Chicago eagle., 1898-07-16

trees, and the slippery dew.wet beneath
her feet In the lane. They were oil o
part Of the horror Of the night-thc horror |
that seemed to be beating in upon her |
brain, and folding round her heart, and
sitting her.
II was a long. weary walk TO the sta.
tion. Her feet felt like lead, and her head |
thrObbcd di1xily. When ut last she reach |
cd the foot Of the stone steps leading up |
to the platform, she had to rest and get |
breath before she could climb them.
She found tho station almost deserted. |
The one or two people walking about |
took no notice Of her, and she was thank. |
ful for it-thankful to be able to creep |
into second.class carriage without meet |
ing any one she knew, or any one who
knew her. Then the train dashed on
again, right into the heart Of the night, |
and she leaned her head against the cush.
ion behind her, and closed her eyes wear
ily.
There were two middle.nged men In the
carriage who looked like farmers, going
up most likely to the early market. They
were talking together about an accident
that, Il appeared from their remarks, had
lately happened on that line.
Dulcie scarcely understood all their
words. They spoke with the slow Kent.
ish accent, and she was not paying much
heed to them or to their conversation.
Poor chaap." one Of them said; "bclike
he thought little Of dying when he start.
ed."
1T came on him sudden" the other
struck In. "And some sa'as It 'ud be good
fur us arl TO die like thaat."
"Nay, nay, man; cnan't think that
myself; else why should We pray every
Sunday to be saved from sudden deathr'
''Somc one had died suddenly, then.
Some one, perhaps, who was happy, and
wanted to livc," Dulcic thought. "What
a sad. sad world II Ii, TO be surew
Then she shut her eyes again. and the
throbbing pnin In her head, growing worse
with every Jolt Of the carriage. deafcned
her cars to the talk going on about her.
How would II have been II she had list.
cncd--listcncd and understood?
CHAPTER XVII.
When Percy Stanhopc left Dulc!c he
had gone direct to the station. He took
the shortest way to II across tho country,
80 that he reached It fully half an hour
before his train was due.
This half hour he spent sitting on a
bench outside the ticket Office. The stuffy
Arst.class waiting room would have stiacd
him. lie was feeling strangely exhausted,
both In mind and body. Lord Harvey
came across him sitting there. and stayed
to speak to him. He thought him st!R and
distrait to degree.
1T has been an abominablc day" Percy
said. ''and I feel tired out.'
"You look tired! You have been to The
Elms. Of course! How Is Miss DurrnntY"
! "Quite well, thanks" flushing q little.
| Tho other looked at him In surprise.
His coat was wet, and his boots muddy.
He had evidently walked long way.
Where could he have been. II not to The
Elms to see Esther? But Lord Harvey
was not man to trouble himself about
other peoples affairs. He was far from
being In high spirits himself that evening.
ail his pride or will could subduc--had east
or and stcrncr than usual. a man nusterc
to a fault, as he lifted his hat to Percy,
and turned away.
In five minutes more the London train
steamed into the station. Then Percy
StanhOpc reused himself. Tho train, not
q very long one. appeared full from end to
end. He opened the doors OF several cur.
riagcs, aud finally got into smoking com.
partment, which, for wonder. was emp.
ty. But he had not gone there to smoke.
He wanted to be alone for q while to
think. He had bccn In whirl Of passion
In which thought was impossible: but now
he was cooling down, and there was the
future to be considered. Two. three stu.
tions were passed before any one came to
disturb him; the fourth was u junction.
When the train slackcned speed. two gen.
tlemen opened the door OF his carriage
aud got In. One OF them was a young
mun, slightly lame. lie had TO be helped
up the step by his companion. and, when
he got In, he stood a moment, us II In
puin, before he could sit down.
A. he rested thus, his eyes fell upon
Percy Stanhope's face. and Instantly his
own blnnched to ghastliness. lie stag.
gered, and would have fallen forward but
for his cOmpaniOn's arm.
"What Is II, Gus? What Is it?" the
young mans friend cried, sharply.
But the young man could not speak
He pointed to the quiet figure opposite,
and then dropped down In the seat behind
him.
Tho train was beginning to move on,
A guard put his head In ut the window
Of the carriage ut that moment.
Something wrong here, guard. This
gentleman has tainted, or clsc"-droppinp
his voice, and stepping back u little way
-"Or else, he is-dead."
"He Is dead, Robert" the young man
said.
!, He was trembling violently. He had
lately been very near to death. to sudden
awful death, himself, and this shock was
too much for him. In truth the sight OF
that handsome clay-cold face might have
shaken the nerves OF fur stronger man
In another minute all wps confusion
Strong hands-careful and tender In their
strength now--lifted out the quiet figure
that had something stark and chilly abou,
It. They carried the burden into one OF
the waiting rooms, and sent for doctor
One lived close by, and was Oh the spot
Immediately. lie cleared the room ut once
Of ali save the station master and his
wife; but the man who, thrce-quarters OF
an hour before. had taken his ticket FOL
London. had reached his journeys end
Percy Stanhope was dead.
, Then the question arose, "W'hO IL hep
. No one knew him personally; many rec
Ognixed him as a frequent passenger OF
that line. The guard who could have told
who he was had gone on with the train
, His card case was empty; there were NJ
} letters or papers OF any kind TO tell wht
he was, or whence he came, and for thu
! time ut least all curiosity respecting hin
was batfied. OF course there was an In
n,Haat Thon II wns fn,ini that ha yvo,