Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-01
CHAPTER XIX.

1t was a sweet, dewy evening atter the
eultry day. The rural homestead, covered
with climbing roses. looked as II nothing
but peace could possibly stay within Its
white walls. The trees leaned protect
ingly toward the matched roof; two doves
were cooling and preening their plumnge
near the chimney stack. from which the
blue smoke rose In a steady column. for
the next day would be baking day." and
they were heating the lnrge brick oven.
The rector looked at the house and
sighed; he thought Of the narrow grave he
had gaxed into but few hours since, and
he said to himself. perhaps It Is better
to be there, unconscious Of sin, misery and
suspense. then even here" or the Hall,
Of the squire. madam, Lillian, he had not
the heart to think since that awful threat
Of mischief to those-his dear friends
had met his eyes.
He took Colonel Ware through to his
study, drew up the blind. then went Into
his escritoire. unlocked II. and silently
handed the colonel letter. =.
The direction was In clumsy printed
characters. So was the Enclosure, which
was a half.shcct Of note paper. Inc
colonel frowncd Rerccly as he read.
ITO the Rector Of lleathsidc:
'Sir-1 beg to inform you that Captain
Drew, the lawful husband Of the squire's
daughter Of Heathside. did not die. us re-
ported, last year, but Ia still alive and In
lunatic asylum In Italy. This 10 from
"A WELL WlSHER."
"A hoax!' said the colonel vchcmently.
"A hoax on the facc Of t!' he turned
the piper over and over. There was
neither address nor date. "There IL II. U.
on the envelope" he said-the postal dis.
tricts had been recently established-"and
that IL oil the clew the rascal who penned
this has chosen to give US. There u
neither stamp Of the makers name nor
waternark In either paper or envelope.
he went on, holding them In turn to the
light. "The wretches knew what they
were about. by the way" he added,
returning the papers to the rector. what
became Of those old drunkards who be-
haved 90 brutally to their daughterT'
1.-THE father and mother Of that won.
ant" Intercepted Mr.. Nawson. Il took
care to let the parish authorities know
about them. They had absolutely no clew
70 the whereabouts Of the children-nor
Of their daushter-unless she gave It
them. The wretchcs wrote to Lillian,
begging once or twice, but insisted on
her taking no notice." .
"Then they have tried another method
Of blackmailing," said the colonel. This
ID their work"
''rhen the first step IL to find them" re.
marked the rector. with CLEAN Of hope.
''Our 6rst step In to tell Macdonald"
said the colonel, rising, aud walking to
the window.
"Tell-Williey' said Mr.. Rawson.
ashast. "Surcly, We can manage II al
without half killing the poor fellow with
suspense! Think. Geo6rey-consider!
"Our Hrst step 10 to tell Macdonald" re-
peated Godfrey Ware dosRcdly. unless
We drop being men Of honor ana turn
traitors. You are not looking the situa.
ton In the face. man. William Macdonald
must leave Lillian-at once"
"l.eave Lillian? oh. my poor girl-so
delicate still-so dependent ON him!
HE has q frst.ratc excuse just now.
His affairs require his presence N town;
the lawyers cannot do without him."
but she knows he could 20 backward
and forward" said the rector. THAT
wouldn't satisfy her about the 'epara'
tion."
''Then there must be some other valid
excuse"
His mother was looking Ill.," said the
rector. But where are you going Y'--for
bis son.in-law took up bis hat, and was
moving toward the door.
'Uniess you are dealing with soldiers,
II you want thing done. do It yourself"
answered the colonel dryly. "Sending q
message to the Hall by one Of the farm
men-Or worse still. by one Of the maids-
would mean a bungle. shall bring Mac
donald back with me In trap and break
the news to him at once. for there II nc
time to lose. He must accompany me
back to town tonight" he added signih.
cantly. HE must not spend one hour N
the Hall till all this IL cleared up"
'Oh. my poor bairns. my poor bairns!
sroaned the rector. wOfully, a. he heard
Geoffrey's footsteps grow fainter In the
distance. "Will the consequences Of that
miserable mans sin never come to an
end? They were-they are-heaven helT
them-so happy, no innocently, virtuously
happy, and here IL the serpent again, Il
sting them MORALLY perhaps this timer
His grief, az he buried his face In biz
hands, would have been still sharper, hii
self.rcproach that II was he who had been
instrumental In bringing Lillian and VIII
lie together still more bitter. II he could
have seen them ut that moment.