Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-08-19
CHAPTER Nv,


ily--and the other pressed upon her
bosom, over the region of the heart. The
youth saw that she was weak and rant
and he supported her tenderly.
"Dear lady, what can I do for you?
This Is Mr.. Krupp's dwelling. Shall
conduct you inT'
"No! nor =,
"But. dear madam--dear mother
flush! I shall be strong In moment.
We will stand here. Let me lean upon
your arm, Robert. There-so. My breath
Il coming. I have hurried out to speak
with you. I might have waited, but l
know that from this time l am to be
watched very narrowly. While you were
closeted with my husband In the reception
room I made a discovery, or my maid
made II for me, and communicated II.
Mr.. Eastcourt has two new servants In
the house, one Of whom received you this
evening; and those servants are OF his
Tory band, and have been posted In the
house that all that transpircs may be re-
ported to the master. Every word We
spoke In the parlor this night he Will
know. Now want you to tell me what
my husband said to you In that ante
room. Give me his words as nearly as
you can"
After a little reflection the young man
went on and gave an account OF the inter-
view, reproducing the conversation al
most word for word.
"And you believed he was sincereF
said the woman, who had not interrupted
him while he was speaking. And you
thanked him?"
II expressed my gratitude. ! could not
do otherwise. As for his sincerity, hard.
IL knew what to think. was amazed"
"And well you might have been. And
he asked you to promise that the friend.
shin between you should not be severedT
ayes, he asked me that, but did not
promise In that way. ! promised that
the severing Of our friendship should not
be the work Of my hand.
"You were safe In that, Robert, for be
sure there can be no friendship between
Won two. Jacob Eastcourt II traitor at
heart. and he only seeks to betray you.
fHush! I know whereof speak, and for
the sake Of those whom ! dearly love l
nave resolved to speak plainly-for the
sake OF yourself and Lillian, who are to
me a. the twin apples Of my eye-the
children Of my mothers love. Do not In
terrupt me. but listen. I must not tarry
long, for my absence must not be discov'
cred"
she rested her head upon Roberts arm.
and after q pause, during which she SEEM
ed to be summoning her strength, she re-
sumed: 49,.
at IL q dying woman who II speaking
70 you. Robert. I have not dared to tell
Liiiian. but must tell you. The bullet
that turks In your fathers vitals 10 not
more surely fatal than 10 the foe to life
that has set it, memorable grasp upon me.
Ny physician, who knows me well, ana
IN whom have every confidence, assures
me that another attack will be most like
II to close my earthly career. You know
how have suffered; and how ] have
grown weaker, day BY day"
"Yes--yes-I know" replied the youth.
in startled, anxious tones; but you must
not give up. o! do not--do not-speak
Of dyinsw
Il must be told. have Q reason for
speaking. must have had reason, very
crave aud weighty, to have led me hither
at this hour. while spies are In my house
but have come, and ] must speak tine
naked truth. While live my darling IAl'
liam may be protected, because. u worst
should come to the worst, ! could call for
help upon the Committee Of Safety. But
even that opportunity, though life were
continued to me, may not long be mine
A few short months may bring wondrous
changes. Warrington cannot occupy the
large towns. His army must be constant.
II on the offensive. When the British are
driven from New York, they Will be like
II to come to Philadelphia. They never
can and footing again In Boston. And II
Lillian 10 In that hour without q mother.
you must watch over her"
"Dear mother, did not her father prom
ice me this very night that"
"Oh, Robert, Robert, are you 30 blind
% to have listened seriously to those false
wordsY Listen to me-and call God Il
Wltaess that ] speak what ] know to bs
the truth-Jacob Eastc0urt does not near
that Lillian shall ever be your wife! He
would make you the cat's.paw with which
to rake bis chestnuts from the fire, and hl
win hold out to you Lillian's hand to en-,
tice you on. He means to hold you bound
to him while he can, and through you be
hopes to gain Information which will bt
valuable to the kings cause. He will use
you. II he can, and he will betray y0u
when It suits bis purpose. Robert, hs
hates you most Indignantly
But" gasped the youth, horri6ed, N.
must have some regard for his daughter
He 10 human-he has heart"
Sometimes" replied the woman, "l
think him not quite human; and I OTTER
think him without heart. His treat
ment Of his daughter IL marvel. hay,
watched him long and narrowly, and hav,
looked In vain for glimmer Of thai
warmth which parent 10 supposed I,
feel towards an only child. There Is ,
mystery about the mana mystery which
cannot fath0m. ] am sometimes led Il
doubt whether Lillian Is In truth hi,
child. She may have been the child OF
his Arst wife, and not been his. That tirs
wife may have been q widow, az was
or But am lost when start out into
this mystery. ! only know that Lillial
has never received from Jacob EastcOur
one warm beaming of fathers love; ani
In the trial that is to come he will seel
to use her for his own profit and advan
tage. ] tell you, Robert, he would thi,
night, with his own hand, II he dared
plunge dagger to your heart sooner thar
see You wed with his daughter. ] know
this-l know 1t! Oh, he wants to betra,
you-to use you to his own base purposes
and In the end he will seek to destroy
you, holding Lillian for higher game.
once heard him muttering In his sleep O
l0rdships and earldOms. He knows tina
LILLIAN II very beautiful, and no doubt b,
hopes through her to win Relationship I,
q wealthy and influential member OF III,
British nobility. There are plenty of nd
BILE lords aud knights In the English ar
N.Y."
"Dear LADY," cried Robert, tremblin,
40