Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-15
CHAPTER I.
.&l Xr;.l1;SYAVk

ing Manchester into city Of silver. Grimy
and grim and dirty and sooty 1t might be
by day, with its noisy machinery. and
great busy working hives. but now nights
gentle fingers had touched 1t with the sill
yer wand they held. and. 10! the noise.
and dirt. and smoke had vanished, and
beauty and tranquility rcigned!
Somewhat out Of harmony with the fair
pure light was the blaze of gas lighting
up the entrance to the principal theater Of
the city. from which crowded audience
was pouring out into the moonlit streets.
Round the stage door group Of half q
dozen "supers" were lounging. talking Of
the play and the crowded house. and VEN
turing the prediction that Mr.. Morris
would make good thing Of II" this tour.
But their voices ceased suddenly MS tall
young man O,me hastily out Of the door
round which they were gathered. and,
with hurried and general Goodnight"
passed rapidly down the street.
THAT IL Mr.. Robson" remarked one Of
the loitercrs, as he glanced after the tall.
slight figure striding away SO swiftly.
Mrs. Orde sent to beg him to 20 to her
as soon as the play was over; she's dying,
the messenger sah."
dying? You don't mean thnt!' ex.
claimed another, In tone Of shocked sur.
prise. "Why, she acted last night!'
''And broke blood vessel after the last
act. Just MS the curtain fell" said the first
speaker, shaking his head gloomily. "She
will never net again--you may take my
word for thatw
Stella Orie would never act again. the
man had said; and the words were true.
1t needed no experience TO tell that to
Mark Robson, as he entered the room
where she lay. In answer TO summons
which had been sent 10 him ut the theater
"A summons which surprised him not a
little, for their friendship was but Of a
few weeks standing.
''She has been wcarying for you sadly.
sir" the landlady said. us she opened the
door for him; and she won't last out the
night"
He followed her up a narrow carpetcd
staircase to the first floor. and into sit
ting room separated from the adjoining
apartment by folding doors.
"Wait here for Il moment" she said;
and the young man waited In the sitting
room. while she passed into the bedroom.
After minute or two the landlady came
out again.
''She seems hardly conscious. SIR" she
while. or will you call agnini"
perhaps I had better wait," he an.
,swercd, hesitatingly. "Thsse might not
be time
ut would be best. The nurse In with
her. She will call you, II you will wait
here"
TO Mark Robson there was n strange.
.dream-likc unreality about the whole
aaona An,n,,, h.,r folln,r uotnra aud o.-
tresscs Stella Orde had many older friends
who would have made any sacrifice 10
soothc her dying hours; but In this her
extremity she had sent for him. who was
comparatively a strangcr-a young man,
too. hardly more than u lad, for all his tall
stature and budding mustache. 1t was
very strange. unspcakably strange!
After awhile, he moved from his scat,
and, going to the window, drew back tho
curtains and looked out into the quiet
street. Suddenly. shrill and distinct. a
call rose on the stiffness, a name spoken
In a tone Of agonixed cntreaty, which
made the young actor start back with
pale and startled face and an expression
of surprise and something like terror In
his eyes. lie lIstencA intently for mo.
ment; hut the word was not repeated;
and, with trembling hand. The pushed his
thick dark hair back from his forehead,
Il must have been mistaken" he NUT.
tered. How absurd! thought she said
- Pshaw! All, the excitement OF tho
past few days has upset me! This room
10 stifling! he went on. II wonder II I
might open the window for a mOmentY'
He moved nearer to tho window, then
stopped short with the same startled look
% terror on his face, for once more the
cry was repeated, and, for oil Ito faint.
ness, the voice reached bis ears.
'Newell-oh. Neweli.' It said.
A moments hesitation, as II he were
uncertain what was best to he done, and
the young man. with hurried. noiseless
step, crossed the room, and. passing
through the open doors, stood just within
them. grave and silent. The nurse, sit.
ting BY the bedside. glanced up at him and
put her finger to her lips to enforce 81.
leuce; and he inclined his bead mechan.
ically o. his eyes rested On the little white
bed.
To the last day Of his life Mark Robson
will never forget the two faces which
lay side BY side on the plllows-one that
of child, who was sleeping softly and
sweetly In the dreamless sleep OF child.
hood, with flushed cheeks aud parted scar
let lips, and short. ruffied, dark curls; the
other that Of woman, sleeping. too, but
In no untroubled slumber, for the golden
hair 10y damp on the white forehead,
while the restless movements and futter-
angs spoke plainly Of fever and unrest.
sDid she speak" Mark whispered.
ayes, In her Sleep" the nurse answered
softly. "She wanders, poor soul. Oh,
she Is waking now"
Slowly the Redeemed syelids were rails
ed, and two blue eyes. bright with
strange, feverish brightness, stared
straight at Marks tail figure standing
near the open doorway. For moment
she seemed not to recognise him, and
look, half OF surprise, half OF fear, crept
into sey eyes; but II was sucs eeded almost
Immediately by a faint CLEAN of rssogni-
ton.
"Mv. Robson!' she said, family. "You
have come-at last! Come near me--sit
down." the sick woman went on hurried.
"; and Mark obeyed, drawing his chair
close to the bedside. for the feverish voice
was low aud feeble for all its eagerness.
The nurse at look left the room.
IAN ! right to trust your" asked Mrs.
Orde. "Will you be true to me, won
der? Once before ! trusted face like
yours, and 1t betrayed me; and yet-and-
yeti 70 because you resemble him that
] am going to trust you nOw'
A faint fush stole int the young mans
face.