Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-06-03
CHAPTER VI.

was opening his letters, Sne 1eit thoIo"sn
~ unstrung, and unable to regard ordi-
nary troubles as tribes. SO, when Uncle
John looked up from the page ne was
reading, remnrking, with sneer: here
comes my dumb niece" Mabel, instead OF
taking It quietly and looking upon 1t as
matter Of course that her uncle should
attempt to annoy her, was guilty OF the
very unusual folly Of bursting into tears.
"This Is something equally new ana
agreeable! What charming inmate I!
shall have under my roof for the next
month"; observed Uncle John, with
biting accent. Then, to his elder niece:
"Caroline. may trouble you to give me
some cream, and to move little to the
left, so that you may avoid eclipsing oil
the sunshinc?"
Caroline, who was generally tranquil
IN any circumstances, instantly complied,
doing 30 with smile, and making no noise
or fuss In shifting her plate, cup, knife
and fork further to the left. :.
Mabel, choking back her tears, glanced
at her sister wOnderingly. How cool ana
calm she was! There was not marx
Of trouble on her brow, no sign Whatever
of the burden she must have to bear IN
carrying In her heart the knowledge that
she could not ask her fathers sanction to
her engagement to that stranger.
"How Gun she bear itT' thought Mabel,
still eying her sister; and at that mo-
ment Caroline. CHANGING to look up, met
the gaze SO full Of fear and bewilderment.
"Well, Caroline" said her uncle, taking
up one Of his letters on which there was
foreign postmark, you will be glad to
hear that your father had q good journey.
He has written Ell route for Frankfort,
and be must have gotten the letter posted
Q little before his arrival there for 1t to
have reached us SO sOon."
Caroline, oil attention, was about to
make O suitable rejoinder, when startled
Mabel, looking with affrighted eyes at her
uncle, called out:
rs that letter from--from my fatherY
Has he really writtenf"
"Have I not Just informed you that
have heard from him?" replied Uncle
John, coldly.
"And he wrote from near Frankfort"
cried Mabel, In Arrangement. -.
Eyes; he was not fur from that place"
answered Uncle John. "May l inquire
whether your evident establishment pro-
ceeds from ignorance Of the localityr'-
and he paused, awaiting her reply, while
regarding her fxedly with anything but
favor.
"No, unclc! faltered the girl, with
downcast eyes.
A sudden wild desire to see her fathers
letter took possession Of Mabel. She
would ask Uncle John to let her read u,
even though she might make him still
more angry. With unconscious entreaty
she fixed her eyes upon him, and, a. he
happened to look across the table at that
moment, his eyes encountered her ap'
pealing gaxe.
"Weil, Mabel" he said, with derisiye
smile, II shall imagine that you are re-
hesrsing for some tragedy Il this peculiar
behavior continues much longer. Does
that tragic DIR mean that you have some
thing to ask me-" -.
"Yes-ycs, uncle" she stammered. II
want to rcad-l mean, should be very
glad II you would let me see fathers let
ter" :.
SIS that allf" he rcjoined. tossing Il
carelessly toward her. Zone would have
supposed that you had your life to beg. at
the least"
Then with the utmost unconcern he re-
sumed his conversation with bis elder
niece, while Mabel. bcwildered more BY
his permission to see the letter than she
would have been by bis refusal, eagerly
read the few lines from her father, which
ran thus:
"My Dear John--l write In great haste
to let you know of my safe arrival. Thus
far ] have had o capital journey and
pleasant fellow travellers. Coming away
90 hurriedly % did. had hardly time "a
thank you for taking Dick and Nab and
Caroline OF my hands. Don't let them
rive you too much trouble. Really you
were very good to be willing to take
charge Of them for 20 long. No time fol
more, will write again In few days
Hope oil IL well with you. Your affection
ate brother, r. CHARLFORD."
Every word Mabel read only increased
her bewilderment. She was 20 absorbed
in her coujectures that she did not notics
her sister and her uncle rise from the to
Bile, but still sat with the letter In bel
hand.
III you have had time to peruse thoss
few lines, ! will trouble you for them.
said Uncle John, In bis most severe tone
Nab sprang up. startled.
'"rhank you. uncle" she said, returning
the letter. "And, oh, do tell me. when Il
my father coming homer
GLOW inexplicable you are this morning
my dear niecew cried Uncle John. II an
sorry cannot fix the date Of your father
return, but Il will be somewhere abou
this day month. % think you know al
ready;" and, gathering up his letters ant
newspapers. he prepared to quit the break
fast room.
One, two, three hours passed away, q
the end OF which Nab heard the clatter O.
horses hoofs. and, running to her win
dow, saw her sister aud uncle dismount
ing.
The gong would sound In ten minute
for luncheon, and It would almost be &C
counted treason In her not to be ready
In hot haste she smOothed her thicl
tresses, then ran downstairs, and In
quarter OF an hour she was seated q
luncheon. while Uncle John talked to he
sister about the farm that they had riddel
to look ut.
"Who Is that?" she cried. as ste
sounded outside on the gravel walk and
tall figure passed the window.
ut Ii Dick! exclaimed Mabel. jump
ing up to meet him.
"May ! ask you to sit DOWN. observe
Uncle John. /"rhere can be no reason I
run out to welcome your brother as II b
had lust returned from an Arctic journey
1t Is too ridiculous! Allow me 10 remin
you that he has merely been ON visit o
pleasure to place few miles distant.
Thus rebuked, Mabel hastily resume
her scat. Ind then Dick entered.
u hope you had pleasant party q
Lord 1ilstone's," said Uncle John, coldl!