wriothesley, with a mirth
less smile. "rhe' only way out of the dit
6culty that has suggested itself to me hal
been my marriage with yourself"
"And, by the bye. as to that" she said
m II suddenly remembering something Of
trivial importance, II have been thinking
Il over, aud have come to the conclusion
that II wouldn't do! 1t wouldn't do q
all. Was this the day told you to call
But Of cOurse-how stupid Of me to let !
slip my memory! Welr'-smiling-''yO,
have had an escape. Much reflection ha
revealed to me the fact that you were bOrl
to he the husband Of u better woman thar
am."
WriOthcsley was staring at her, lookinl
very pale, but not Offering to move from
where he stood. She glanced ut him fur
lively, and saw something In his eye
which SO far affected her that she did no
care, or else feared, to look again.
"Y0u don't mean word of all that,
he said at last, with suppressed violenc
In his tone-"you sha'n't mean 1t! ID
you hcar?"
"Pcrfcctlyv--with feeble attempt a
laughter. but, after all, ! do mean u.
Something has happened" he persist
cd; "what IL It? do not cntreat You I
change your mind about all th!s--but
must know"
III you really expected to have a di
fercnt answer" she said In Icy tones,
can only say that deeply regret it,"
ado you? That is very good of yO'
It ID more than one should hope for thu
you should feel regret. Great heaven,
no Hurst out, with passion that move
her, hard-hearted as she was, ito thin
that the earth should hold such wOme
a. you! You who have let me kiss va
and have kissed me back again, you VII
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