Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-08-06
CHATTER [.

and black eyes that had Il sort of fcrocity
in their intent gaze. She was the only
grandchild of the popular Squire Ware:
and there was not u more popular couple
than the rubicund. jolly squire and the
kind little old lady madam. his wife. for
miles around. There was always "A wei.
come for guests at the old stone Hail. ut
1lcathsilc Hall there was open house.
Then Iilith's mother. the beautiful Mrs.
Drew. who had mystcrously rcappcarcl
In her fathers home some years after her
marriage with the inshing young Guards
man. Captain Drew. and who. with the
child Lilith had lived there In scclusion
ever since. held the county sympathy by
reason If her worse than widowhood.
People looked upon Lilith's clcvcrncss
as somewhat witchlikc. They could not
forget that the dark. handsome scoundrcl
who had loved and won the county belle.
Lillian Ware. and had aftcrwarl hrutally
deserted her and clorcd with an actress.
was Lilith's father. When good old ladies
talked about Iilith over their tea. they
would cliaritahly say that, Ii she WINS ugly
which was an uniouhtcd fnct-it was Il
mercy that she was nothing worse. Still
there was time set even Tor that. they
would sorrowfully add. with hatcd breath.
II was the eve of her fifteenth birthday,
warm. still summer evening In June.
She had iincd with her grandfather.
grandmother and mother. hut had been
dnrkly silent during the meal. Ordinarily
she burst out with all the thoughts which
had agitatcd her restless mimi during the
dny. with her quaint fnncics-which the
squire would laugh ut or listen ~ rs his
humor prompted. while deaf Madam
,,,,,
expressions upon her loved ones faces.
and placid Mrs. Drew would hang upon
this curious ,"ing's queer words. In her
chronic wondcrmcnt how this dark.
strange. clever creature came to be- her
own child. her one. only possession In life.
But Tonight Liliths mind was oppressed
with the magnitude of the birthday favor
she was about to nsk. Ii had been the
spuirc's custom to grant one request of
hers on the eve Of each anniversary of her
birth. ns it came r"und-providrd always
that II was in his power to grant the de-
sired favor
That evening. ms soon MS the men SER
wants had removed the tnblccloth. and the
four were alone. sitting round the polish.
ell mahogany table laden with silver
dishes of ru,ldy Strawberries and other
June fruit, he leaned hack In his chair.
tucking his thumbs into his armholcs.
gave u long. low chucklc rs he looked nt
Lilith. and said:
"Wcll. little mistress. your old grand
father hasn't forgotten what day II Is TO.
morrow: nor you cithcr-ch, wcnchY What
urc you going to rob me Of this timer
You stole my heart the first birthday. you
know. There's nothing III that sort left
mind that. Come, ont with it,
II shan't say IL out. l will whisper Il,
II you like" said I.ilith.
"Hoi,y-,oity! Here's mystery for you!
Here's nccromuncy and what s.its-nan
Mother mustn't hcar--ch. L.il?"
The squire was always childishly graft.
fed by any ones confidence. however triv-
ial. So he willingly lent his cnr. hut,
ms Lii,h whispered. he looked puzzled.
"Eh-what do you mcanT' he asked.
I.ilith whispered again--thcn suddenly
Few out Of the room.
"Shc said, Give me myself Is any
thing wrong with the lass? Has she gone
cranky: What does she mcan;' asked
the squire blnnkly Of Mrs. Drew.
II think I understand, father" said the
faded hut beautiful lady, her thin checks
flushing lust a little. "She wants to 10
away"
"Whcre-whcrc on cnrth to-" cried tho
squire hastily. "SchoolI Didn't l say
she ough, 70 20 TO school long ago; She's
toS, old now. Just like all you women.
When you're wanted To do u thing, you