Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-12-24
IA FATAL WEDDING.
b. L0kzse Rn1kom.

which were beginning to culver: and Bar
bnra, too weak for resistance, swallowed
II obcdiently. and % obcdicntly sank to
sleep again, a sweet, dreamlcss sleep
which brought healing and strength with
II. Having watched her long enough to
know that the slumber was the natural
sleep they longed for and not the swoon
they dreaded. the lady went softly to the
door and whispered a few words to an
anxious watcher there, which sent him
away with q feeling of unutterable thank
fulness.
And then che came back and resumed
the work she had thrown aside, a restful
look On her kindly face replacing the anx.
ious expression which had been habitual
there during the long five weeks of obliv-
ion which had been granted to Barbara
Hatton--weeks during which those who
loved her had mourned her almost as dead.
When the languid white lids were rails
ed again, the dawn Of the following day
was breaking In the eastern sky, the fire
was burning brightly. the lamp was care
fully shaded. Mrs. Fairfax, her white
cap and kcrchisf as carefully arranged as
IL she had just left her room instead of
having passed a long, anxious night, was
seated by the bed: and then 1t seemed as
IL the kindly old face melted away to be
replaced in n moment by the other kindly,
tender face on which Barbara's eyes first
rested.
"Goody" the girl said: and. although
her voice was very faint. 1t was quite au-
dible.
"Ycs. dear. You have had a nice Sleep"
cam at Rose Cottagc?" asked the
faint low tones. while the dark eyes wan
dcred fecbly. around the room.
mo, dear" Mrs. Claverng answered
gently. "Iou have been i'll. and I have
been nursing you"
"lll!' repeated the girl. "Havc I been
long illY'
"Not very Tonga little while" Mrs.
Clavering answered soothingly:. have
been anxious about you. dear child. and
us fer all our care. You do not suffer now,
Barbara"
mo; but am so tired!" Barbara said
wcarily. rs she let her white lids sink
over her languid eyes; and Mrs. Clavering
wondered II memory. with its attendant
suffering, was coming back. and hoped and
prayed with oil her anxious heart that Il
would delay Its return for awhile until the
euISeUtcu ITuuc WIZ Uetter uDIC Dear
the horror 1t might bring with II.
But even now. though the fever had left
her, and the great dark eyes were no long
or bright with its luster, and the rambling,
broken words which had been so terrible
TO listen to had ceased. there was the
gravcst cause for anxiety In Barbara's
intense weakness. She seemed, as the
days went by-such slow. anxious days
to the household ut Elsdalc-especiaily 10
to the two men who loved her NO tcnderly
to regain no strength: she lay with clos.
cd eyes upon her pillows. needing nothing,
mute and motionless. In scmi-slcep. semi.
stupor. which sometimes dcepcncd into a
| long. death.likc swoon which caused the
| physicians great anxiety. and made them
| wonder II she remembered the trouble
which had preceded her illness. and was
letting hcr misery rctnr,i the recovery for
which they so earnestly strove. Mrs.
Clavering and the kindly old housckcepcr
, wondered also; but Barbara said nothing.
| The sweet snd eyes were rarely opened,
and the pale lips were parted only to utter
few words OF thanks or apology for the
trouble she gave.
"Shc must b. rouscd." DIR. Close said;
''almost anything would be- better than
this indifference to everything. She Is
drifting away In spite Of all our care"
Christmas had come and gone. and a
new year had begun during those weeks
OF darkness and oblivion: and one morp-
Ing Mrs. Clavcring cane into the quiet
room where. Barbara lay. bringing bunch
Of fresh white snow.drOps with their deli
cate green leaves. with which she touched
Barbara's lips. The girl opened her Ian.
guild eyes, and then frightened little at
sight Of the sweet harbinGcr OF spring.
Lord Elsdalc has sent them. dear, with
his love-" Mrs. Clavcring said. In her most
cheerful voice. "And Doctor Close says
you are to get up for short time to-day"
''ro get upy' Barbara questioned, a
shade Of fear coming into her eyes. Then
she said pettishly, Il can't get up am
too weak"
doctor Close says not" Mrs. Clavcring
returned In her most mattcr-Of.fact tones.
"And, Barbara, there are ono or two gen.
tlcmcn very anxious 10 see YOU who arc
not to be admitted until you are In your
dressing room. Lord Elsdac has some
wonderful news for you, dear"
But. GOody"-thc fra!l little fingers let
fall the snow.drops and closed over Mrs
Clavering's hand in fierce, fevcrish clasp
eff l get mp, will they not come--and
take mo away"
And the words told Mrs. Clavcring wha,
the girl had dreaded. ana what had re-
tardcd her progress to recovery.
Dear" she replied. II have been want
Ing to tell you: but we feared to agitatC
You. Al! that is settled. There was Il ter
ribc mistake, which has been fully cleared
up: We need not mind how just now
When you are stronger. You shall know
all about it,"
"And Mark murmurcd the sweet quiv
ering lips.
Mark Is well, and would be quite hap
py, Barbara. il you were BETTER
"Is he here?"
ooh. yes, Of course he Is here" replied
Mrs. Clayering. smiling as she STOPPED
and touched the sweet lips with her own
As Newell entered, she turned and saw
him; and, by great cxertiOn of her feeble
strength, she rose to her feet, stcadyini
herself by u hand on either arm Of he
chair; then, as he came up to hcr, she fol
with little cry into his outstretche,
arms, and burts into passion Of tear
upon his shoulder, while the young man.
eyes were dim as he bowed his head owe
hers. Mrs. Clavering went away quietly
leaving thcm together.
Presently. when the passionate sob
which brought such relief TO the over
charged heart had subsidized. Newell pu
her gently into her chair and knelt dow
by her side, looking at the sweet waste,
| facc with ewes so full of tenderness nm,