Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-06-10
s$29-$~u$-x-- M'mA
N E1IDDEN RRRORJ \
CHAPTER VIII.

VHAf lLN WILL
Breakfast was over, and Uncle John had
called Dick into bis gun room, leaving
Caroline and Mabel alone to follow their
own devices. Now was the moment for
speaking to her sister. Mabel decided: and,
however much she shrunk from her task,
she was res0lute.
MAIDS face was fearful and pleading
when she closed the door Of their sitting
room, and she sunk upon her knees beside
her sister.
Caroline" she gasped out, "you will be
shocked and panied. but It II my duty to
tell you! You have been deceived"
:'What do you meanY" asked the other,
turning somewhat pale.
Il meant mean," faltcred Nab, that
the night before last Dick asked me to run
down TO the pool and fetch a box Of hies
which he had left there. and which be-
longs to uncle; and, as there was no OPP
portunity to 60 before bed time, went
after We had said good night to Uncle
John. When got TO the boat house IL
saw oh. dear Caroline. you can guess
what Il coming. cant your
mo, indeed, cant. Nab" her sister
answered, In cool. hard tone. PRAY cx.
plain YOURSELF"
"What-you cannot guess what saw
cried Mabel, In thrilling tone. "You dc
not know? saw a man, Caroline. and
saw you-youw
"MeY said Caroline. In a perfectly nat.
ural tone Of surprise. "What can you
mean, MabY I had gone to bed"
Caroline, do you suppose could make
q mistake In your idcntity--that l do not
kMn Av,s WhV
was not two PAGES from you. oh. dom
he afraid to trust me, dear, for l only wish
you to be happy, and not to be cruelty de-
ceivcd. And before you came down to the
boat house, when was afraid to move Out
OF the shadow for fear Of being seen my
self by that man. caught the words nc
was muttering to himself about you; and
he Ii only pretending 10 feed alteration fol
you just for his own ends. He said"
But here Caroline interrupted hci
haughtily.
"llavc you taken leave Of your senses
Mabel? DO you understand what you are
accusing me of-mc--your elder sister
How dare you say such thing! Take
care. or shall complain to my uncle"
Nab sprang up from her knccling pos
turc. facing Caroline with resolution.
"Oh, Caroline, you cannot mean to deny
iw
ITO deny whatw asked the elder girl.
'"rhat you were In the boat house with
that stranger-that you talked with him
that you spoke to him as II you were ain
anced to him-that you promised to TAXI
something to London for him while he was
abrOnd-that he spoke Of coming to asl
your hand Of father. but not until bis owl
hands were full OF gold" And. out O
breath with haste and painful emotion
Mabel paused. looking cntrcatingly ut hel
sister.
But Caroline drew herself up with a dis
dainful air.
II tell you what It 10, Nab" she said
"you will get yourself into trouble sOm'
day-rcal trouble-if you 90 running out a
night when you are supposed to be In bed
In order to do Dicks errands. What wOult
Uncle John say II he knew It'll II you pre-
sumo to say another word about me II
connection with ttN absurd story, I shall
tell him what occurred. BE good enough
to ascertain the truth Of matter bcfOr,
you run away with ridiculous tale abou
Your own sister"
"Oh. Caroline, Caroline" was all Nal
could utter.
"YOu will listen to me now, II 20,
please" said Caroline. with a proud gcs
ture. II shall not detain you long.
promise you. have no doubt whatever
that you did actually see some man ant
some woman down by the boat house o,
the night before last. and that In YOU
fright and excitcmcnt--and you bccom,
more and more cxcitablc every day--yO,
k~ ss,ttI, mn fpsNs,
fancicd resemblance"
'Then you deny It," gaspcd Mab-"yo.
deny It alp
Caroline gave her look Of supreme dis
dain. but would not answer. aud unhapp!
Mabel was left alone.
Poor Nab! She was 30 young. 10 sur
rounded by impending troubles. aud sh,
had no counselor but Dick. To him sh'
had only time to whisper a sentence o.
two after the midday meal.
"Oh. Dick, Caroline denies It nll, ant
threatens to tell uncle! She insists that
made mistake; but It Is no mistake"
Dick had given her troubled look ful
of sympathy, but had not been able Il
speak. for the others were within hearing
and. us she sat under thorn tree on tn,
lawn after they had driven away. sh'
broodcd sadly over what had happened.
Oblivious Of outer impressions. she ii,
not notice that q carriage In which wer,
seated an elegantly dressed lady and ,
tall, handsome man, who was driving, hat
turned into the park aud was now near tn,
house. But the noise of the house bel
sounding over the lawn and the grinding
OF wheels upon the gravel caused Mabc
to become aware that visitors had Gale,
at her uncle's.
"What good thing that am not out
yet" she thought. "f0r have no heart 4
see visit0rs!"
But. lest they should discover her, sh,
left tho shady seat beneath the thorn tree
and, sheltered by the bushes. gained tn,
sweep OF greensward where stood the sum
mer house forever memorable IN Nab
eyes.
what a hero he would have been Il
olden tin,es!' said the girl to herself
thinking Of Lord WynmOre, while n GLOW
came to her cheeks aud her eyes bright
encd. Notwithstanding her dependency
"Oh. hope that shall have little tall
to him again before we go home! What
pity that no one but Dick must ever know
how good he was to mel"
She sat down on n garden seat, waiting
till she should hear the carriage roll away
and soon she caught the expected sound
Then. rising mechanically, she made he
way again toward the thorn tree. But sh
had not gone many PAGES when she hear'
her name pronounced behind her; aud
turning In surprise, she came face to fac
with Lord Wynmore himself.
"How do you do. Miss ChArlford? VIII
yo,, forgive mo for entering BY the gree