Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-02-26

classes 0rc--rcady to benevc anytning 10
the detriment or discontinue Of their s,i-
Icriors."
"Mr. Lyle has dared to say that" MUIR
INJURED Evelyn. with clenched teeth.
II honestly believe 1t commenced with
him. When II reached my ears. l made
strict inquiries for It's origin, and every
body attributed II to the same source
Mr.. Lyle's drunken friend, Mullins the
brewer. or course you know how such
stories grow by repetition. Still. there
was never hint Of such u scandal before
Mr.. Lyle appeared among U.S."
"Thanks. Captain Philip. thanks.
Please say no more. 1t shall he stopped.
and ut once"
ut Ii such silly fabrication" said the
ovcrsccr; ut bears absurdty upon the
face Of II. For there Is no one who could
dispute your claim. Is thcrcy'
mo ono. except my Cousin Hugh. Oh.
Captain Philip. you can't think how much
I wish sometimes that he had never died.
II Ii u cruel kindness to leave so much
responsibility on the shoulders of u wom-
an. The back Is not fitted for the bur
den"
"Yours has proved itself 10 be eminent
Is fitted, Miss Rayne. You mustn't lose
heart bcca,,sc an ungrntcful fool docs not
know how to value your kindness TO
him"
Evelyn was burning with Indignation ut
what she had heard. and determined TO
let Will Cnryll understand ,thc only con.
ditons on which he could retain his posi-.
ton ut Mount Eden. When dinner was
ended, and she found herself In the draw.
ing.room with Agnes and her husband. 1t
seemed u favorable time. They had sat
through an uncomfortable meal. none Of
them appearing to have much TO say to
the other, and II was u relief to Evelyn to
bc able 10 take up her ncc,llcwOrk, and
feel that she was free to talk.
Mr.. Lyle" she commenced gravciy. Il
must usk you to listen to me for few
minutes. I understand you IRE still In
the habit Of spending your afternoons at
the Green Man. and that It dctcriorates
(as II inevitably must dol from y0ur dig.
nifty M my steward. l must beg you 10
discontinue the custom. II Ii not the first
time las you know that I have been
Obliged to speak TO you on the subject"
Jasper Lylc's manner to the mistress Of
Mount Eden had become far more jaunty
and familiar OF late, and now there seem.
cd n ring Of actual insolence In the tone
In which he replied:
II was really not aware that your bone.
Ats 10 me included the supervision Of my
morals"
Evelyn looked straight at him. hut her
gnxe Ind no power to make him avert his
/ eyes.
"From this unworthy habit Of yours
continued Evelyn. In the same grave tone.
has sprung up u great annoyance TO me.
| I cannot believe Il cmanatcd from your.
sclf--l credit you with little more sense
but II Il attributed to you on all sides,
and Il doubtless had Its rise In your chat.
tering."
"And what mny this be?'' inquired
Lyle.
"a rumor thnt I hold Mount Eden on
an uncertain tenure. and that there arc
| other claimants to the estate"
"WcllT' he said carclessly.
"Wcll:' repeated Evelyn Indignantly
III yYi have said NO. sir. you know II "a
bc untrue. You know that am the lcgn
owner Of the property. and that no one
has the faintcst shadow Of claim TO II
but myself"
'lsut supposins don't know its VIVA,
thenr'
do yoa wish to insult me? whn'
would you insinuatc?"
She spoke more cautiously than sh,
would have done otherwise, because sh,
had no idea that jasper had conhdcd tn,
secret Of his identity tn his wife, and Khs
feared to raise her curiosity.
THAT you hold the estate only ~ mex
Of kin. Miss llsyne. and that there In .
nearer relative 70 the late Mr.. Caryll still
Il 4, SS,<, asvd 10 H1,<, Mvt
Evelyn could not believe her earn. Wa
advance forEcrS claim to the estate
wife. and answered calmly:
only two male heirs. and they are both
THAT II what have my doubts about,
said Lyle.
''Then your doubts shall soon Be clear
ed up" she answered. rising. II will 3
aud write my solicitor Mt once to com,
down here tomorrow aud convince yon o
the truth Of my assertion. will not per
init such hurtful rumors to b. sprea,
about Mount Eden without being rcfuted
There In not soul on earth to dare (,
dispute my right to It."
i NOt even yOuV cuuWtus WIZ SSSyus
he exclaimed impu,lently.
His impudence made Evelyn forget e.
crything hut itself.
"My Cousin VIII" she repeated
"What!a f0rgcr!
But now It was Agnes turn tn exhihi
her prowcss. aud she sprang forward Il
her husbands defense like bantam hel
with rufied feathers.
"HOw dare you call him fOrger!" oh,
cried Indignantly. 'You know II Ia no
truc. You know II was tho other fellow
did II, aud the blame was falsely put Of
Jasper. And now you would keep hi
estate from him. aud everything. Oh
Il II too bad"
Evelyn turned to the speaker In an
mitigated surprise.
"What are you talking Of. Agncs?" sh
said. "What can you know about al
this? We were speaking Of my cousin
VIII Caryll.'
"And ! know that Jasper Ia VIII
Caryll," replied Agnes. MY husband ha
told me everything-h0w you made hin
70 out to America, so that You nigh
get Mount Eden, and how angry yOl
were when you heard he was going 4
marry me, and how you got him here, 81
that You might make love to him. and
'Stop" cried Evelyn, In voice of stcrl
authority-'stop at once, Agnes. ! refus
to listen to another word. IL your hus
tband has been base enough to give yOl
this version Of his unhappy story. yo,
| muet believe him Or mt M Won choosQ