Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-03-12
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
round the house the wind was shrek.
with mournful vehcmence, now and
n flinging great drops Of rain against
,indow panes. The moon, which half
our before was shining with exquisite
anfy, now lay hidden behind banks
.eavy clouds; and the Rtful gusts Of
that swept round corners and moan.
trough the pine branches betokened
n before the morning, while up from
"A came the sad monotonous roar Of
ayes us they Numbered against the
rocks.
Chere IL thunder In the air." said Lady
.ary, looking up thoughtfully.
Lady Mary looked older than she really
was; but her face was still beautiful In
lie Of years of trouble and ill.health.
she was a tall, stately woman with se.
serely aristocratic features and the dis.
Il .insuished air which cannot be acquired.
She was knitting placidly. Occasionally
be raised her head to cast a glance Of
Da6ected tenderness upon lad Of about
en- who was bending over a book at
all table near. He was Lady Mary's
Nephew, the son Of her dead brother, and
the last Of his name. In him-this youth
ful earl-all her hopes were conferred; and
she lavished upon him a mothers love
she who had never been mother.
A changed expression passed over her
face 40 thu storm developed. On Just
such q night a. this her brother, Lord
,Wriothesley, the father Of the lad before
her, had been thrown from his horse and
brought home to the Towers lifeless. On
such night two long years back her true
love, TO whom she was to have been mar.
ried on that day week, was drowned OF 1t.
David's Head. Alas, for such storms as
these! They BODIED no good to the old
race to which she belonged, and which
seemed to be now fast drawing to Its
close.
"What a night" said Lady Mary, with
nervous start.
II like IT," said the lad, holding his head
erect, a. though enjoying the warfare
without. "What q sea there must be on
te-nightv'
He pushed back his chair and walked
toward the window nearest to him. Half
y way across the room, however, he came to
ttandstill. His face turned pale. and
bis eyes wore an eager, strained express
sion, 40 though he were listening for
something. At the same moment Lady
Mary cried out abruptly:
!.What was hatf"
She, too, had risen, and now moved
nearer to the boy. Her tall figure was
D drawn up to it, full height; her fine eyes
shone brightly. All the petty tremors
that had shaken her few minutes before
were now gone, having given place to q
sudden feeling Of strength and courage.
She stood calm and sclf.possessed, al.
though anxious.
Above the storm they had heard a shrill,
\ wild cry, which even now, though faint
ID wailing, was strong enough to pierce
riotous war Of the gale and the dash.
Z, Of the rain drops upon the gravel with
II was the cry Of q child In sore dis.
Il sounded more plaintivc and
every moment, but Il seemed to be
'ug nearer to the house.
summon the servants; Il II some poor
azure In distrcssv cried Lady Mary
king o rapid movement toward the bell
mo, NO; will 90 myself" said the boy
alking to the window that opened on t.
long balcony.
I'm this storm, Fulke--In this rain
Oh, no, darlingv' she entrcatcd; but ha
vas not listening to her.
Lord Wriothcsley pulled open the case
ment with vigorous hand, and there
shivering In the darkness, stood forlorr
looking little thing that made Lady Mar,
and her nephew SILVER.
Il was child--a mere babe. Tho cloal
that had been wrapped round II had falleI
'ack. and now the pretty. rounded. uplift
ID arms were wet with the rain. The soft
fellow locks that should have been SOM
nother's tenderest pride were tangled ant
vet. The small face looked shastly, ant
fesrs fell from the little ones eyes, Will,
6asplng sobs came from her lips.
The next violent gust Of wind dashe,
The poor little wait against the side Of tn
,pen window. Tho tiny baby hand
iutchcd convulsively at the wood work
ut no cry escaped her lips then. He
rength seemed gone.
1T II q child--a childw cried Lad
ary, In compassionate tone. hurryinl
the window.
The little one, however, had caugh
Iht Of WriOthcsley, and held out he
ms to him. As he ran eagerly to he
d carried her into the warm room, Oh
ITO him a1ectionately, and uttered
ish sigh Of relief that went straigh
the boys heart.
The little wet arms clasped bis necl
, frightened face was pressed againl
, shoulder. She was too young to res
q; but she knew that she was safe
was WIN IrlenOs. Jne ram no IOn8e
Dc her feel cold, the bowling wind ceai
70 drag ut her cloak, and, better tina
else, the awful darkness was gone.
lady Mary took her from Fulke, place
on the hearth rug close to the cheer
and shook the rain from her hal
clothes were found to be wringin
!, 70 q maid was hastily summoned
thes were produced 1T for the tiny vi
r. use, borrowed, no doubt, from til
I'd woman at the lodge. whose babis
emed to swarm oil over the place. HI
city hair was dried, and shOne now
lampllght like threads Of gold; an
,r large, grave, wistful eyes-melanchol
,es for tiny mortal who could not ha,
zen more than four years 0ld-lighted u
singularly pretty face.
When Lady Mary questioned her as
name, she would say nothing beyor
quaint m0nosyllable that no one cOu
,derstand. ING" It sounded like; b.
Q most enlightened English folk cou
IKE little Of that.
j confess II IL too much for me-" sa
dy Mary, who was feeding the chi
her lop with an abundance Of tea al