Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-09-17
BY CHARl OT1eW. ORAEHE.
CHAPTER xiv.-,Continued.,

CHAPTER X1v.-tContinued.D
"Can I speak to you. sirT' was Willie,s
first shot as the squire rose from ms
chair and was fumbling In his pockets ior
the marked catalogue OF the sale: ms
thoughts full Of a certain bay colt ne
knew a neishborins farmer was sweet
upon"
.spcak to me. iadT' The squire could
not and the paper, and was racking MS
brains as to where he could have put II.
"Why. I'm of to the stables: but. IL you
like TO walk down with me- Bless me,
there's the thingw he said. diving into
his brooches pocket aud drawing out the
catalogue. Here. come along. lad!' he
went on, going out In a tremendous hur-
~. "Whnt II Il? Going homer
Not 10 the home you mean. squire.
certainly" said Willie. ut depends upon
you. to a certain extent"
The squire. who was going steadily
down the path that led through the or
chard to the stables, his empty pipe be-
tween his teeth and his hands In his pOck'
cts, looked round somewhat startled.
"What are you talking aboutT' he ask.
ed sharply, thinking that when he said
to himself the lad was daft he might not
have been 10 fur from the mark.
II want your consent to my marriage
with your daughter-Mrs. Drew" said
Willie. slowly and distinctly.
BLESS my soulv' exclaimed the squire.
40 taken aback that his pipe dropped from
his mouth and shivcrcd into pieces on the
gravel without his noticing II. "You don't
mean to shy ms you want to marry a mar
ried woman--a widow, I mean-a boy
like you? There. hold your tongue like q
sensible lad, dye heart I'm not angry"
he added practically. looking askancc Mt
Willie "a he took Of his hat nnd mOpped
his forehead. Il know you've got your
senses all right enough, except just where
the horse-mischievOu brutc!-kicked
you. He's left bee In your bonnet" he
went on, with confused compassion. 'ltll
be all right when you're home with your
own folks. Only. for mcrcy's sake, don't
go talking like that to the women! Dye
hearY'
The squire was forming vague plans OF
sending for the rector to convey this
young mailman away at oncc-away any
where. out Of the wOmcn's why.
Hell be asking me for madam next,
or the childw he thought.
II have spoken to Mrs. Drew" said the
young man, quietly, "and she was aware
that was about to ask you this. 1t ID a
mere matter Of form, Of course; she Ii Of
age"
Upon my wordr' cried the squire, his
temper rising as he began to recognise
that this was something more than
freak Of an injured brain. Il wish to
heaven the colonel was here to take ye to
task for q piece Of impudcnce! Marry
you. indeed! Why. my darter, II ever she
marrics again, II marry her cousin, Colo.
mel Ware-my heir! But what am think.
ing Of, parleying with young fellow who
comes to me aud darcs say my Lillians
a jilt! There's many man I'D knock
you down, sir, for less than that. But
don't forget you're my guest; only. II you
don't give me your word that this fools
talk don't 90 any further Thcre-what
am talking OFF, he went on, looking be.
wildered. you say my only gal-my own
gal-has told boy like you to come and
who's never done anything that wasn't
sensible, whose opinion I'd ha' taken on
any subject before that Of any man
know, girl though she isf You want me
TO believe she's been playing fast and
loose with her cousin? Why, her mar.
riage with my nephew the colonies been
the talk Of the country r0und!' The
squire paused. breathless.
Willie felt q Jealous pang. His love for
Lillian Drew was too passionate not to be
keenly-ay, and even unreal onably-
Gus. II was this first attack Of Jealousy
which led him into an unchivalr0us &C.
ton. He took Lillian Drew's rings from
his pocket, and, holding them out, said
significantly:
"T .ao. sir vou reauire nroofa that
am not liar!"
There lay poor Lillian's pearl and dia.
moud circlet glittering In the sun. The
squire recognised the ring at once; bis ex.
preston changed.
"Now. cir, perhaps you believe me-"
said Willie, rep0cketing the rings.
mo, cir, DON'T" blurted out the squire
II remember seeing q play once where 0
poor innocent girl come nigh to her death
through o villain hiding himself In her
room and stealing OF her arm while she
lay asleep bracelet her husband had
given her. I'm not one certainly to say
as stage plays and real life's the same.
But what can happen In one can come to
happen In the other. don't say as you've
stolen my gals rings-far from It; but I
do say-and mcan-as won't take any
mans word against any Of my women
folk.no, not II 1t was king on his
throne! And, IL you've got a spark OF
q man left In you after betraying my gal
to me by showing me rings which, II she
had "a given them to you, ought to we
been kept sacred between your two selves,
you'll come back to the house wi me now
and let me hear what she's got to say In
the matter!"
"Willingly," said Willie, turning and
keeping pace with the agitated old man,
"Why, II It isn't your father back again,
and In one OF his tantrums! said Madam
Ware; while Mrs. Drew rose and opened
the long window.
The squire gave her look of angry In
Quiry; then he turned to his wife.
1--WE come back" he said. "This young
gentleman here has scared me finely, COM
Ing after me with a rare tale. Egad, my
girl, don't half like to tell ye! Here"
he went ON, turning to Willie, "I've no
time to spend on follies. Out wi the gals
rings and beg her partion!" Then he stop
ped short.
Mrs. Drew bent her head; she was red
to the roots Of her gOlden-brOwn hair 10
the murder was out! She could lima CINE
that her father had disbelieved Willie till
the rings became u necessary piece OF
evidence.
why, you don't mean to say as its
trueY" The suuire'6 blue eyes blnsed M