Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-09-10
CHAPTER XIV


men who possess any energy when they
desire somewhat with the whole power OF
| their being. and. desiring. turn all thciI
efforts to obtain. be It fortune, fame, su
| premRcy or wife.
Willie Macdonald was In the garder
early next morning when Mrs. Drew en-
| tered II as usual He came out from un
/ der the chestnut tree where the two gar
den chairs were placed. and. taking hei
garden basket aud scissors from her. said
"Sit down.
She gave an embarrassed laugh. as II
he were In jest. treating her rs II she were
some little schoolgirl; but she sat down.
nevertheless.
Give me those gloves" he said.
Certainly not" she answered.
But he simply seized her left hand and
drew Of the thick glove she wore when
gardening. kissed II. and laid 1t In the
empty basket ut her feet.
THAT one will do" he said. holding
her struggling hand. ut Ii Of no use
struggling" he went on. tightening his
grasp. and fixing his eyes upon her. you
may wrigglc aud wri,hc and fret. and
put yourself aud myself to great deal
Of useless trouble: II will be no good;
mean 10 have you. ! love you-you love
me"
~ did not say So" interrupted Mrs.
Drew. flushing. II was going to speak
to you seriously about yesterday. At
the moment I was too surprised, too-toO
shocked" she said. trying to be digniRed.
"Y0u were very. very ungcntlemanly"
~ mean 10 be- still more So" announced
Willie coolly. lie had seized her ring.
finger. and was drawing on her wedding
ring and the gunrd her faithless husband
had given her shortly after their engage.
mcnt. DO you sec thisT-putting both
rings into his waistcont pocket. you
have said good.by TO that farcical emblem
Of q broken tie. You will not see those
rings again In a hurry. You will wear
this"-dra wing a ring with a single dia.
mond which had belonged to his dead
father from his finger, and placing II on
hers--"till can place another one there"
~ cannot. You must not talk thus"
said Mrs. Drew. half yielding. half amaz-
ed ut this taking Of herself by storm. "You
had no right ycstcrlay--to call me by
that name! I AMI mean. have been
II wife,
mo: TINT ! deny" replied Willie firm.
". "'rhat miserable union was n fiction.
What do I snyY II was more; II was an
outragc--an outrage upon the holicst,
most beautifu tic In nature. You have
yet to learn what that II; but you shall
learn. I have sworn 10 myself that your
life shall be full Of joys-sharcd with me;
full Of kindness, help to others. shared
by meat least. all the toiling. difficult
part-and that no grief shall enter your
beautiful heart ill II has spent Its fury
In mine first.
"You are too hard upon me-" said Lii.
lian. II was as II her power Of resistance
had gone from her with her poor rings"
az she had sndly called them to herself
sometimes. "fou forget I am so much
oldcr--ycnrs older than you are. Then
what would people say? 1t would lead
to n family quarrel. Fancy my father!
! cannot think Of Il: Il Is absolutely i'm.
possiblc!'
Willie smiucd to himsclf--nn clatcd lit.
tie smile. He had scarcely expected On.
pitulation 10 soon. For he knew that.
when a woman begins to argue with q
OF their being husband aud wife, she has
virtually capitulated.
Here the breakfast hell rang and recall.
w AbtI"u oTcW W tue scube VI Tue ut
ness Of things.
"Give me my rings. Don't let us talk
nonsense. Here Ii yours" she said. hold.
Ing out Willie's ring. with a pleading
look. "Comc-thcre's a dear boyw she
added. speaking as she had spoken-half
In jest--when he was weak invalid and
almost childishly obstinate. do not
make me look ridiculous"
III It were only matter Of seeming
! should have an easy task be.
fore me In carrying you of In triumph"
Willie. rising. and taking some
steps toward the house. but taking no
notice Of her 0utstrctched hand holding
the ring.
Lilith. pale. serious, with large. dark
circles round her tired eyes. read her fate
In those two faccs-faces that were both
no dear to her apart. but the sight Of
which together thus was almost insup.
portable. But Madam Ware prattled to
Willie, and the squire. who was going to
q sale OF yearlings ut stud farm some
miles away, hurried through his break.
fast. both Of them utterly unsuspiciOus |
Df the startling disclosure that awaited
them.
CTO be continucd.)