Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-07-23
EESNiiiGij'sS '!snllg II|i'|il! !


suffering wasted. She knew him too we'll
TO think that he had already written his
letter. II would hurt him TO write Il, and
he would put 1t OF to the last hour: she
OWNED that easily. She sat down In the
carly morning sunlight to write to him,
never once denying that she loved him.
that IL was like death to her TO give him
up. but still insisting that II was the only
thing for her to do.
For any other woman I could not do
It," she wrote: "in,iecd I should not try;
but she Is so true, so gentle, IL would be
cowarily TO hurt her. I can't do Il.
thought that could, but was wrong.
The dishonor Of II would darken both our
lives. 1t might even kill our love in time.
Never let her know how near we have
both been to this great wrong-doing.
When she Is your wife you will thank
mo for what do now. when I seem to he
striking at your very heart by my tickle
ness"
The words came straight from her
heart. She had no power to pick and
choose them. They were living words,
but the eyes that they were written for
were closed In death. When she had fin
ishcd her letter to Percy, she wrote a
short one TO Julian Care. She did not
tell him where she was. or why she had
left Tho Elms: all she said was that she
had found she could never he his wife,
and she hoped that he would forget her.
II had all been mistake! II was cold
lcttcr--a hcartlcss one even. but then her
heart was full Of Percy Stanhope.
When Dulcic descended to the break.
fast room, she found her uncle drinking
his coffee. and with pile OF letters before
him. He met her with his keen glance.
which her little wan smile could not bafile.
"Well. how IRE you this morning."
"Oh. I am very well. But couldn't
sleep when I did go to bed last night. or
this morning rather. You sec the quiet
Of the country has spoiled my nerves.
fahcied Il was horribly noisy"
something has spoiled them, certain.
ly."
She felt herself flushing uncasily.
"Well, and what about Esther! She Is
married, Of course, or you would not be
here"
"No"--fnltcring suddenly. "Shc 10 70
be married tomorrow"
"Humph! Who Is she marrying? You
never told me his name. ! think. Any
one know? She's pretty enough to have
done we'll"
Poor Dulcic! Her breath came painting
~: her eyes fell.
1T 10 Percy Stanhope," she said. In
a kind OF broken whisper.
| Heaven bless my soul! Percy Stan
hope" Durer Lcvesquc called out In his
intense surprise. Then hc rcpcntcd Of hi.
rashncss.
Dulcic was looking at him: her clcnchctl
hands had fallen on the damask cloth
before her, and she was looking nj hin
like creature hurt to death and bleed
ing inwarlly. For forty years and NOR,
Durcr Lcvcsquc had not felt his eyes n,
wet as no felt them ut that moment. Al
imprccntion rose TO his lips us he saw hi,
dnrling's blanched little face.
swell, well. TO be sure! never though
very much OF Percy myself. It's to b.
hoped she'll not live to repent It,"
Then he stopped and got up from hi
chair In dIsmay; Dulcic was laughing an,
sobbing by turns. In an uninistakable u
OF Mysteries. When she had come roun,
II little, md was able to speak. she locke,
up ut him, the tears still heavy on tn
long curlcd lashcs.
II couldn't help. II, uncle; It's not oftcl
Tn 50 silly. Don't think that I feel II SC
only I'm tired. you know. after lust night
trying to smile the sobs down.
. II know all about it"-stroking he
check with his brown fingers. "YOu'v
been bored to death down In that du
hole. I blame myself greatly for icttin
you go to It. But III toll you what We
do now; we'll start OF somewhere our tw
selves, and see bit OF life. That wi
set you up again In no time"
So II came about that before she ha
been a week In London Dulcic was o.
again on her way to Paris. A very wa
little Dulcic she was. too. But the cole
and the dimplcs would come back In tim'
How would It have gone with her II sh
had known that this lOvcr--for whom he
faithful little heart was well-niGh breal
Ing, In spite OF all her preaching-wns !!
!, ing under the high headstone In the oil
churchyard where his people for gener,
tons had been buried before him!
Durer Levesquc knew 1t. He had rca
an account Of the whole affair In one {
the newspapers, but he dared not tell he
She never read the papers, fortunately Il
herself ut that time.
/. As Il was, she suffered. suffered so no
,, ribly that many and many u time, lyin
open-eycd on her bed ut night, she VOL
dered that she did not die, so sore WI
her pain and the WEAKNESS that followe
after II.
But she did not die. Her beauty d
= not fade as so many women's would ha,
! done. She grew more beautiful ever
= day. with subtle, spirituelle beauty thu
had not been hers AT best heretofore, III
I limpid eyes under the heavy lashes In
new, softer light In them. The prct'
lips were mere sweet,
Wherever she went men gathered abol
her, but she would none of them. Wht
Z one of her admirers-a young fellow thu
L she liked. in her way, immensely-ve
tured to speal; TO her of his love for he
i ST. looked up at him in cold surprise.
: was at the Embassy, and they had bee
-, walking together.
! "What do You see In me to love, He
Switzcr? Why"-laughing a little, al
laying her hand on the shoulder of ma
BILE dryad near-''you might rs well lo'
y this cunning bit Of stonework. ha'
u no more heart than She"
II believe it," the young man answerc
!; bitterly, gnawing at his mustache to kc'
y hotter words back.
l. "Ycs, you may" and then, with swi
| change of the uDturncd face, and u lo'