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

Even now, well into the middle Of bois.
ferrous March a. It was, the weather still
maintained q smiling face. This day was
almost warm II one contrastcd II with one
Of fortnight before; there was perfume
Of primroses In the mir, and delicate fern
fronds were beginning to peep In shaded
corners Of the shady woods.
Mrs. Verulan, who had disposed of
most OF her guests by sending the women
to look after the men, who had gone shoot.
inG IN the early part Of the morning, stood
ut the window of her summer parlOr, and
ut last, cmboldened by tho sweetness Of
the view without, flung the easement wide
and leaned out to enjoy the keen, flower
scented air.
Marvel escaped after awhile from the
merry crowd, and wandered aimlessly In
to one Of the smaller rooms that opened
on the library. She stood In the window,
gazing mutcly out on the fast-darkening
gardens, and gave herself up to the
gloomy misery of the moment.
lnstlnctively she put up her hand and
drew the lockct from her neck, and gaxed
as II fascinated upon the pale cynical fea.
lures hidden within It.
She started violently as hand was laid
upon her shoulder, and another hand seix-
ed upon the fatal locket and took It forci.
bly, from her.
"Brooding, as usual, over the irrevoca.
blc," said Wriothesley, angrily. Good
gracious, what q senseless woman you
are! Can you not grasp the fact that
what Is 10, and that not all the protesta-
tons and bemOanings In the world can al.
ter It? shall destroy that talisman of
yours some day; II only works you evil"
He flung the locket from him us he spoke.
on to the middle OF the table nearest him.
$50 let your forcbodings co." he said.
"They cling too fast for that" retifned
she, with sad smile.
"COme out of this cold, uncomfortable
room. See-the fire Is quite dead! No
wonder you have worked yourself into a
fit Of the blues!'
He led her through the folding doors
into the library beyond, which was empty,
but rich In the possession Of glorious fire.
He closed the folding doors again and
pressed her gently into the depths of a
huge armchair that adorned one side of
the hearth.
A moment later the doors communicate
Ing with the room they had just left were
again flung Open--violently this time-and
Mrs. Scarlet stood on the threshold. She
looked old, haggard, wild. She held some
thing clutched In her right hand, and, as
she advanced into the room, she held II
out to Marvel. 1t was the battered old
locket that Wriothesley had taken from
his wife and flung sngrily upon table.
"Nhere did you get thisy" she cried,
hoarsely. us 1t yours? Speak, grip
ut Is mine--yes," said Marvel, going
forward quickly, as II to take It; but Mrs.
Scarlet waved her back.
"Where did you get it?" she demanded
again. "Why do you hesitate? Answer
mel command you!
Marvel drew back and glanced ut Wri.
otheslcy, as II frightened, as II implOring
his support.
"Pray try to control yourself when ad.
dressing Lady Wriothesley." he said, with
look Of Unsurpassed anger directed at
Mrs. Scarlet, III indeed"-cOldly-"it be
necessary that you should speak to her
at all."
"Do you hear me? Answer!" said she,
precisely az though she had not heard