Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-05-20
!E&1IDDEN KRRoRJ[1 \

eS
to bed. When bed time came and she had
said goodnight to her father, and her door
was closed, and every one In the house
supposed her to be asleep-then she would
read the secret about Dick.
Thus ran her thoughts as soon as she
and her sisters were walking across the
nelds with Miss Gray, the governess. The
fresh air had q soothing effect on Nab:
the color returned to her cheeks, and some
portion Of courage came back to her,
But all the while her eyes roved over
the landscape to see II Dick were any.
where at hand, and her thoughts were oc.
cupied with the letter lying In her pocket.
CHAPTER II.
A couple Of hours had passed; Nab had
returned from her walk, tea was over, and
she was now changing her dress In order
to appear In the drawing room for an hour
with her sisters, Meta and Bella, before
the late dinner.
This was the only time In the day when
Mr.. Charlford had any intercourse with
bis younger children, aud Nab was still
reckoned among them, for she was Us yet
only sixteen and half. The girl dreaded
this evening hour, when her father exam.
ined her In history and various other sub.
tects, looked at her drawings, eyed her
dress critically, and told her Of small
shortcomings In her behavior. II she had
spoken or laughed too loudly on any occa.
sion, this was the time chosen for repri.
manding her--in fact, no pleasant asso.
Citations were connected With the evening
meeting with her father.
She had been ready nearly Eve minutes,
she heard the younger ones run down.
stairs. yet she fingered by her open win.
dow, shrinking from what must come,
when q sharp ring ut the front entrance
startled her. What visitor could Il be that
came 10 late? She heard her own name
called hastily by her eldest sister, Caro-.
line.
"Mab!
Yes" stammered the sgitated girl, 70.
Ing forward.
where are you? Come downstairs At
once!" said Caroline. Something has
happened. Father has had a telegram
from Q great friend Of his In Frankfort.
and he Ii going to start for Germany this
evening, and will be absent at least a
month. You and and Dick are to 20 and
stay with Uncle John, while the younger
ones will be sent with nurse and Miss
Gray to the seaside"
NAB did not answer. Her immediate
sensation was one Of intense relief, Her
father going away for month! II almost
neitralixed her reluctance to 70 to Uncle
Johns.
The incidents Of the two or three hours
which succeeded this startling intelligence
passed with Nab like IN unreal dream.
The dinner was FASTENED. As soon M the
meal was over the brougham drove round
to take Mr.. Charlford to the station.
whittier Dick was to accompany him.
"NOw I will slip away and learn the
secret" thought Nah. but Caroline touch.
cd her on the shoulder.
Come and help me to move n few NJ
my things, Nab. must occupy your room
tonight, and you CON sleep with Annette.
for father had to 60 of In such haste TINT
be had his writing table carried into his
dressing room, aud his rooms will be lock.
ed up till bis return.
Poor Nab! She could not refuse: but
this new arrangement meant that she
would not be alone for one moment that
night. a. Annette. q very wakeful Girl OF
fifteen. would be with her. The myste.
rious secret seemed to b. weighing her TO
the earth. How important II must be, 10
induce her father to order bis writing
table to be carried upstairs and bis rooms
to bc locked up during his absence! oh,
for conference with Dick!
The hour for going to bed came too soon
for Nab, for Dick had not returned; how.
ever, she could find no pretense for iingcr.
ing when Caroline said, testify:
"Do 20 to bed. Nab! You will keen
Meta awake; and we have to start early
tomorrow"
And now new difficulty arose for Mab
Where could she hide securely the paper
which was In her pocket? What terrible
agitation she experienced a. her sister
prepared for bed! With what tremulous
feelings she removed her own dress, seek.
ing for the propitlOus moment In which to
draw the paper from her pocket! But
the maids eyes and Metals were upon
her, and Nab suffered SO much from aRi-
tation that she had lost her GOODNESS and
courage.
Let me hang up your dress. Miss" said
the maid, taking the garment from Mab's
unwilling hand.
With frightened gaze the girl watched
her while she was hanging the dress In
the wardrobe, wondering oil the time how
soon she could creep out OF bed In the
darkness, secure the terrible paper con.
tanning the secret and keep It In her hand.
IL need be. till day broke.
The next instant she was calling out In
frantic dismay to the maid. "Jane, Jane,
whit arQ WI, doinR p" and sho yvns rush.