Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-12-31
CHAPTER XVIII.

It was never very clear to Barbara
whether long or short period of time
elapsed before her head was gently raised
by two strong. tender hands. and her tear.
blinded eyes looked up half fcarfully into
the face which was no familiar and so dear
to her. Newell Hatton. looking down,
saw very woe-bcgonc little countenance.
pallid and tcar-stained, with omin0usly
Quivcring lips, and. 40 he raised the girl
to her feet. he noticed that she trembled
violently.
He put her gently into a chair and took
one Of the little hands and held Il tenderly
In his firm clasp.
II was some minutes before Barbara had
sufficiently recovered to realize that she
was alone with Lord Hatton; but when
she did 20 she rose unsteadily and tried
gently to disensage the hand he held. Her
effort was vain. however; he held II ten
derby. but firmly. In his grasp.
"Stay one minute. Barbara" he said.
II need not detain you longer, perhaps"
I'll am not WE'LL" the girl urged. fee
bly,. again trying to disengage her trcm-
bling hand, while her heart was throbbing
violently with mingled Joy and pain and
fear. for there was tone In his voice
which had never characterized II since he
became Lord Hatton, but which had often
softcned It In the old days at Rose Cot.
tagc. when he had been her guardian and
she his ward.
II will not distress you. dear" he as
sured her, In his gentlest tones; but. Bar
bara. this 10 matter Of such supreme mo.
ment to me that must be selfish and dis.
regard your wishes. Why have you sent
Everard Keith away SO unhappy
A slow tingc OF red crept into her palc
face; the long, dark lashes lay upon her
cheeks as she looked down at the Indian
prayer.rug on which they stood.
"You have seen him?" she asked. fai.
tcringly.
Yes, have seen him, dear. Have you
no other answer to give him? He Is very
unhappy"
She shook her head.
"What has dictated your answer, my
childT" he continued. "You are not let.
ting any wounded pride stand between
you and your love, Barbara? II you are,
you will be sorry when perhaps It will be
too late"
Again she shook her head.
"Ie has gone away not only unhappy,
Barbara, but he has given up any hope
that by and by you will change this de.
cisi0n which has affected him 30 deeply.
DO you wish him to be hOpclcss?"
EYES,"
"And"-he breathed more quickly now
40 he bowed his head lower over hcr-"you
are sure. quite sure. that time will bring
no change to yOu?"
YES" she answered again.
"H0w can you be- surrey" he asked alb.
ruptly. "A few weeks ago you loved him,
did you not? You had promised to be his
wife,"
II do not love him." she said almost sui.
lenly.
"You have soon changed"
II think ! never loved him." she re.
sponded. with sudden passion. II thought
! did once; or, II ever loved him, my love
10 dead. But did not love him. did not
love him.
"Y0u are sureY"
"Quite sureT
Tho room was dark around her a. she
raised her eyes to his with one wild ap.
peallng look which told him all; but the
place was full Of light and Joy to him a. he
caught her In bis eager arms and held her
close to bis heavily beating heart.
"Barbara-my darling--is 1t so IL deed p
he murmured, his face TRANSPORTED In hia
great Joy; and for moment Paradise Il
self seemed open to the girl In bic arms.
After brief pause, she tried 70 release
herself