Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-07-23
CHAPTER XvIIi.-,Continucd.)

CHAPTER Xv1Ii.-tContinuedJ
Esther was beginning TO feel the quiet
intolcrable. She pushed the window open
and walked across the lawn TO the gate.
Her heart was beating stormily: the How
er mt her breast rose and fell with Its rap
ir. heavy throbs. She had not been at the
gate Eve minutes when she heard horses
hoof-beats.
"Thcy are coming! oh. Percy" she
cried. with a sob Of sudden relief and Joy.
In her eagcrncss she opened the gate
and went ont into the road. She could
see trap coming along rapidly. Then
a sudden shyness crcpt over her; she felt
ashamed TO be discovered there, on the
lookout for her lover. Blushing even In
the dark. and though there was no one
to see her. she ran back to the walk. and.
when the trap drew up at the gate. she
was standing ON the doorstep. Only one
man was In the trap. and II was not Fer
cy! Her heart failed her. yet not with
actual fear: rather with a vcScd impa-
tiencc. This late arrival was Hugh Flcm-
ing. lie walked quickly up to the door,
but at sight OF Esthcr's white figure on
the threshold he came to halt.
"where Is Percy? What has made
you so late? We have been so uneasy
about you"
"Thcn you have not heard?'
He answered her question by a qucs'
ton, staring hard at her in the uncertain
light.
1--WE have heard nothing. What Is itT
Then at sight OF his set. white face, q
host OF fears rushed upon her. and she
came down the steps and stood on the
walk beside him. trembling and paling
she did not know why.
"lIas anything happened? Is Percy
Is he" Her dry lips failed her, all the
breath In her body seemed iluttering out
OF them.
He took her hands and wrung them
wruug them hard.
"My poor girl! But come into the
house: you must not stand out here"
The dining room was the first he came
10: he opened IL and walked In.
esther. I don't know how to tell you
what have been sent here to tell you to
night. Any other creature could have
done 1t better. I think. All the way here
! have been praying that you might have
heard II from someone else; but since nc
one has told you. I must"
She stood before him. her hands locked
fast together, her dry eyes fixed upon his
face. The life seemed frozen In her
Only out of those wild. wide-opcn eyes
the tortured soul looked, hungry, qucs
tioning. This look unnamed Hugl
Fleming. II she had cried out, and cluni
to him, as other women might have done
he could have borne 1t better. perhaps
As II was. she frightened him.
"Etty." he cried. going back In his dccl
excitement 10 the familiar name of hi
boyhood. "for heavens sake try TO bea
up. Something has happened to cPrcy
He met with an accident going back froi
here last night: he"
"Iiush!' she said. "IIc Is dead"
She turned her head and looked Owe
her shoulders ut the table set out bchin
her--the long. glittcring table. loaded wit
choice dishes, and rare fruits and wines
His eyes followed hers, and then he saw
for the first time, that the wedding fe,s
was spread. The mockery OF 1t hurt hin
like an actual blow. But only for an In
slant; he had time to think Of nothing bu
Esther. She stool quite still and uprigh
her hands tightly folded across her brcas
In the dim light OF the room. her fac,
with its stiff lips and half-closed eye
looked CHASTITY, corpse-likc.
ESTHER" he whispered, and laid hi
hand on her arm tcnderly. He had love
this girl dearly once. and the sight of h
woe was agony to him.
How can I live without him? D!
Hugh, how can IT.
She stretched out her arms. aud i
caught her 10 him and laid hrr hen
against his breast. Suddenly she gree
heavy In his arms; the face against b
coat looked white as newly fallen snoy
She had tainted.