Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-05-28

come, hurry in now. Have you forgotten
that you are hungry"
mo, that have not. It IL a very pleas.
ant want, can assure you."
When Mrs. Hardinge came home, she
found the two girls in Esther's room,
lounging back in low chairs before the FIRE,
and talking as girls only can when they
have known each other for years, and
have been parted for a while. A rosy
light from the west came in through the
wide window, and mingled with the red
glow Of the fire.
Esther" Dulcie said presently, laying
her cup down and looking across at her
friend with q smile In her eyes, what
about this lover of yours? Is 1t quite true
that you are engagedT
II believe So"
The girls face flushed 50 hotly as she
said II that the smile deepened percepti.
bly, In Dulcie's eyes,
"Wcll, tell me about him, dear"
"Oh, there Is nothing to tell, Dulcie!
1-really-" stammering.
you are In love with him, ! hope?"
"Of course" with a little stare Of sur.
prise and hotter blush than ever.
Then Esther rose, and going TO q little
fancy box on the dressing table, she took
from 1t large silver locket attached to
chain.
"That Is his likeness" she said. softly,
coming back TO the hearth, and laying the
lockct open on her friends hand.
As Dulcie leaned forward to examine It.,
Esther slipped down on the rug ut her
feet, and with her elbows on her knees
looked up Mt her. As she looked at her,
snsso uevrA En- hnR
face had changed at sight Of that pictured
face, In Its plain silver setting, till Es-
tAer half wondered II her own eyes were
not playing her some trick. 1t could not
he, she thought, that Dulcie's face had
really looked like that. 1t was some
shadow Of the freight that had deceived
her eyes for an instant.
Surprisc-dismay- swept over
the piquant, blooming face, which the red
light showed out so plainly. The bloom
all died out Of Il; the arch look faded. In
their place came a stony pallor, rigid
look that was wOeful.
At last she looked up, and caught Els.
theirs surprised eyes watching her. She
smiled wanly, and held up her hand, % II
10 shield her face from the Arc-glow.
"Hc is sood.looking, Etty. I don't think
I ever saw q handsomcr face"
"But he 10 better than that" Esther an.
swcrcd, with fond, shy pride In her lover.
HE Is 10 noble and faithful, aud-and-
tender, Dulcic"
Dulcie shivered a little.
us he, my darlingP am very glad.
He could hardly be too good for Queen
Esther" softly smoothing the fair cheek
10 close to her own. And then, laughing
| a little harshly-'1 only hope he Is not a
veritable King Ahasuerus TO your Esther!
lie did not have another queen before
you. did he, ETY."
II don't understand you"
"You cmcmber--don't you?-that Kine
| Ahasucrus had put away one wife be-
cause she had will Of her own before
ever he took unto himself the fair Jewish
maiden!'
"Percy never had WIFE,"
"No"-with q hooking laugh: but hi
may have had sweetheart, ETY."
| II think not. I am sure not!'--a little
coldly, rising and putting her locket care
fully back into its case.
| Dulcie answered nothing to that. She
seemed suddenly to have grown quite
chilly. for she crouched forward nearer
the fire, with her elbows on her knees
and her chin buried In her little pinl
palms. Once or twice she closed her cyci
as II they smartcd. and Il even seemed al
II there were line Of moisture on tn,
long fringes. But that could scarcel,
have been. for Dulcie had often boastet
that she had cried as little In her life ai
III she had been a boy"
Presently Mrs. Hardingc came back fo
her tea. The gus was lighted, and tn,
talk went on again briskly; but never once
was Esthcr's lover mentioned.
Dulcic's boxes had been taken into Es
Tiers room. and the two girls dressed TO-
gether. Mrs. Hardinge-hcr own toile,
made-canic back to superintcnd theirs
quiet a. usual, but critical.
"What dress must ! put on tonight
BcrtaT' Esther asked. turning round--s
cleaning white vision, bare-armed ant
hOuldcrcd-frOm the glass.
"YOur blue cashmere, ] think, and II
lend you ruby fan; It will 20 nicely with
H."
"3lue and rubyw Esther laughed. "Yo,
are determined I shall not lack color to
night, Berta."
Meanwhile little Dulcic was busy pick
Ing out from the well.packed boxes tn
dress she wanted. When Il was laid on
on the bed Mrs. Hardinge's quick eye tool
note OF Il. 1t did not please her, perhaps
for q kind OF puckcr came between he
dark, straight brows.
Yet It was q very pretty dress. II wa
of Genoa velvet; the darkest tint OF greel
lit looked almost black In some lights
soft, rich. exquisite to touch and sight
The bodice was cut very low, with tigh
sleeves reaching to the elbows. and Their
were the prcttiest lace trimmings abou
the bosom, md falling loose aud ligh
about the dimplcd arms.
Esther called out In delight at sight o
tor rather Dulcie In it-for II was tn
girl that she admired more than the dress
"You are perfect picture, Dulcie! Eve
did not know you were 20 beautiful
And you look 80 quaint. too"
In the drawing room the gentlemen wer
already waiting, Hugh Fleming loungin
In low chair by the fire, Percy Stanhop
at the grand piano. playing snatches Q
Weber, and fragments Of "Songs viii
out Words"
Both rose as the ladies' entered, and bot
pairs of eyes turned instinctively tOwar
the little figure that followed Esthc
looking smaller than usual even by col
trast.
Hugh Fleming was the first to be intr'
duced to Dulcie. Then Percy StanhOT
came forward slowly and stood before he
"Mr. Stanhope--Dulcie! My dear frien'
Dulcie Levesque-Percy," Esther Durral
said In her low, clear voice.
; And Dulcie lifted up her eyes and lool