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

Gray was talking to Caroline, the win.
dows being all wide open, Nab passed out
softly on to the lawn.
| In a happy dream she went on towar,,
the arbor, walking in the shadows over
the lawn. When within sight Of the sum.
mer house she paused and looked IN ut
the sky. listening all the while for night.
ingale; but everything was strangely still.
All at once she caught sight Of a figure
moving along the grecnsward toward the
arbor.
| 1T must be Dick" she thought-"Dick
come here to see II should be out! But
how early he has returned! Certainly the
Rectory people are always early"
| In another second she would have called
out "Dick, Dlckw and then her fate and
that Of all belonging to her would have
been far different. But, as her lips parted
to utter her brothers name, sudden
sharp and well.remcmbercd fear shot
through her heart, and she stood still
waiting for what might happen; for she
had Just distinguished another figure
that Of man-hcr fathers surely-creep.
Ing toward the summer house.
Two men. as there had been, not here.
but miles away. on that often. recalled
night when she and Neville had first mot
Yes. there were two men, and one Of them
was wearing wide. brimmed hat.
with fast.throbbing heart she stood for
some moments like statue; then, whis.
pering to herself, ut Is for Ncville's
sake" she moved forward and paused In
the shadow Of an overarching bough lust
outside the entrance to the arbor.
At that instant voice came from the
summer house:
80 you were here iirst!"
The words meant nothing In themselves.
but. oh. the terror with which they filled
the girl! For II was Enthusiastically her
father who uttered them, distinctly but
cautiously. A voice replied to him out Of
the gloom:
First? am always first"
Great heaven-thc second mans voice
she also recognised! Had she not heard Il
on IN occasion that she could never for.
get! 1t was the very man who had met
Caroline who spoke those last words-it
was the same man who had also met her
father BY the pool. In that bitter moment
Mabel felt as II wounded to death; In.
stinctively she OWNED that something
was about to happen which must sep.
arate her from Neville.
Her fathers firm denial Of ever having
met anyone In the boathousc at her uncle's
or elsewhere BY night or In secret rushed
to Mabers memory as she heard Mr..
Charlford speaking again while she
crouched In the shadow.
BE as brief as you can, Lane" he said.
What In It you want Of mcy"
II cannot be brief tonight" returned
the man. II must recapitulatc little. It
IL Of no use TO tell me to be brief to.
night"
"Then for heavens sake do not speak
hcre! cried Mr.. Charlford. "Would you
imperll your own safety a. we'll % mine :
You declared In the strongest terms that
you would never do anything which might
put q stop to my-to Mabcl's marriage!"
Don't lose your head and your temper
together. Filton," replied the other.
Speak ! must-whcrc ID II to bc?"
Tomorrow. then, couple Of hours
later than this In my study" returned
Mabs father. hastily. '"Thcre will be less
risk there than In our meeting at an inn,
for, OF course. ] am known oil over the
county"
"You will let me In By the Window Il
will be late" said the man.
"You will come 10 BY the side door. Pay
attention to what I am saying to you,"
said Mr.. Charlford. my family will ex.
pcct me to return from London By the
midnight train tomorrow. It 10 not my
custom to keep any one up to admit me-
my own key does that. Refreshments arc
therefore placed ready, and every one re.
tired. Como to supper II you will. and We
will settle business definitely. Even you
yourself must admit tho danger Of these
meetings"
Tho other did not answer, but plilcd
out OF the arbor. aud disappeared across
tho lawn.
NAB stood a. II pctriacd. In ono brief
moment she had passed out of the sweet.
ness Of life into the horror Of death, In
the stupor which fixed her to the spot she
observed her father come to tho entrance
Of tho summer house and heard him Gull
softly sitter the man who had lust Quilted
him. But tho man did not hear the coll,
aud her father did not repeat II.
mo matter" he muttered-'no mat.
ter!'.-and then sound Of fearful laugh.
ter reached her ears. There was such
menace dlstinguishable In the sound that
Mabel shuddered. "I.ct him come at ]
o'clock tomorrow; shall be glad to see
him!"
/ Tho words were muttcred In the same
tone 90 before. and then the speaker
moved away and was lost amid the shad.
Ows Of the night. But he did not 70 to.
ward the house; he stole away In the
direction OF the long avenue which led
toward the high-road.
With straining eyes Mabel Gaxed after
the vanishing figure which had taken
away all her young lifc's Joy. Mechan-
ically she turned her steps toward the
house, pissed In Mt tho hnll door md nm