Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-06-17
n MIDDEN KRRORJM N
CHAPTER 1x.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER 1X.-(ContinuedJ
Many minutes slipped by before he sum.
moned courage to peruse the other letters
In the small box. All were signed "a.
Elton" and all bore marks Of being for
eign letters sent TO someone across the
sea. One passage particularly struck
Dick:
II inclosc the draft Of agreement pro-
posed. There Is no time to lose; you
know how reckless he Is. But there Is one
comfort; we are oil In the same boat"
us this the agreement spoken OFF,
thought Dick, unfolding thicker sheet Of
paper, on which several items were jotted
down.
Consents to settle In Oregon. Would
like the climate. Would accept four thou.
sand pounds more. Has evidently no idea
Of the real value Of the property, or would
demand forty thousand. Is intent on
amassing capital. and intends to do SO by
exporting horses. Is impatient to start,
and wants the money by the 25th Of
March. Demands a good gold English
made chronOmeter, and case Of brandy
In addition. We are to be unmolested IL
We comply with the above. which l have
roughly thrown into an agreement. On
his part he declares that he shall consider
that he has received full payment for all
services on pockcting this additional sum.
For heavens sake come, and get 1t over"
Startled as Dick was on scanning these
lines, he was yet more SO on unfolding a
page which contained the names Of him
self and Of his sisters, with the dates Of
their birth and of his own. His mothers
Christian name. Theodore Ulvina Caro-
line" was added, followed by the date of
her wedding with his father. Richard
James Charlford." Underneath was trac-
ed, In strangely familiar characters:
"There must be no mistake about these
But who would make a mistake con-
corning such well-known factsY Not his
father certainly--not his uncle, who had
lived In close intimacy with his brother all
bis life.
Rising at length in n sort Of desperation
from his task, Dick replaced the papers,
more bewil,lercd than ever, and with an
added sense of the certainty that there
was something disgraceful concealed
something which could not be shown to Aie
world--c0nnected with his family.
CHAPTER X.
The day of the fete had dawned, and
though nothing Outwardly had occurred Of
q particular nature to mark the flight Of
the Intervening time, yet a very great
deal had passed in those inner regions Of
the soul which form In truth the real life.
Dick had become more and more con.
viuced that dark mystery would some
day or other disclose itself; and It was the
same with Nab, though she struggled
against the conviction, though Dick had
avoided going into details concerning the
contents of the box, and though her
youthful heart was thrilling with that ra-
diant dream Of Joy which comes with a
hrst and pure affection.
"Eather will come back prepared to
make Dick and me feel our iniquity,"
thought Mabel, % she seated herself In the
barouche. But no matter! l shall see
Neville Wynm0re once again--l shall
have sweet recollections Of the Manor.
There are some things which can never
be taken away from us!'
That day always seemed like dream to
her. Midnight had sounded before the
fete was over.
Mabel stood on the terrace, thinking
that she would soon now have said good.
BY to Lord Wynmore.
II have had what wished 20 much! !
ought now to be cOntcnt--more than con.
tent" she said, within herself; but yet she
felt very sad.
"AIiss Charlford. I have been looking for
you everywhere" said Lord Wynmore's
voice at her elbow. won't you take one
turn with me In the gr0undsY
Mabels heart thr0bbed with wild, I'M.
reasoning Joy. One more walk with him,
q few more words exchanged between
them, which she would treasure for ever
more! Silently she put her hand upon
bis arm, and under his guidance she soon
found herself apart from the thr0ng which
oiled the flower garden, and In broad,
green alley Overshadowed by trees.
II could not let you go away without
asking when am to see you again." he
said, lightly clasping the slender fingers
which lay on his arm.
She did not withdraw her hand, and be
went on
"You are staying some weeks longer ut
the Court, hopeY"
"Oh, no; my father 10 coming home next
week! We shall 90 back Immediately"
she answered, faltering little when she
alluded to her father.
''And are you not pleased to 60 homer
he said, quickly.
"Pleased?" she cried. "How could we
be pleased? Father is SO stern; and Dick
and have got into trouble! But we shall
get through It, as we have many time
beforc-only 1t II worse good deal this
time"
"What 10 worse? Who dares to make
you unhappy? oh, Mabel" he cried, for
getting bis fears, forgetting all save that
he l0nged to take her far away from every
kind Of trouble-"0h, Mabel, don't you I'M
derstand that my love for you began the
moment that first saw your divinely
beautiful face? Teach me how to win
your affection, my own beloved" And
then, his heart beating wildly, he paused
for an answer.
1t came In the shape Of burst Of tears
which she could not restrain; and soon she
was sobbing on his breast, and falterinR
out incohercntly q response to bis passion
ate pleading.
'Tell me, dearest-is there any hope
that l may win you for my own! oh,
what would not do to make you happyT'
he cried, covering her hands with kisses.
And she, slowly raising her head, MUIR
INJURED with sweet and tender rapture:
do you think ! can ever be unhappy
again? Never-never!'
"Oh, my own love. am 80 blessed as ia
be anything to your And just now
L hot