Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-07-30
CHAPTER XX1.-(Continued.)

mellow tones and Its CLEANS Of bright col.
or. What mark. had her pnin left behind
It? At first sight none. hut when she
turned her head to smile ut Dulcic kind
Of shadow could be seen In her eyes; not
dimness, but a shadow. 1t was the
trace Of tears they had shed. Queen rs.
Their they used to call her. Queen Esther
now in truth, for had she not come into
her woman's heritage Of sOrrOw-been
triple.crowned by love. pain and loss, the
worlds great masters?
"1f you go of In that temper" she said
to Dulcie, I'VE shall never know where to
End you. You might even venture as far
~ Squire Dcnc's again."
mo fear Of that"-shrugging her shout.
ders disdainfully. esquire Dene Is a
boor; every one about here Ii a boor,
think, experimentation father,
you know. I don't include him."
Esther looked up ut that.
"Arc you tired Of us, then?"
"No, but ! am Of myself" remorsefully.
swell, 20 Of, then, and see II the sun
cannot burn your tantrums' out Of YOU"
II don't think that II will"
Dulcic went down the steps and across
the long paved yard. listlcss little figure
enough In all that brightness. Two Of the
boys were playing in one corner, and they
ran shouting after her. but Dulcie would
none Of them. She opened the big gate
and stepped out on TO the bare, unshcl.
tered high road. 1t was awfully hot; she
felt her cheeks growing red; her eyes
blinked, as the glare beat down upon her.
Straight before her was the high green
hedge Of the orchard. 1t would bc cool In
there, she knew, and, without waiting to
20 round by the gate, she scrambled up
the bank and flung herself down on the
other side with the agility Of u schoolboy.
How delicious It was! The loaded boughs
OF great pear trees hung over her; the air
was full Of the scent OF fruit and flowers.
She could hear the tricklc OF the little
stream that flowed at the bottom OF the
orchard. 1t was the tiniest Of streams,
but 1t made refreshing music that sultry
August day as II sang over Its bed "in
little sharps and trcbles."
Flinging herself down under one Of the
trees, Dulcic stretched her arms above her
head and gave herself up to dreaming, As
she lay there, her small head half buried
In the lush grass, her face upturned, the
sunshine came through the leaves, and
aickercd on the gold band round her
throat, and on her curly hair. But she
never moved. She had no fear for her
complexion, and she had Southern love
of heat.
Il do wish he was not coming" she said
to herself, half aloud. II would rather
meet any one In the world than him."
Her heart was sore that day, and she
felt restless. Hugh Fleming was coming,
for the first time since her stay there, to
the Holm Farm, aud she half dreaded his
visit. She had never seen him since that
evening In Baden.
IL tell you what II Il, Dulcic." she said
to herself, with laugh, crushing the wild
thyme In her restless fingers. "you had
letter get back to town. This quiet life
doesn't suit you. II might end In an ut.
tack Of softcning Of the brain; for you
have no heart. you know, not an atom,
to be affected"
The sunlight grew hotter and hotter, and
the bright eyes closed. Somewhere among
were straining its little throat for 10y,
She could hear the shrill whoops Of the
young Durrants, as they tumbled over
each other In the farm yard.
Observation-Disclosures
She sprang to her feet aud put her I'm.
gers 20 her ears.
II nm here! What do you waa42 You
have made me deaf, l declare"
mot quite, ] hope"
This was not one Of the "llttle savagcs,"
Flushed M to the curls Of her hair, Dulcie
turned. and found herself within yard OF
Hugh Fleming. Lewis Durrant chung TO
one hand; yeliow-haired Johnny to the
other. 1t seemed a miracle how he kept
his balance with these two clinginR and
twisting about his legs.
''They told me that they knew exactly
where to lind yOu." Hugh said, looking ut
her.
She was m'serably conscious Of hi. Jock.
She knew, as well as II she had seed her.
self In the glass. that her checks were red.
ana her hair rough. and her dress grass.
stained ana tumbled. And II was oil the
iauit OF those horrible boys. She felt a.
u she hated them ut that moment worse
than ever.
nope ! nave not disturbed you" very
sraveiy.
on' no, not ut all! ] was Just thinking
OF going In, only felt too lazy"
She caught up her hat and made hcr'|
way toward the house, not going over the
hedge this time, however. He walked be-
side her. and the boys, rough rs young
reviewers, tumbled about them both, and
made the place ring with their sQua bibles
ana laughter. They had not much to say
70 eaeh other, Dulcie's tongue seemed
t'ed' ana Hugh Fleming was strangely
quiet. Esther was waiting at the door