Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-11-12
CHAPTER ri.

do you not know me?"
The words, spoken half incredulously
In Barbara's sweet, tremulOus voice,
broke suddenly upon the silence; and
Mark Robson started to his feet, recalled
by their sound to the reality Of the mo.
ment. But even then he made no move
ment toward her, but stood with bis un-
injured hand upon the table, looking at
her with strange expression Of mingled
gladness and pain.
do you not know met" the girl repeat.
ed. ''Oh, Mark, have you forgotten Bar.
baraY'
"Forso&teuw
There was something In his voice a. he
uttered the one word which brought the
color to her face, and her eyes sunk be.
meath his case.
How could tell" he asked, quietly,
''how I was to greet your The last time
We met II was you who did not know me.
I waited now to know whether, ~ was
natural, you had not forgotten me-"
How could forget y66" she asked
unsteadily. But I have been forbidden;
and you babe me be Obedient."
"And you have remembered my bid.
ding" he said. "1hat In well; but how
ID II that, remembering II, you are here p
Because could not rest without
knowing" she returned hurriedly. II
heard Of your hcroism. aud l."
my heroismv' he echOeti, with q low.
gentle. mirthless laugh. Have the p.
pers been exaggerating, as usual? There
was no herOiam--nO need for your solici.
tude, although"-his voice softened--"I
am grateful to you for It,"
Barbara drew back a little. keenly hurt.
1t had been SO difficult for her to come:
she risked her uncle's anger, Lord Keith's
displeasure; she had stopped to deception
to explain her visit 10 Stourton; she had
seen something like suspicion In Blanche
Herrick's glance at her when she had
laughingly declined her company for q
drive; she had suffered so much anxiety
during . lDng sleepless night that she felt
q sense Of injury and was almost angry
with him for his cold reception Of her.
But you were hurt" she said, hurried.
"; "you are suffering much. You look IN
you are 90 changed"
IAN I? The passage Of years changes
every one. Time has changed even you, u
he returned.
"Am I changed?" she queried, a faint
blush tinsling her checks.
80 changed that, II I had passed you
unrecOgnixed, 1t would have been but nat
ural.
But you suffer-" she murmured. trem
ulously; "you were hurt. The papers said
nothing about that, and"
my hurt II slight; 1t Is not worth men
tionins. Does Lord Elsdale know tina,
you are herei"
A CLEAN Of terror flashed into her eyes
"No-oh, no! He would not have al
lowed me to come, and knew It was use
less to ask his permission"
"Then you have come secretlyy'
"Yes-I was obliged to do 20; and
II did not think you would stoop to de.
ception."
She flushed deeply, then grew very pale
Deceit was not unknown to her In heI
new life; but, remembering the high sense
of truth and honor which had alway,
guided him, she felt shamed that hs
should know Of her untruthfulness.
II must not detain YOU" he went on
quietly. "Your visit here, without tn,
earl's knowledge and sanction, 10 an i'm
prudence of which had not supposed yol
could be guilty. am not unmindful Of
the kind thought which prompted It; bu
! cannot encourage you to deceive you
uncle"
With passionate gesture of offense
she moved from him; then almost imme
diately her old reverence for him cam,
hack to her. She turned to him again
her eyes bright with tears.
"Oh, Mark--Oh, Mark, forgive me" sh,
cried passiOnately.
"There can be no such word betwee1
us, Barbara" he said. with quivering Hips
calm as his voice sounded. You passet
out of my life entirely when you left me
and was content to have 1t so, since !
was best for you. ! would not willingl!
have crossed your path again, and but 70
this accident ! should not have seen 70,
now. ! am sorry, though ] think an
| glad that you remembered me kindly ami
retained sufficient interest In your oil,
friend to come to me-just once"
A. he held her hand In his, his eye
rested ON her with tho look Of love AMI
tenderness which had never lett them
Herr sank before 1t; she felt herself q
false to him, 20 unworthy Of bis esteem
and regard.
"Tell me Of YOURSELF" she went o.
softly. "Have you been well? Are yoV
suffering much now, Mark? Were y01
much hurtf It was so terrible to think 0
your danger"
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