Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-07-15
CHAPTER Xxx,


~. and then she became unconscious.
CHAPTER XX.
Seated at his ease in his luxurious u.
brary. the man who for SO many years
had usurpcd a position to which he had
no claim and wealth to which he had no
right reviewed the crisis through which
he had passed.
lie had paid of his enemy, who, salts
fed that there was no more to be wrung
out of him at present, would leave him in
peace for several years. Dick would not
be back just yet from an involuntary voy.
age to South America. Caroline, Meta
aud Bella, though they mourncd their sis.
tcr's absence. were perfectly submissive,
and In no way reproached him for being
the cause Of It, As for Mabel herself, she
was practically harmless; say what she
might, II would be set down to insanity.
Had he not DIR. Cranes opinion to support
him? But, in truth. after the first Devil.
dcring terror at news of her fight, he had
experienced sensation OF relief: and. IL
she ever returned he would have the more
plausible reason for sending her to pri.
vate asylum.
No, he did not much fear Mabel. Not a
whisper had gone forth against him: all
his ncighbors We'd with each other In re-.
spcctful sympathy with his grief: he
would escape the pitfnll which had yawn-
cd TO cngulf him. Then his thoughts
| Travelled on into the future.
1T Is like my own possession now" he
said within himself. with a sardonic smile.
| as he glanced round the lofty walls on
| al tah I'M hnn 3 4.
which marble statues of statesmen and
poets and busts OF bygonc Charlfords
were ranged. ut was q bold move, and
1t succeeded" he muttercd. II should
not have the hardihood to play the part
| sustain II to the end. A place like this IL
| surely worth running risk for"
Miss Gray was still auCharlford House
with Meta and Bella, who would have
been lonely enough without her. for Caro-.
line was not much OF companion to her
| young sisters, and had gone to London on
a brief visit to a friend. She felt restless
and miserable, she had said, and would be
glad OF any change In the anxiety she felt
| concerning Mabel. And the so.called Mr..
Charlford was relieved ut her absence,
and, In his then state of mind, offered no
opposition to her departure.
by his neighbors and by the inmates Of
his house he was supposed to bc sitting
brooding by his lonely hearth, mourning
for his lost daughter, when In reality he
was enjoying his ease.
On this night, however, his uneasy sense
| OF possible danger died down. An uncS.
pccted ring at the, hall door, succeeded by
| the announcement Of Mr.. John Charlfor,j.
was sufficient to revive his fears In very
| uncomfortable manner. He started from
his seat ana grew dcathly pale when he
perceived that his visitor was agitated.
why have you conner he gaspcd, the
moment the servant hnd closed the door.
"WhyT echoed John Charlford. BE
cause ] cannot rest! Because dread that
something may happen! Filton, II was an
III decd that You forced me to do, and
had better nave suffered then than have
lived all these years TO suffer now"
stop this folly! cried the other, saw
agcly. Am ! SAFE! You got what you
sinncd for. we must nii pay price for
what we get IN this world:
| II can fee' inc storm prooding In the air
before breaking, noan'd John Charlford.
when II does brenR' VINO VIII pity us!'
| 'fuy' VI what use WI! tnat Oe 10 ug
do stop that mourning anu te'i me- while
you nave your SENSES Whe'her anything
nus occurred 10 c""se 20" l" sl""k IKE
TINS.
HAS not enough occurred alrcadyy'
whispered MS miserable listener. Hush!
Was that some one ut the doorE ana he
started from his seat.
| lyon Will be your own destruction, auu