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

Percy is only n man..
"Just SO. Brrta. and being a man he is
strong enough to he trusted"
"Sou think soI'
81 am sure of it,
81 hope you may he right. dear: but If
he should prove weak enough to he tempt
edl'
"rhcn should hc strong enough to for
get him, Brrta: hut your fears are ground
less. know Percy too we'll to doubt
him."
"Willful Queen Esther. you must have
your 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 quccnly about this sound.limb-
ed, frank-cycd English cirl-somcthing
fresh, aud pure. and stately. something
that was far beyond beauty.
Her sister. Mrs. llardingc, looking up
Al her, felt this In n vague sort Of way.
She herself was a handsome. placid won.
M. with splendid figure. which she drap-
ell TO perfection. and low. lazy voice
which most men found charming. She
had married early and well. TO her own
and her family's satisfaction. She was
anxious that her favoritc sister should
but the girl was intractablc.
esther" Mrs. lIardingc said. present.
y, 81 wish you had not chosen to wear
that white dress tonight. As You stand
there you would do for q frontispiccc TO
Wilkic Collins Woman In White"
"Toor me-" Esther laughed. "Shall
ever please you. I wondcrf'
She swept across the room TO the jardi
Mere and picked deep red rose. with its
pretty fresh leaves about II. As she was
fastening IL In the bosom Of her dress the
door beside her opened. and II servant an
nounccd "Mr. Stanhopc: Mr.. Fleming"
just the faintcst tingc of color crcpt into
Esther Durrants face. She turned and
met the two men on the threshold.
Mrs. lIardingc. coming slowly forward,
watched her greeting of them curiously.
"Eou are late. Hugh" she said TO the
elder Of the two: 'wc were beginning to
despair of seeing you tonight"
at IL Stanhopc's fault, Mrs. Ilardingc.
that We have been so Unfortunate as TO
keep you waiting. lie made us both late
for the $50 down train"
Percy Stanhopc--his eager eyes on rs
Their Durrant's facc-hcard his friends re-.
joindcr without defending himself. 1t had
not been his fault wholly: but just then he
did not care 90 explain that 20 their
hostess. lie had thought for nothing but
Esther Durnnt's exquisite smiling face
How II had changed In the past few sec.
onds! The tender eyes were like stars.
and pale pink came and went In the pure
oval checks.
The dinner was q success. as Mrs. liar.
dingc's little dinners usually were. The
ipastcr Of the house was not present. He
seldom was nj home, In fact. and his alb
scncc was hardly regretted by his hand.
some, low.voiccd wife. Perhaps he guess.
ed as much, and resented II. Perhaps he
was ns Indifferent to her as she was 10
him. Whatever the cause might BE-. JAS
per Ilardingc was oftcncr 20 he found at
his rooms In London than in his luxurious
house In Kent.
As the little party left the dining room
Mrs. Hardingc first with Mr.. Fleming
Percy Stanhopc put his hand on Esthcr's
arm and detained her.
"hrc you glad TO have me back. Ety.
every glad, Percy"
The closc.cut blonde head bent lower
over the dusky one.
"'rhc time has seemed SO long 20 mo, my
darling. have chafcd like u lion In
chains all these weeks. I have not lived
one hour worth the living since I lief; you 4.
Only think, Etty, Il will be- three weeks
tomorrow since ! was down hcrc"'
The girls hand frightened on his sleeve;
her heart throbbn2 warmly under the
dainty rose gave II great bound for joy.
The man was her idol; she Loves, him rs
the good love heaven" lie was, In her
eyes, the MODEST, the trucst. the best of
men. 10 have won his love was the
crown Of her life. aud she often wondered
how she had deserved such Il gift.
The girl smiled up at him, u rapturous
smile that had the shine Of tears IN il.
"Will II last, Percy"
"Whilc my life lasts, sweetheart"
She swept him u low, laughing courtesy,
and opened the drawing room door sharply
20 find her sister buried among the cush-
ions Of her chair by the fire, and Hugh
Fleming standing by one Of the side ablcs,
examining u Sevres plaque rs IL he had
the genuine "china fever strong on him.
He was standing full in the light, and.
as she came up to him, she was quite
startled by the rigid pallor Of his face.
They were old friends. these two, had
been hons comrades !or years before,
when Esther was tiny child, in short
frocks and sashes.
"Arc you III tonight, Hugh" she ask.
ed, pausing beside him.
III; No! What question"
But you look SO pale! DO tell me; have
you been hearing anything to trouble
youT"
For an instant his keen eyes looked
down into hers. Then he turned away
with u smile.
II have heard no news Of any sort, good
bad or Indifferent, and am as Well as