Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-05-27
aeonisins sobs after the long strain tAss

aeonisins sobs after the long strain Net
she had undergone.
Then, vainly attempting to explain %
much 40 she dared, she stood before this
grave, gentlemanly stranger battling with
her tears until the power Of speech should
come back. Already she experienced q
feeling Of regret that she should seem re.
gardless Of right-doins In his eyes, and q
great desire to clear herself In his estima.
ton took instant possession Of her.
1T was for Dicks sake" sobbed Mabel
-"for my brother'sl See"-thrusting into
view the box to secure which she had IN.
dergone 20 much-''this II the reason why
I came out. Uncle John would never have
forgiven Dick II he found out that be had
been fishing with bis flies; but Dick took
them; and then, poor boy, he forgot, and
left them down BY the pool, not Knowing
that he would have to sleep ~ well a.
dine ct Lord Bilstone's, and that my uncle
would stay at home. 30 just before he
started be begged me to run down to the
pool and get the boz which he had forgot.
ten, and I promised. How could Dick
foresee that should not be able to 90 till
after had said goodnight to my uncle,
and how could imagine that the house
door would Be locked before could get
backf And dared not ring. 20 resolved
to stay on night In the summer house;
then nobody would know anything about
Il X walked 10 quietly before breakfast,
with my hands full Of flowers"
II beg your pardon for my suspicious
Just now" said Lord Wynmore, bis grave
manner becoming cordial. IL imagined
Il feared that there was something more
serious to occasion you to be out at this
hour. Pardon me for wrongins you. even
In thought"
"Dick will tell you how It was" muir.
INJURED Mabel, blushins, for she was quick
to divine that he had mentally charged
her with being there to meet q lover.
II shall not need to ask your brother
Dick or anyone else; believe you" r.
sponded Lord Wynmore.
Mabel dried her tears and looked up. In
the midst Of her sadness and trouble this
assurance gave her strange pleasure.
She was wholly unconscious Of how fair
che looked In bic eyes a. she stood By the
roadside beneath the faint moonlight, her
beauty heightened BY the emotion %
plainly visible.
'Thank you for believing me. Lord
Wynmore." she said, softly. "Oh, I am
20 much indebted to you. for saving me
| from that dreadful man! 00od.night.
viii tell my brother how kind you have
BEEN"
"You do not imagine. Miss Chariford,"
returned be, that I shall leave you here
unprotected til dawnf Permit me to con.
stitute myself your guardian for the ~.
mainder Of the darkness. Then you may
rest In perfect safety In the summer
house. Here, Lion"-callins softly to the
| dos-"go with this friend"
The animal immediately rose, looked az.
eddy at Mabel, apd stood ready to obey.
HE will lie at your feet, Miss Charl.
ford" continued Lord Wynmore; land
bold indeed would be the man who would
venture to modest you. will walk about
here within call. 20 you may feel secure"
| Poor child-for. despite her Queenly
height and her sixteen years, she was a.
most q child-she was worn out By her
emotions and BY the lateness Of the houri
Very glad was she to sink upon the rustic
| seat, the feeling Of security from possible
harm contributing to bring repose; and
soon. with the huge dog lying across the
entrance to the arbor. Mabel's eyelids
closed, and she slept.
And through the night Lord Wynmors
paced up and down outside the little gate,
| treading softly on the grass which border.
ed the road lest he should awaken her
who. he trusted. slumbered within the
arbor.
"she 10 hardly grown up. What q
beauty she will be; and % yet she 10 a.
unconscious % childv be unused. "Who
would have thought that her uncle was
such martinet3 Why. she has . mortal
dread Of him."
Wild dreams came to Mabel a. she lay
on the bench within the arbor. She dream.
ed that she continually encountered her
father In different disguiscs. At one time
she was at the seaside--gone thither to
visit Meta and Isabel, who were buying
seaweed Of tall, dark man on the beach.
The man was barefooted and wore Q
PREDETERMINED hat; and. though she dar.
ed not glance at him second time, she
knew him to be her father. Drawing her
sisters away, she ran home with them.
hoping to hide from him. when, 10, her
father sat on the doorstep In the suise Of Q
soldier! Caroline. too, mingled with her
dreams; she thought that her eldest sister
had gone to London to do that strangers
bidding without telling any Of them. and
that she did not come back. Then. In her
slumber. Lord Wynmore camo to her.
saying, II have found your sister," and
Q smile broke over her face at the thought;
but the smile brought with II awakening.
She opened her eyes, and perceived Lord
Wynmore himself smiling at her.
Day had fully. dawnsd-it was 6vs
o'clock In the morning.
| II ventured to come for q moment q
say farewell" he said. III stay longer,
Il may lead to awkward surmises. 90
Lion and I must steal OF. Ask your broth.
er to como and see me. Miss Charlford.
and tell him have capital fishing In the
river. Good:by! ! trust that you are q
little rested"
Treading lightly on the grass, devoutly
hoping that she would not be seen, pro
foundly thankful she had thin cloak on
which bid her evening dress, Mabel soon
reached the house which she had left q
many hours before. At turn In the up
stairs corridor she met housemaid. who
started at sight Of one Of the young ladies
up and dressed at that hour.
"Why, you are early. miss" she cried,
looking at tho flowers that Mabel carried.
1T 10 such q lovely morning! I-havl
not been far" stammered the frightened
girl.
Then at last she reached her own room,
where she took OIL her evening attire and
began to arrange her toilet. Now, she
could try to think what she must do, also
/ what nhQ muat sav IN Ca enliuo RopOpo