Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-06-24

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ing dress that she had been wearing.
ut 10 the last time that shall put on
such drcss-the last time that shall
wear an ornament" she thought, remov.
Ing the Jewels that she had worn all the
evening.
Then she searched In her wardrobe for
the plainest black dress she possessed.
Henceforth her dress should accord with
her altered life. When she had done all
this she sat down, waiting for the day.
Four o'clock--fvc-six! And with the
summer morning sounds Of life and move.
ment awokc In the household. Mabel rous.
ed herself from her stupor Of grief to meet
the immediate requirements Of the day.
CHAPTER XIV.
Midnight! Each of the twelve slow
strokes seemed to steal away q portion of
Mabel's young life. But the time for
action had come. An hour since she had
listened to the closing Of doors and win.
dows which told her that the household
had retired to rest.
At half.past twelve. robcd In her black
dress, she stole down to her fathers study.
In q few minutes more he himself would
be there. Cold refreshments, wine and
fruit had been placed on tho table. Poor
chlld--shc little dreamed In what manner
she was to remember this fOrcvcri
Casting wild, hurried glance round the
apartment, she muttcrcd: "Oh, Neville, Il
10 for your sake--for oil your sakes-that
I do this!'-and then, crossing tho room,
she ensconccd herself In recess close to
which stood a cabinet filed with choice
Oriental china.
Click! A door was swung back on ito
hingcs-a footstep was audible; her faith.
or had returned. The hour she had wait.
cd for had arrived.
She heard him come 10; through the mar.
row slit In the hanging drapcry: she saw
him approach the table on which the sun.
per was spread. Then he laughed sardon.
ically, and savage words broke from his
lips:
"Now let him come! He has gone too
farw
Mabel. filed with a new and awful
dread, watched and listened.
"Ha. ha" continued her father, takins
small object from his pocket. HE will
learn too late to beware Of the anger Of q
patient mani"
Good heaven! what did he mean? What
was he about to do? The dreadful thought
which flashed into Mabel's mind paralyxcd
her.
Her father held up to the light tiny
vial. poured a few drops Of tho liquid Il
contained into q glass, then swallow
some champagne and dropped into chair.
In an agony Of despair Mabel clinched her
hands, saying to herself, % she looked at
her father:
II will save him! will save him yet!''
At that instant the quiet was broken By
a cautious tapping without. and the clock
struck one.
"Thcre he IT," said her father, mutter.
Ing the words savagcly; but he can walt
a moment" Then hc poured yet another
drop Of the liquid into the glass, set II IL
the place meant for bis visitor and made
his way slowly to tho garden entrance.
Mabel glldcd swiftly from her hiding
place. seized another glass on the table,
substituted II for the one into which her
father had poured the liQuid-which she
drained into the shavings In the fireplace
and was back again In the recess while
her father was still at the outer door.
She had done all In restrained frenzy;
and now she had passed into new stage
Of emotion-shc no longer felt that life
was over for her. Happiness was gone,
but she must live to lead her father back
to repentance.
600 in--you know your own way" were
the first words which struck her ear 40
the unwclc0mc visitor was ushered In.
II am. as usual, the soul Of punctuality,"
returned the other.
Both men spoke In a cautious under.
tone, even after the door was closed aud
they had seated themselves.
"Well. which Ii It to bc---busincss FIRST
and pleasure aftcrward, or vice versaY Il
you have walked far, you would like sup
per first"
"NO--business first." replied the man. In.
solently. "NOw, then. Elton, are you pre-
pared to act on q prOverb which In by.
gone times You used to quote to Me-'A
word to the wise IL cnoughy II so, our
Interview will he as short one rs you
could desire and our farewell final one.
want ten thousand pounds; and 1t 10
worth your while to give 1t to bc.'
"ren-thousand-pOunds" he repeated
slowly. as II he could not believe his own
ears.
"iou are able TO give II to mo. Fiiton. as
You know well enough. What-you have
u fair daughter"-hc laid a strange empha.
sis upon tho Neutrality-suspicious. to wed
a noble lord, and do you hesitate? Why,
she will pay you five hundred a year if
need be- to keep all dark, II you go to her
when she Is my lady with a tale plausi.
bic enough! But that IL your affair--the
reimbursement! Why. the money ask
IL nothing to man with your rcsOurccsl
What ask for Is too little--I must really
make 1t fifteen thousand"
"YOu cannot mean II! exclaimed Mr..
Charlford. raising his head.
II do mean II, though; aud shall stick
to It! What Is the use Of haggling over Q
paltry extra tive thousandy"
Observation-Disclosures" fell slow.
~ from the lips Of Mab's father.
"Fifteen-ycs, that's the figure" laugh.
cd the other man. "Well, how much Of It
am ! to have t0.nighty"
'"The utmost ] can do IL five thousand
down; and, to scrape that together, l have
borrowed Of John Charlfori, aud sold out
some Of my stock at great loss. You must
see that ! am doing all ! can" said Mr..
Charlford. a. II In desperation.
What you have to compass is--all that
! want" rejOined the other, with Q dis.
agreeable laugh, low and distinct. like his
"You were willing little while ago to
take ten thousand, and now you demand
Gftecnw exclaimed Mab's father.
"Yes-nOw demand fifteen! Moreover,
] mean to pocket It! You've kept me wait.
Inv. You zee: and. besides You are abOut