Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-08-20
CHAPTER VI.

| CHAPTER VI.
The train was speeding fast through
the rich summer morning. London. with
its halo Of black smoke, WINS far bnck In
the distance.
Mrs. Drew was alone In n Grst.clnss
compartment. She leaned back thinking
dreaming little. perhaps. She looked
very sweet and sud. her delicate face
more tcnderly youthful in contrast TO her
mourning dress. and In relief against the
dark cloth OF the railway carriage.
Outside the columns Of white steam fed
,,p rnyly into the sunshine. The rills rip
pied brightly through the meadows, the
yellow corn stood tall. baskinG In the sun.
Cottages glnrcd white. dotted here and
there. and now and then the train went
putting through an orchard, where tho
ovcrladcn apple boughs lay propped above
the grnss aud the pear gnthercrs were
busy. Then they would pass some quiet
copsc where the trees seemed dropping.
us IL In communion with their own shad.
ows.
Tho thought came to Mrs. Drew; she
likcncd these silently growing trees to
herself. II have no one In the world"
she told herself. ''no one Ia tell my tro,.
blcs to. to lem uron, except It be my own
shndow, my thoughts"
Then she thought ~ I.ilith and Of Willie
Macdonald. What IL they should come to
bc nearer and denrcr TO each other? She
hnd seen some cxtrn interest In Willic's
manner. by and By he may love her."
she thought. with II wistful. almost yearn.
Ing recollection Of the genial. handsome
face TINT looked 40 sympathetic. NO earn.
cstly kind. And she? Oh. when 1.ilith
loves. It will be- In TINT dcvouring. pas
sionatc way her father lovcd-that-
woman"
Back ut the old townlct. Mrs. Drew felt
quictcd. more confident. The rector was
standing on the platform. awaiting the
train with IN anxious look, she thought,
She went NJ to him, bug In hand. lie
smiled ~ she came M, seized her bag,
and In minute he WIS driving her home.
There was nothing wrong. he assured
her. ~ they drove through the lanes, un.
der the tall trees. save that. since she
left. the squire had seemed f,igcty an,i
anxious. Madam Wares calm content
had irritatcd rather than quoted him.
last night dined there" continued
the rector. "lic talked Of nothing but
Lilith. Some harm was coming 10 the
lass. alone In That crowded London was
his fixed notion. ! did not argut with
him seldom do. But I did persuade
him not to stand under the broiling sun
In the harvest field ut MONDAY, with only
his felt hat to protect him from the rays"
How peaceful was the grcnt Hall, with
the slowly ticking clock. and a humble.
bee who had made his why In from the
hot flower garden buzzing and booming
slcepily rs he drOwsily sought an exit!
IA she went along the corridor to her
mothers little sitting room. tho lowered
blinds moved to nnd fro In tho breeze.
and she saw hcr own flower garden. a
blaze Of dahlins, hOllyhocks and late roses,
and. beyond. the wigwam and the tall
pOplars. Opening the door gently, there |
was her mother In her little Old.fashioned
chair In the l0w.ceiled room with the huge |
cupbOarts. Mrs. Drew went to her moth. |
or and embraced her more tenderly than |
ever. She fancied, as tho little deaf moth. |
or took on hcr spcctaclcs AMI began a |
string Of inquiries about I.ilith, that the |
withercd cheeks were cold and palc. But |
Madam Ware stontly defended herself on |
tho score OF health.
Now II 1t was your father, my dear."
she went on; and LILLIAN had 70 listen 10 a
long account Of his carclessness, which
seemed so sensclcss. provoking serious III.
ness when he was 80 eXaspcrated at the
idea OF visit from his nephew, or indeed
ut the idea OF Col. Ware at all. "You see,
1t Ia 80 contradictory. my love-" said Mad.
nm Ware, who had resumed her glasses.
md was settling herself to her tine plain
work. I'VE all know the Almighty al
lows but thrccscOrc years and ton ut the
utmost. Your father is nigh upon that,
for he was man In years when we were
Yct one would think, with his
fads aud reckless ways, he wanted TO got
of sooner aud make way for Geoffrcy. He
Is down broiling his poor head among the
II will 10 to him." said Lillian.
She took an umbrella and went braveiy
through the hot, dusty fields. Tho squire
showed her telegram from Col. GeOffrey
Ware which informed the squire that his
nephew had just returned from the East,
anu would run down TO see his uncle ION
Inc day after Tomorrow, IL convenient"
suppose you sent an answer?" asked
Mrs. Drew.
u wrote on the paper they brought me.
do rs You like. We old folks amt Of
any account nowadays"
Then ] think he won't come" said
Lillian. II wish YOU had not been quite
$50 abrupt" she added.
"oh, then You want TO sec the man
who's goin. to turn you ohtY" said the
squire. "You women are queer animals!
III bc bound you'll make fuss with the
upon him and Aatter him
~ soon as my collins In the old vault!
On. yes! What's that they used to sayy
The king II dead-long live tho king!"
Mrs. Drew managed to talk over her
|ather, and left him In his smoking room.
With his favorite long pipe and fresh
'opy OF the County Gazette. to go to her
mother. She had seen by the telegram
hat Der cousin the colonel was to arrive
hat day.
Feeling dusty after her journey, and
Wishing to DO on the spot when the colo
lei arrived. lest he should be received by
'er deaf mother-to whom II was still q
rouble to be misunderstood or bawled ct
MRS. Drew went to her room to change
Ter dreSs. The IN rden WAS ha skiuv In IN .