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

cident; he coughed loudly, awakened the
man servant and insisted upon getting up.
AT breakfast Lilith came In and greet.
ed Willie as quietly as II this had been
the table In Princes Square. with severe
Mrs. Law at It's head instead Of her moth.
er. Then she sat down in her place,
which was next Willie'e, and remained
pale and silent for a while. She had SUI.
fered intensely on the preceding day,
dreading to see change In her bright
faced friend-a change q which she had
been the innocent cause: she suffered still
more when she realized the effect Of the
accident. Willie Macdonald was not only
thin and white-faced; there were the lines
marked around his eyes by brain mischief
He stopped; each movement was languid
and heavy, instead Of brisk and buoyant
Little wonder that Lilith felt hopelessly
wretched!
She got away from the breakfast table
a. soon as she could, and went wander.
ing aimlessly into the shrubbery. The
pleasant working time--pleas SAINT in spite
Of It's struggles and disappointment
when Willic's companionship had been
her happiness. Willies consolat ton and his
way Of making fun of her difficulties her
great help in patiently enduring her life
at the drawing school. seemed ages ago.
"Neyer to come again. she said to her.
self-"never again!
she asked herself ms she threw herself
upon the grass on little knoll In the
shrubbery, and. leaning on her elbows,
unconsciously watched the tiny weeds,
the insects creeping through the grass,
the dead leaves as they futtered slowly
down and fell noiselessly upon the turf.
How long she had lain pondering-
leaves dropping upon her as II she were
babe In the wood. and the redbreasts
busy In the branches above--she did not
know; but she was reused by distant
voices, and laugh she knew to be her
mothers.
The knoll was q hundred yards or 10
from the Hall. Rising, she looked over
the shrubbery fence. and saw a group
about the steps leading to the hall door.
A groom was ut the head Of Madam
Wares little pony.chair. In which she
took airings, when not 30 well as usual.
Mrs. Drew, In large hat, was arranging
pillows; Mary and man servant were ~.
sistins the invalid down the steps. Lilith
stood still. watching. She watched the
three settle Willie In bis invalid carriage.
She noted the tender way In which her
mother wrapped one Of her Indian shawls
--one she preferred, too-about his knees;
she even saw, or fancied she saw, his
grateful smile. His eyes were gazing I'D
toward his new nurse with an expression
she had never seen there: she felt sud.
den pahs, Q sudden enlightenment.
THAT look means admiration" she
thought bitterly. "Aud IL could never.
never inspire that"
"You told me-you were 10 good as 70
tell me-so much aboW& YOURSELF" began
Willie earnestly, though lowering bis
voice lest the groom who was walking
short distance ahead might hear. .'thst
you will forgive me for asking you II you
are not happyw
AT this momentr Ehe paused and
looked round. "Well, to-day I feel
strangely lieht.hearted. The sun seem,
brighter. the cir sweet, exhilaratins. oh.
life 10 very BEAUTIFUL she said suddenly,
looking Willie straight In the face, with
believe am person Of moods, after air.
she added, with laugh. II have lopeed
20 for some one to take care Of. Lilith
uOeSu = WuuS ". UeueVe = WIS 0OSu 70
be . nurse" Then she told him the tale
Of poor little Gerald, found under the
hedge BY Willie's uncle, Mr.. Rawson.
you mentioned cousin-the colonel
who 10 her asked Willie. after sym.
pathising with her on the subject Of the
"exiled children" 40 she considered them.
THE helr-our successor here" said
Mrs. Drew; but she spoke with slight en-.
barrassment, which did not escape the
notice Of the convalescent. "A middle
aged Indian officer, very nice In his way.
10 my cousin Godfrey" Then che related
about the afternoon spent at the rectory.
He was 20 delighted with the house.
the dairies. with everything" she added
-"especislly with one Of your cousins
her singing, ] mean. You can imagine
what q delightful place a peaceful Eng.
lish homestead like Mr.. Rawsou's must
seem to dried-up old Indian"
"This-this place must have pleased him
still more, should think" remarked the
young man. He had never cared much
for the Rawson family, he told Mrs.
Drew. His cousins be considered com.
monplace. and, % for their mother, "she
q more Of q Phasisee even than Aunt
Judith" be said. my uncle. too, 10 an
average English parson."
Hush! You must not Say that; he ID
my best friend" replied Mrs. Drew. with
gentle Gliding.
This little excursion, this placid inter.
change Of condolences was the prelude to
many such. Willie has been ordered 70
Be out In the air % much o. possible
without fatigue. The three ladies' took
him drives In the landau. Mr.. Rawsou
drove him leisurely through the lanes In
bis daughters pony carriage. But Willie
did not care for these excursions, al.
though be was grateful to all and each for
their kind efforts on bis behalf. The
drives were. a. he told himself, ''coue.
down" after that Arst morning alone with
Mrs. Drew.
"There Is not the slightest doubt that
TO be alone with consenial. sympathetic
being such a. she Ia, II the highest hap.
piness man can know" he thought. Al
this point he did not dream that he wal
the prey to a passion-a passion 40 nm.
reasoning and violent as ever seized mon
tai man.
Ito be c0ntinued.)
Dtnicult Lines.