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


Percy Is only man!'
"Just SO, Bcrta, and being man he Is
strong enough to be trusted"
"You think so?"
II am sure Of it!'
II hope you may be right. dear; but II
he should prove weak enough to be tempt
ed?"
"Then I should he strong enough TO for
less. ! know Percy too well to doubt
him."
"willful Queen Esther. you must have
Jour way"
The girl laughed as she got up. and lean.
ed her elbow on the low, wide mantel.
piece. Queen Esther! In truth there was
something queenly about this sound.limb-
ed, frnnk-cyed English girl-sOmcthins
fresh, and pure, and stately, something
that was far beyond beauty.
Her sister, Mrs. Hardingc, looking up
at her, felt this In a vague sort Of way.
She herself was handsome, placid wom-
an, with splendid figure, which she drap-
cd to perfection, and q low, lazy voice
which most men found charming. She
had married early and well, to her own
s11 her family's satisfaction. She was
anxious that her favoritc sister should
make an equally good and suitable choice,
but the girl was intractablc.
ESTHER" Mrs. Hardingc said, present.
y, II wish you had not chosen to wear
that white dress tonight. As you stand
there you would do for a frontispiece to
Wilkie Collins Woman In Whitc.'"
"Poor mel" Esther laughed. "Shall I
ever please you, I wonderT
She swept across the room to the jardi.
mere and picked deep red rose, with its
pretty fresh leaves about It. Az she was
fastening II In the bosom Of her dress the
door beside her opened, and q servant an.
nounccd "Mr. Stanhopc; Mr.. Fleming"
Just the faintest tinge Of color crept into
Esther Durrant's face. She turned and
met the two men on the threshold.
Mrs. Hardingc, coming slowly forward,
watched her greeting Of them curiously.
"You are late, Hugh" she said to the
elder Of the two; 1--WE were beginning to
despair Of seeing you tonight"
1T Ii Stanhope's fault, Mrs. Hardinge,
that we have been so unfortunate a. to
keep you waiting. He made Us both late
for the $40 down train"
Percy Stanhopc-his eager eyes on Es-
ther Durrant's face--hcard his friends re-
jolnder without defending himself. Il had
not been his fault wholly; but just then he
did not care to explain that TO their
hostess. He had thought for nothing but
Esther Durant's exquisite smiling face.
How II had changed In the past few sec.
onds! Tho tender eyes were like stars,
and pale pink came aud went In the pure
oval cheeks.
The dinner was success, as Mrs. Har-
dinge's little dinners usually were. The
master Of the house was not present. He
seldom was At home, In fact, and his ab.
sence was hardly regretted by his hand.
some, l0w.v0iccd wife. Perhaps he guess.
ed % much, and resented II. Perhaps he
was a. Indifferent to her AZ she was Ia
him. Whatever the cause might be, Jas.
per Hardingc was Oftcner TO be found al
his rooms In London than In bis luxurious
house In Kent.
A. the little party left the dining room
Mrs.. Hardingc first with Mr.. Fleming
Percy 6tanhopc put his hand on Esthcr's
arm and detained her.
"Arc you glad to have me hack, EttyY
Every glad, Percy"
The closc.cut blonde head bent lower
over the dusky one.
'"The time has seemed NO long to me, my
darling. ! have chafcd like a lion Il
chains all these weeks. have not lived
one hour worth the living since left you
Only think, Etty, Il will b. three week,
tomorrow since was down herev'
The girls hand tghtcned on his sleeve
her heart thrObbln2 warmly under III,
dainty rose gave great bound for 10y
The man was her idol; she loved him a,
the good love heaven" He was, In heI
eyes, the noblest, the truest, the best O,
men. TO have won his love was tn,
crown OF her life, aud she often wondered
how she had deserved such q gift,
The girl smiled up ut him, a rapturou,
smile that had the shine Of tears In II.
"Will It last, Percyi"
"While my life lasts, sweetheart"
She swept him low, laughing courtesy
and opened the drawing room door sharpl,
to find her sister buried among the cush
Ions Of her chair by the Gre, and HugI
Fleming. standing by one OF the side tables
examining Sevres plaque 40 II he he,
the genuine "china fever" strong on him
He was standing full In the light, and
90 she came up to him, she was quilt
startled by the rigid pallor Of bis face
They were old friends, these two, ha,
been hons comrades for years before
when Esther was . tiny child, In shor
frocks and sashes.
"Are you III tonight, Hugh?' she ask
ed, pausing beside him.
"Ill? No! What q question:
"But you look SO pale! Do tell me; hav
you been hearing anything to troubl
your"
For an instant his keen eyes locke
down into hers. Then he turned ava
with smile.
II have heard no news OF any sort, good
bad or indifferent, and am as well a
the average human being ever 10, bt
lieve."
"Estherw Percy Stanhope called out.
He was sitting on low stool almost q
Mrs. Hardinge's feet. He affected thes
low seats and careless attitudes, and som,
how they became him.
us It true that Miss Levesque IL con
Ing here on o visit?"
"Perfectly true. expect her to.mol
row."
us that the niece Of old Durcr IL
vesQue Of Lombard streetsT' Hugh Elem
Ing asked.
eyes" Esther replied. Don't You r.
member herr She came home with N
from school one summer, and you tol
Uick that you thought her hOrribl
ugly little thing. Because Dulce has lo'
her money, Berta thinks her the MOI
miserable Of girls! am sure Dulcie he
self would not agree with her."
But Durer Levesquc was reported
be immensely rich, and ] understood thu
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