Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-05-14
CHAPTER XIV,

Six weeks Of silence. Whether Wri-
othesley was In Paris or Timbuctoo was
unknown 10 Marvel. February had come
and gone, bringing It's sweet promise Of
opening buds, and leaving that promise
fulfilled. March had come In, In the or.
thodox way, with the roar Of lion en-
ragged, but after q day or two had sub.
sided Into the tamest Of animals, and was
now all smiles aud swcetncss--tO Mrs.
Verulam's deep satisfaction, as her house
party had arrived.
Marvel, who had a positive talent for
slipping into her clothes aud looking love-
~ In an Incredibly short space Of time,
had Just finished her dinner toilet; and,
going downstairs In the rather joylcss,
e,notionlcss manner that had character.
ixed her OF late, she made her way into
the inner drawing room, which cOmmuni.
Gated with the larger reception room by
means Of hanging curtains.
She sank with thankful sigh into a
low lounging chair, and, In the soft twi.
light Of glorious fire, gave herself up to
thought. She was dressed, as usual, In
a white clinging gown Of lace and satin
that rose close to her throat, but left her
arms bare to the shoulder. She had rails.
ed them and thrown them behind her, 30
that her head could rest upon the palms
Of her Joined hands.
"Do you always wear white?' Wrl.
otheslcy had said to her once. "One would
think you had vowed yourself to some
saint-some order"
She remembered these words now, and
was dwelling upon them with a self.re.
grctful feeling that she had not been 30
vowed In her earliest infancy, when she
looked 10 aud saw Wrlothesley push aside
the heavy velvet curtains and come to.
ward her.
"Weli, you sec I have come back" he
said, with a rather awkward laugh.
She sprang to her feet and stood looking
at him with parted lips and breath that
came and went with glad haste. The
melancholy disappeared from her eyes,
and with q movement Of frank and child
ish pleasure she held out both hands to
him.
"Why," she said-."why'- And that
was all. There was no real meaning In
the foolish word, and yet world OF
meaning.
He did not dare to read It as It was, or
he would have clasped her to his heart
and prevented many q s0rrOwful after
hour; he only took her hands, and bent
over them and kissed them warmly.
II did not know you were herein the
country" she said at last, In rather un-
certain tone.
II suppose not. ! ran down to the Car
rlngtous' yesterday, and, after capital
run to-day, found myself close to the
Grange; SO ! thought I'd look In for q
moment to see how you and Cicely were
getting on"
He spoke with quite severe assump.
tion Of indifference, and naturally 1t an.
gered her.
1T was good of you," she said, with q
little Icy smile. "But how foolish to come
so late! How will you be back In time
for their dinnerP 1t IL quite a quarter
past eight, I should think, now"
He pulled out his watch and looked
at 1t.
ny Jove, so It is! ! expect had bet
ter be on the move again." he said; but
he did not rise from his seat.
III you will dine here" she began, cold
~.
"Oh, no, thanks-not for the world!
They will be expecting me at Caring.
tons. It--er-isn't much of ride thers,
and they don't dine tonight till nine."
1T IL quite ten miles" she said, severe
".
II suppose you want to get rid of me-
fising at last, with short laugh. "Well.