Chicago eagle., 1898-07-16

strength OF tcn," and went to him. That
was on the twenty first Of May. The
twcnty.second was to have been Percy
Stanhopc's wedding day!
CHAPTER XVIII.
At The Elms all was confusion. Dul.
cic's flight had struck Esther like a blow.
The first thing In the morning she had
gone to her room to see IL she was awake
and better. She found the door open; two
large boxes packed in the center Of the
room; the drawers and wardrobe emptyl
Standing on the threshold, she looked
about her In dismay.
"Dulciew she called; but no one an
swered. Indeed she could see for herself
that there was no Dulcie there to answer.
Everything had that air Of dcsolation and
confusion peculiar to a room or a house
that has Just been vacated. The bed had
not been slept In. The window was open,
and the long lace curtains hung limp with
the heavy night dews. On the dressing
table she found the little leather case,
containing the pearls and poor Dulcie's
one little, ill.writtcn, hurried linc-"FOr
Esther on her wedding day, from Dulcie."
Something has happened to her." she
thought at last, In despair what else to
think. ut was not Illness, last night, but
trouble that made her SO strange"
Then she got up and went straight to
her sisters room. A foreboding had seiz.
ell upon her that perhaps Bcrta had had
some hand in It all. Mrs. uardingc had
lust risen. She was doing her hair before
the glass, and glancing ut the pages Of a
new novel that lay open on the table be.
foro hoe Svhilo sho dill 90
"Whnt is Il nowy''-rathcr sharply at
sight Of Esther's wet eyes and crimson
| checks.
"Oh, Bcrtn, Dulcie Is not In her room,
and all her trunks are packed, and
breaking into fresh sobs-''shc must have
gone away last night, after we thought
she had gone to bed. She is In some great
| trouble, I am certain
Mrs. Hnrdinge stood amazed. The color
faded from her face, then rose and set.
tied angrily.
THAT Is just like Dulcic. You'll believe
| In her friendship for you now, will you
not? For my own part, I only hope We
may find that she has gone alone"--mean.
ingly--"but nm very much afraid We
sha'n't."
"I,erta. you'll break my heart some dayl
| HOW Cuu yOu ~ ~ SubpsSsVuot
SO cruely'
Esther had sat down. still holding the
little case In her hand. She was tren,.
bling ncrvously. and the color camc and
went In her face like a rising and falling
flame.
"What can have come to her? She
seemed all right yesterday when she was
going out. I've seldom seen her In better
| Lee, .1,s haI Ah<nn w1,<
OF leaving us then. Have you said any
thing to her, Bcrta ?"-raising quick, re-
sentful eyes.
II? No, indeed. I've had something
better TO do than wastc my talk on her
But am not blind, II you are, and I've
not liked those long walks she took lately
cvcry day, about the one time, too.
know Dulclc too well to believe that she
took them alonc!'
Esther's lips curlcd scornfully. II fret
ted her almost past her patience to heal
her sister talk like this. She had knOwr
beforehand that she should get no sym
pathy from her. nothing but doubts ant
suspicious. and sho was drcndfully un
easy about Dulcie.
II wish Percy would come." sh'
thought. twisting the pearls round ant
round In her fingers. "IIc would know
what had best be- DONE"
Tomorrow would be her wedding day
and through NIL the hopes nnd dreams
that huttercd round her heart, there cam
and went vague. restless disquict.
She was still troubled about Dulcie, too
Yet this trouble could only 'risc 20 IA
and no farther" for kcy great love bea
1t and all else back into brOoding calm
Percy was coming. lie would cOmfOr
her. Nay, his very presence would nton
for all It had been hcr whim to wear OF
this. the last night OF her old life, tn
dress that she knew he always admired
She even remembered to fasten u red rOs
In her bosom such rs she hnd worn tina
other night.
Esther, not able 10 read or to rest, stOO'
before one Of tho windows looking out a
the fading light. Honeysuckle and dog
roses clustered over the hedges; the al
blew sweet over the clover, and the lamb
were bleat!ng In old Farmer Ryan's pas
ture field just across the road. As sh
stood there the sky dcepened Its hue
stars came out, luminous. fqr-OH dianion'
rays. Tho sweetness Of q sweet Englis
May-time was over the land. Tears cam
into the girls eyes ns she looked, an'
her heart gave thrOb OF intense JOY
which was II prayer In Its thankfulness
In the dining room on the other side o
!. tho hall. the wedding breakfast WINS lai
out-a costly feast daintily spread. glsS
and rare old china and solid silver helpin
, out the show. The family had dined y
the breakfast room so that all this Nigh
not be disturbed. Indeed. the whole hous
was In confusion. Esther's boxes hal
filed the spare bedroom; her weddin
anery lay all over the chairs In Mr'
Hariingc's sitting room. One had to tax
care OF ones steps In going through tn
house that night.
"Jnspcr, you might just look over tn
, timetable" Mrs. Hardinge said, quietly
, II think they must be coming by the las
train"
"Eight-forty is the last train" MI
Hardinge told his wife, without stirrin
, from his seat. III they ARE coming by thai
they viii be here In about twenty minutes
! 1t Ii just nine nOw."
{ ITO be continued.)