Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-09-17

hand toward the culprits--hc could not
bring himself to look at them. Years
ago, Lillian, when you came back here
to the old home, / swore to myself /
wouldn't be the one to cross your woman's
whims. knew you'd have your whims,
or You wouldn't be q woman. Well,
never thought you'd get II into your head
to marry a boy. or I'd never ha' swOre
that oath; but, having swore, I've got to
stick to II: 80 I can't prevent ye. though
In my opinion you're going into the blaxin'
fire after being well nigh frisslcd to death
In the frying.pan. Therc-1've no pa.
ticnce to talk about Il! I wash my hands
Of ye. Madam there can take the matter
up II she likes. I'm off'-and he made
for the window and strobe OF, muttering
to himself, TO the stable.
CHAPTER XIV.
The colonel was staying at one Of the
old.fashioned West End hotels. He had
rushed across France. had spent a few
days In Italy, and feeling the hot sun and
the new customs and foreign chatter irri.
tating rather than soothing. had gone on
into Switzerland. Here the cold silence
Of the snow.tipped mountains. az well as
the Ar woods and the grassy meadows, re-
called the Neilghcrry Hills. the scene Of
his first short love season. He wandered
about the quiet valleys. and watched the
goats browsing on the heights far above
him. There, listening to the silvery tinkle
Of the bells In the stiffness. he thought Of
his old love and Of the new; he thought
Of his past barren bachelor life and of
the happy future he might spend with
his cousin Lillian a. his wife. He would
be a father to Lilith, and son to the
squire and Madam. Then, should he and
Lillian have son. the estate would really
and truly pass on to the squire's own
heir. Surely Lillian would cOnsent-it
wns such desirable marriage for all par.
ties concerned.
Yet. even while Colonel Ware persuaded
himself that he would shortly be an en-
gagged man, he had his nfisRivings. He
went In and out Of the Swiss inns. and
wandered so almlcssly about that he was
called "thc restless Engllshman." At last
he started for home oil In a hurry. and.
directly he arrived In London. telegraphcd
his town address to Mrs. Drew, adding:
II walt to hear from you"
This was curly: London was asleep un.
der a pale blue sky; scarcely q smoking
the summer air. Colonel Ware telegraph.
ed from central Office, where the red
eyed night clerk was just going OF duty,
and was surly at being detained: then he
drove to the hotel, where he waited for a
telegram from Lillian. and revived an old
aud conquered habit OF unlimited bran.
dics-and.sodas and cigars. He had still
the remnants Of Imagination hanging
about his somewhat ordinary brain, had
the colonel: for he fancied how he would
open the yellow envelope and read, In
that peculiarly careless and jaunty hand.
+. writing affected by telegraph clerks:
Come to ua a. soon A. you can''-or
somewhat TO that effect.
II have conviction that she will tclc.
graph." he thought; 30 he lounged about
the hotel In a vague manner, every now
and then gaxlng out Of the window and
turning rcd when he caught sight OF q
telegraph boy. a. he did once or twice on
that long summer day, during which he
began to think the odor Of soup and cut.
let's more disgusting than the odors Of
Eastern towns. and the street cries and
rattle and traffic Of London the most
wcarying clamor no had as yet heard.
| hut no telegram came. That night he
scarcely slept Toward morning he had
argued himself Into o resigned mood;
therefore. when he was awakened BY the
man with hot water and one letter, be
opened the one letter with compOsure.
II thought So" he said to himself bit.
terly. MY luckw
LILLIAN wrote:
"You would not accept my answer, dear
cousin. How ! wish you would never
have spoken to me about my second mar.
riage. How am ! to tell you what has
happened2 Let me begin by reminding
you Of our conversation the evening be.
fore you left 10. We were speaking OF
love; and Il was while we were speaking,
I think. that I felt that I dearly loved
some one, and that this some one wa
not you. At that moment, II could have
told who that some one was, or what
would happen. would have gone away
anywhere-I know that! But be came
shortly after, and he has asked me "a
marry him. and am pledged to do 90
When think back upon II all. Il Seems
sudden, rash, but irrevocable. I disiike
writing this to you, dear GeOffrey, be.
cause think you will despise me for my
weakness; but, remember, you are my
nearest and representative relative after
my parents. therefore I rely upon your
cOuntenance Of this engagement. II you
really intend to marry, you will find &C
many better. prettier and younger wives
than myself that ! almost congratulate
you on your escape. am always
"YOur aifecti0nate cousin.
| GILLIAN DREW.
"P. S.-His name 10 William Macdon,
AID"
At first the colonel had a good, honest
fit Of disgust; he was disguised all round
with himself--as he saw his bronxed
face and short gray hair reflected In the
glass, he could have thrOttled himself fol
what he called his ''idiotic fOlly"-witt
Lillian, for being such u fool as to DO IL
love lat her age, with grOwn-up daugh
ter"-with Heathside Hall and the rec
tory. for having cajoled him into a silly
state-with France and Italy and Swift
xerland for not having cajOled him out OF
it-in fact, with the whole world.
Then came the inevitable reactiOnary
mood. His feelings OF the last few week,
were reversed; he began to think tina
bachelor life In London was rather a gOO(
sort Of thing In its way. He ordered hi,
luncheon with epicurean care. then h,
went to his neglected club. the East In
dian, and met one or two old crOnies. ii,
dined there, and afterward played whist
winning largely.
No man, however rich. objects to vic
tory ut cards. The colonel pocketed hi
J winnings with pleasant sensation that
/ | u.htla an do rau,o tuad nj ha low a., ito.