Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-09-03
CHAPTER X.-(CintinuedJ

OAAAk EN- A.-(CIntlnueuD
Lillian" said the colonel, "you are Wis
Sonary. 1t won't do. You must give Il
up. You had better make up your mind
to marry me. You shall be happy, I prom.
"Happy-when cannot love you"
Questioned Mrs. Drew hopelessly.
will love you enough for us BOTH"
said the colonel, with a smile.
do not agree with you," said Lillian,
colby, offended by the colonel's GOODNESS
ana eeif-possesion rs much as by his
speech. Love Is unselfsh--well and
good; but It Is not cold. II It Ii not that
sort OF human idolatry at i-c:, how can
stand the wear and tear Of married life,
with Its cares and troublesT'
Oh, l understand you to say that you
never loved Captain Drew In that way
tnat you were glad when he went out;
you preferred the society Of your lady
friends.'
That has nothing 70 do with the ques.
tion," declared Mrs. Drew, the blood rush.
Ing to her cheeks and ears. Il did not
love my husband In that way; and II was
just the knowledge Of this which. made me
feel as II were partly responsible for his
loving another woman"
you have not loved your husband"
said the colonel, gravely throwing away
his cigar, and you do not love met Who
II II then-who II the happy man who has
made sou feel as am almost amused at
having felt when was an unfiedged
loutT
mo onew cried Lillian impetuously. II
wonder you dare usk such thing! ], q
married woman. too!'
They followed the path In silence. The
colonel was perfectly satisfied. This was
no passi0nless, immOvable abstraction In
the shape Of a woman! The quiet Mrs.
Drew had shown not only wounded van.
ity, but anger and jealousy during this
short interview, while her emotions had
been stirred. II can make her love me
with doglike love-" he told himself. "She
shall not be my slave; but I bet that .
year hence no one will be able to say with
truth what they are 30 fond OF saying
about some newly married couples-the
love 10 all on one side.'"
While he was thinking thus, Lillian
Drew, In her annoyance. piquc, and per.
turbation, almost dislikcd him.
They were on the terrace.
LILLIAN" called Mrs. Ware from with.
In the lighted drawing room, have you
your little shawl, my dearf Remember
the dew, and your thin muslin"
"Your dress may be damp; you had bet.
ter 70 In ut once" said the colonel, touch.
Ing her shoulder lightly with bis one hand.
II suppose you would like TO say No to
me before 70. Well, I do not intend to
dive you the opportunity. ! would not
accent any answer tonight, % have tax.
en- you By surprise. shall travel for .
month; then shall come here for your
answer. Mesnwhile-heavsn bless you
au0 your child-and the dear old folk!'
Then he stepped into the drawing room,
said good.night and Rood.by to bis aunt,
and went on to the squire In the smoking
room.
Mrs, Drew awoke In the night, thought
OF her peculiar position. said to herself
that the colonel was brute--only wanted
20 marry her to simplify matters and to
MAY the benefactor-and solved her din.
culties BY crying herself to slsep. When
Mary entered quietly the next morning
she brought letter from Lilith-a short
note.
''Oh, dearest mother. ! am-we all are
In such trouble! Willie has had an acci.
dent to bis head; be 10 still ipseusible; and
II was my fault. II you could only come!
Mrs. Law 10 dreadfully angry with me,
and I do not wonder; but do not care
for that. Aunt Macdonald says nothing,
and 10 wonderfully patient; but she looks
% white, and 40 wrctched ~ II she belicv.
ed Willie would die"
Mrs. Drew read the note twice. ordered
the carriage. gave housekeeping direc.
lions, caught the early train. and In few
hours was knocking at the door OF the
old house In Princes Square.
Lilith took her mother to the drawing
room, and related that Willie was taking
her for q walk one evening. when her
foot slipped, and she fell. crossing road.
A carriage came daahins round the cor.
uer, and, In trying to snatch her from
under the rearing horses, suddenly check.
ed BY the coachman, Willie was knocked
down.
zone OF the horses kicked him." she
said. "How awful II was! Some men
and took him to a hospital close BY; then
Mrs. Law came In the carriage with her
own doctor, and brought him home. II
was two days ago. could not write yes.
terday-l felt too dreadful; but they say
he may live now, although he 10 still I'M.
conscious"
Mrs. Drew soOthed and comforted LII
It'll. She was, as II were, steadied by this
unexpected trouble. Yesterday and the
colonel seemed fevcrish dream. She
made Lilith lie down; then she took of her
bonnet, and, going to the door of the sick
room, knocked. Mrs. Macdonald came "a
the door, and, seeing who It was, Joined
Mrs. Drew In the passage.
II am glad you have come" she said
"for poor Lilith's sake" Then she exon.
Grated Lilith from all blame.
II shall take her hOme," announced
Mrs. Drew.
perhaps It would be az WELL" said
Willie's mother. "You see, II would NOT
do quite to let her help to nurse him, al.
though she il ready and willing to do It,
poor child. The fact IL, Mrs. Law thinks
her too old. She says the neighbors have
talked about their being SO much togeth'
er, as II Is. That Il nonsense, between
you and me-" she added. Then she asked
Mrs. Drew II she would like to see Willie
Mrs. Drew shrank a little, but said
eyes" Mrs. Macdonald opened the door
1t was simple room, hung with engrav.
ings. Over the mantelpiece was a pencil
drawing-to Mrs. Drew's great ast0nish
ment. u portrait Of herself, with fowinp
hair and crown. No one, perhaps. would
have recognized that 1t was intended a.
portrait. But she well remembered Lii
this sketching her one day as Mary wa,