Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-08-06
CHAPTER II.

y CHAPTER II.
Squire Ware having consented to Mrs.
Drew's proposition to take Lilith to Lon.
don for lessons, ndvicc. ct cctcra, tho ar.
rangcments were speedily made.
Mrs. Drcw's income the interest OF the
capital which Ind bccTs Der dowry-had
been more than sufiic ~ to cover her
expenditure during these years she had
lived 10 her old homo: 40 she had saved
considerable sum. and could afford to
spend few hundreds ycar for ut lcast
some little time to come.
She consulted her old friend and nd.
wiser, the popular rector Of the parish,
and he approved her plans. These were
to take small house In London, to on.
gage the head kitchcn.maid and one OF
tho housemaids at the Hull as cook and
parlor maid. Tho stanch Mary would
continue to be maid to Lillth and herself.
Tho house was chosen. Mrs. Drew went
to town herself with the rector and his
wife, and nade oil tho arrangements. Tho
servants were sent to London, the knick.
knacks and odds and ends had been pack.
Ell and sent on. Mrs. Drew and Lilith
were spending their afternoons In paying
farewell visits to neighboring country
seats, rcctories or vicarages. A farewell
dinner party was arranged. when all was
suddenly stopped.
The squire was opening the post bag %
usual one morning. when Mrs. Drew, who
was pouring out tea, saw him start, pause,
then stare at letter and thrust L into
bis pocket. Her first impulse was 70 ask
what was the matter. Then she thought,
1T Ia no business OF mine." and took no
notice OF the sQuirc's hurried. absent man.
nor. There was blank look OF some emo
tion akin to dread upon bis kindly face.
Squire Ware took bis hat and stick,
went Oh to the stables. perempt0rily or.
dered q groom to saddle bis cob. and
mounted before the beast was fnirly sad.
died and bridlcd.
The squire rode on BY back lane. He
was oppressed with mingled grief. anger.
and disgust. He was going 10 seek coun.
yel and actual support from bis old friend
Hugh RswsOn. the rector. Meanwhile.
~ he rode along. hc muttcred impreca.
lions against u certain Individual. He
Snathcma tixed the hour that brought them
together. He ended bis long string OF
severe sayings by tho horrible utterance,
"Tis q good thing, after oil. there's q
bad place. dust hole for human refuse
such ~ bel"
The rector was q fine. tall man, who
stopped to enter BY bis low dOOrways;
his handsome 6Orid face was crowned BY
prematurely blanched hair; bis keen black
eyes, which seemed to possess the faculty
OF looking for and finding the truth. were
sOftened a. he saw he was wanted. Since
Mrs. Drew's desertion BY "that poor mis-.
guided fellow" 40 the rector mePcifully
designated Captain Drew, he had con.
stantly prepared himself to be unexpect.
edly summoned TO the Hall.
II have come to tell ye-that black.
guard 10 dead" said the squire. huskily.
The rector WINGED. then recovered him.
self.
"Weli. perhaps II 10 for tho host" be
began. encouraginRly. Dear Lillian and
her child-they will know their position
they will be freer to act"
For the bestY' reared the squire
"Here"-his trembling fingers searching
bis breast pocket-"read that-then say
II Il 10 for tho best!"-and no tossed q
letter which bore deep black border
across to the rector.
He opened II. There were two sheets
Read the black-borderei first" growi
cd the squire. ""ris the father. Gen
Drew. Like father. like son! However
he dared-but read-read.'
Dear SIR" 1t ran. "by copy OF letter
incloscd you will see that my son. Captain
Drew, IL dead. He died not only penni
less. but In debt. Therefore tho fact that
he left no will Is Insignificant. OF course
tho woman who ruined him and her chill
dren must go to the parish for assistance
Were I rich man. instead OF poor pen
siOncr they should not receive ono firth
Ing from me. am demanding my sons
clothes and effects. Should l find any
papers that belong by right to his widow
your daughter, ! will forward them to her
and have the honor to be, dear sir, your
most Obedicnt servant.
GERALD DREW"
snow read 'tOtherw Kissed the squire
who had been watching his friends face
Az he read the second letter, the rector
pursed his lips and gently stroked hi
check and chin.
1t was from tho "play-actress," as tn
| SQUIRE scOrnfully termed the woman VIII,