Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-22
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The C0rNiCt's Daughter, IS
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CHAPTER X,

In the autumn holiday time friends In
the south, who happened to be visiting
Scotland, were invited to stop at Mount
Morven on their way to the Highlands;
and were accustomed to meet the neigh
bors of the Linleys at dinner on their ar.
rival. The time for this yearly festival
had now come round again; the guests
were In the house; and Mr.. and Mrs. LIN
ley were occupied In making their ar
faneements for the dinner party.
Sydney's agitation at the prospect Of
meeting the ladies' In the drawing room
added charm of Its own to the flush on
her face. Shyly following, instead OF
leading her little companion into the room,
she presented such a charming appear
ance of youth and beauty that the ladies
paused In their talk to look at her. Some
few admired Kitty's governess with gen.
efous interest; the greater number doubt.
Cd Mrs. Linley's prudence In engaging a
girl 80 very pretty and so very young.
When the gentlemen came In from the
dinner table, Sydney was composed
enough to admire the brilliant scene, and
to wonder again, rs she had wondered al
ready, what Mr.. Linley would say to her
new dress.
He looked ut her with momcntary fer
vor Of interest and admiration which
made Sydney gratefully and guiltlessly at.
tached to him, tremble with pleasure; he
even stepped forward as IL to approach
her, checked himself. and went back again
among his guests. The one neglected per.
son whom he never even looked at again,
was the poor girl to whom his approval
was the breath Of Der life.
Friendly Mrs. MacEd~in touched her
arm. my dear, you are losing your pref.
~ color. Are you overcome by the heat?
Shall take you into the next room"
Sydney expressed her sincere sense Of
the lady's kindness. Her commonplace
excuse was true excuse-she had head.
ache; and she asked leave to retire. to her
room.
Approaching the door, there she found
herself face to face with Mr.. Linley. He
had just been giving directions to one Of
the servants, and was rc.entering the
drawing room. She stopped, trembling and
cold; but, In the very intensity Of her
Indebtedness, she found courage enough
to speak to him.
"You seem to avoid me, Mr.. Linley,"
she began, speaking with an air Of formal
respect, and keeping her eyes on the
ground. II hope" she hesitated, and
desperately looked at him-"I hope ]
haven't done anything to offend your
In her knowledge Of him, up to that
miserable evening, he constantly spoke to
her with q smile. She had never yet seen
him 30 serious and SO inattentive as he
was now. His eyes, wandering round the
room, rested on Mrs. Linley-brilliant and
beautiful, and laughing gayly. Why was
he looking at his wife with plain signs Of
hs -,u L. III. <oon9 Gvduov plto.
ously persisted In repeating her innocent
question: II hope haven't done anything
to offend your
my dear child, II IL impossible that you
should offend me; you have misunderstood
and mistaken me. Don't suppose-pray
don't suppose that am changed or can
ever be changed toward you" He EN-.
phasixed the kind intention which these
words revealed by giving her bis hand.
But the next moment he drew back
There was no Disgusting II, he drew back
as II he wished to get away from her.
She noticed that his lips were firmly clos.
ed and his eyebrows knitted In frown
he looked like man who was forcing
himself to submit to some hard necessity
that he hated or feared.
Sydney left the room In despair. HI
had denied In the plainest and kindest
terms that he was changed toward her
Was that not enough? It was nothing
like enough. The facts were there L
speak for themselves; he was an alteret
man; anxiety, sorrow, remorse-one o.
the other seemed to have got possession Of
him. Judging by Mrs. Linley's gayety o.
manner, bis wife could not possibly hav,
been taken into his confidence.
What did It mean2 Oh, the useless
hopeless question! And yet, again an,
again she asked herself: What did
mean?
The dinner party came to an end; tn,
neighbors had taken their departure; nm,
the ladies at Mount Morven had retire,
for the night.
On the way to her room Mrs. Prest,
knocked at her daughters door. II wan
to speak to You, Catherine" she said. I"
am the bearer Of good news. When ",
6nd It necessary to get rid Of Miss Wester
field"
Mrs. Linley's indignation expressed /,
self by look which, for the moment q
least, reduced her mother to science.
do you mean to tell me. mamma, tina
you have said to Herbert what you sol,
just now to meT'
Certainly. I mentioned II to Herber
In the course OF the evening. He wa
excessively rude. He said. Tell Mrs.
MacEdwin to mind her own business"
"What has Mrs. MacEdwin to do witt
III" asked Mrs. Linley.
III you will only let me speak, Cath
crime, I shall be happy to explain myself
You saw Mrs. MacEdwin talking to m
at the party. That good lady's head,
feeble head, as all her friends admit
has been completely turned by Miss Yves,
er6eld. II, by any lucky chance, Mis-
: Wcsterfeld happens to be disengaged 4
the future, Mrs. MacEdwin's house
open to her-at her own time and on he
own terms. promised to speak to yo
on the subject, and perform my prom
Use. Think over it; strongly advise 20
to think over It,
Even Mrs. Lnley's good nature declin
ed to submit to this. II shall certainly no
think over what cannot possibly happen,
she said. "GOOd night, mamma"
Mrs. Presty passed through the dress
Ing room on her way out. The way to he
own bed chamber led her by the door O
Sydney's room. She suddenly stopped
the door was not shut. This was In itsel
a suspicious circumstance. A strict sens
of duty conducted Mrs. Presty next int
the room; and even encouraged her to az
prOach the bed on tipt0e. The bed wa
empty; the clothes had not been disturbe
since Il had been made In the morning!