Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-04-30


| Seven! I thought II was midnight, y
she said, with little bursting sigh.
All her tears seemed gone from her now
when she would have given q good deal
for the relief Of them, and, though her
heart seemed bursting, she found no
means to ease II.
Wriothesley took no notice Of her
words; he trudged on In an impenetrable
dumbness that frightened her more than
all the cutting speeches In the world could
have done. The wind still roared around
them, the cold was intense, the way
through the rough, unused pathways al.
most unbearable; but he took no notice
Of anything, save that, when once she
stumbled, he clutched her arm more Arm.
". He asked no questions Whatsoever,
and appeared quite dead to the fact that
Savage walked beside them.
At lest he latter could stand Il no loog.
| er.
II think II IL a. WE'LL" said he, a. In.
differently AZ he could, shat you should
know how this unhappy delay occurred"
Wriothesley made no reply; he walked
on, IN fact, 10 though he neither heard
nor saw the speaker.
II have no doubt you are annoyed"
said Savage, quietly, keeping his temper
which was by no means a good one
By . superhuman effort. But for Lady
WSiothesley's sake II Il Just a. well that
you should know what happened. We
went to look at that tower, found the
door open, and went In very naturally to
see what was there. While up stairs, the
door, driven by gust Of wind, slammed
to; the bolt shot into It's place, and left rs
prisoners. Had you not come, we would
have been prisoners STILL"
Not Q word from WriOthesley.
"You understand T'-from Savage, who
began to feel that he would like to muir.
der him.
Entirely" said Wriothesley, slowly.
4 regret very much that I have been
The cause Of considerable anxiety to LAZY
Wriothesley. 1t was quite my fault that
we entered the tower at all. I hope
sti0y-"that you will believe how very
much reproach myself In this matter"
Il understand that, too. and also that
your feelings on the subject ore not Of the
slightest consequence"
1T was not Mr.. Savage's fault % much
- he says" put In Marvel. hurriedly, In
q frightened, nervous tone. II was the
first to express wish to sec that old
ruin; and, though he dlssuaded me, and
said how late II was, I persisted, and"
Nevertheless II was my fault" per-
sisted Savage, rather unwisely defending
her from herself. II knew better than
you did the time Il would take to reach
home, and I should have prevented any
deviation from our path"
"Are you apologixing for Lady VII.
othcsleyw asked Fulkc, suddenly, In a
slow, incisive tone that made Maryers
blood run cold. Even Savage seemed i'm.
pressed by Il to an uncomfortable degree.
Certainly not" he said, with consid.
cradle spirit. apology would be out of
place for either her or me. An accident
ID an accident-no more, no less. I was
only afraid that without word from mo
you would not be able to grasp the real
meaning Of a very awkward situation.
Lady Wriothcsley, too, was afraid her
absence might cause remark; and-and Of
course ! think Il well you should know
exactly how II was that she and wcrc-'
"Sir," interrupted Wriothesley, with In.
describable hauteur, "prny spare yourself
further explanation. The door shut to
without asking Lady Wriothesley's per.
mission, and 30 kept her prisoner against
ucE WItts % . uuh vulte ubbuTeOs IL IL
altogether unnecessary that you should
enter Into details OF any sort; the story
begins and ends there. am perfectly
aware. without your seeking to impress Il
upon me, that Lady Wri0thesley Of her
own accord would never cause her friends
anxictyy'
Nothing more was said after that.
Wrlothesley Quickened bis pace, and.
hAl Ae0 4
arm, she was compelled to hasten hers
also.
At last the lights Of Verulam came to
her through the trees; and, frightened
though she was at all that would inevita.
bly, await her within doors, she hailed
their appearance with delight.
They all three reached the steps and en-.
tered the hall--the door lying wide open
without encOuntering any one. Savage
turned aside In the direction Of the II.
brary, where he knew all would be AZ.
sembled at that hour, and Marvel made
direct for the staircase. hoping to escape
to her room without u further lecture;
but Wriothesley forestalled her.
II should like to speak to you for mo.
ment," he said, III you will come In here"
He did not leave It to her, however, to
reject or accept bis proposal, for he
caught her hand % she hesitated, and
drew her into the empty morning room.
Marvel. with little chill at her heart
and feeling utterly unstrung, followed
him. When he had brought her into the
room, he let her hand 90, and, closing
the door, looked hard at her.
"HOw long ID this to 20 ONT" he said,
IN cold, incorporating tone.
"This! Whatr asked she, rather con.
founded. She expected regular scolding
for her misdemean0r Of the afternoon.
and this question. coming so suddenly,
puzzled her.
"Your friendship with Mr.. SavageY
Don't be angry with Nigel" she said,
earnestly, but timidly. ut was not his
fault at all. Oh, yes"-putting up her
hand az she saw him about to speak with
q terrible accession of wrath upon his
brow-"l know he said It was; but as
sure you II was ! alone who wanted to
see that old tower! He tried even to keep
me from going there, but It looked so
quaint, 80 lovely In the twilight. that |
could not resist It. Aud then the door
closed as you know; and then"-growing |
agitated-"I thought we should be left |
there forever; and-and the time went on |
until thought all hope was over; and |
then you came, and That was all In |
deed. It wasn't that forgot the time;
u was only that couldn't get home; and |