Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-22

Well, we are both glad. l am surc-es'
pccially Barbara! I have just been tell.
ing her some news which has startled her
a little. Her uncle. Lord Elsdale, wants
her to 20 and live with him as his daugh.
ter" he announced. adding, as the elder
woman placed her arm around the girls
waist, "that Ia right. take care Of her. The
news has startled and upset her: and"
His voice, calm and unbrOken until now,
but with a strange information In II which
thrilled the hearts Of the hearers, failed
him suddenly. With one glance at the
beautiful bowed head he turned a way and
left them. passing out Of the house into
the fast fading light Of the dying day.
CHAPTER V.
A group Of people were standing on the
platform at the station Of StouSton, a
large town In the Midlands. lookie6 after
the down train, from which they had
just alighted. a. IL steamed slowly away.
There had been some delay In removing
their luggage from the van, and the task
had only been Just completed when the
train glided out Of the station. while q
midlle.aged. grave-looking individual
counted the trunks and imperials which
Besides the servants. OF whom there
were scvcrul-footmen In livery, a lady's
maid with an important looking Jewel
case. and a French valet-the party con-
sisted Of three gentlemen, Of whom one
was old and two were young. and q young
lady, q tall girl dressed In gray, with a
gray gauge veil twisted round her hat and
tied under her chin, who, apparently II.
different to her surroundings, stood hold.
Ing great bunch Of roses In her gloved
hands.
A servant In livery. hurrietly crossing
the platform, approached the shorter and
darker Of the two young men, and ad.
dressed him In some haste aud with evi.
dent trepidati0n. The old gentleman,
who had turned to leave the station with
his compan mons, stopped testify:
"What IL Il. Sinclair" he asked, In q
cold. clear. incisive voice.
'"rhere has been some mistake about
the carriage. my lord" the young man
answered, turning to him respectfully. 1T
In not here yet"
mot here yet! How Is that? We IRE
not before our time. are wcy'
Slightly behind II, my lord. fear
that Mrs. Fairfax has made some mis-.
take about the hour"
Lord Elsdale knitted his brow angrily,
and glanced under his thick. white eye.
brows ut the lady In gray. as II to inquire
what she thought Of the cOntrctemps. She
had taken no apparent heed Of what had
passed between the earl's secretary and
the footman: but her proud. fair face had
lost some Of Its Indifference, and she was
smiling slightly ut something the young
man beside her was saying.
ut IL hardly likely that Mrs. Fairfax
has made any mistake" Lord Elsdale said
CURLY. 1T II very strange! Barbara.
do you hear this? 1t seems that there are
no carriages here from the castle. 1t ID
most incomprehensible"
mo carriages!' the girl repeated, her
brOws contracting. THAT II strange!'
perhaps there has been a strike In the
stables" said the tall. fair man, laugh.
ingly. II wonder II can be- OF any 40.
sistanceY Will you see what vehicle they
have sent from Firholme, Arnaulty"
"Thcre 10 dog.cart only, my lord" said
one Of the fOotmen, interpOsing, and pre-
venting the smart Frcnchman from de-
parting on his masters errand.
"A dOg.cart only! Miss Hatton. will
you trust yourself to dOg.cart ard to
me ?"--the last three words were uttered
softly, as he bent slightly toward her.
'"rhank you, Lord Keith; but do not
think need trouble you. The carriage
will probably be here In a few minutes,
Had we not better wait for them, Uncle
Norman
ut seems to be HObson's choice" re.
piled the earl. modify. evil you come
into the waiting room, Barbara?"
She gave pretty mock shudder as the
question fell upon her ears.
"Oh, please, no, Uncle Norman, the sta.
ton IL bad enough. The very thought a
the waiting room IL unbearable. We
should be stifed there"
"YOu will be choked with dust here "
observed Lord Elsdale.
1T IL the lesser Of the two evils" she
responded laughingly; "but We need no,
detain you, Lord Keith" she added de-
murely. as her uncle turned away, and
putting his hand on the arm Of his private
secretary, began sauntering slowly up the
platform.
"Detain mew the young man echoed
with glance Of tender reproach. "You
will not be cruel enough to dismiss me AZ
ter being cruel enough to refuse me the
pleasure Of driving you to the CASTER"
1T Ia out Of your way" she said.
"Out Of my way! FirhOlme Ia two
miles further ont! he exclaimed, eagerly
''The evening Is SO fine, You would enjoy
the drive"
They were sauntering slowly side by
side In the wake OF the earl and his Sec
rotary. the girls bouquet looking the
fresher and roster from Its grimy sur
ruOndings.
ut would not be very dignifed to make
my first appearance at Elsdale In dog
cart, would it?"
rs It really your first appearance? How
Is 1t that Elsdale has never been hOnored
by your presence befOre?
A faint warmth flushed her cheeks, and
she bent her face slightly toward the
roses she carried.