Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-22

the combined influences OF smoke and
noise. His mind, oppressed all through
the evening, was rs III at ease as ever.
Lingering, wakeful, and irritable In the
corridor, he stopped at the open door,
and admired the peaceful beauty Of the
garden.
The sleepy servant, appointed to attend
in the smoking room. asked II he should
close the door. Linley answered: go to
bed and leave II to me-" Still lingering
at the top of the steps, he was tempted
by the refreshing coolness Of the air. He
took the key out of the lock; secured the
door after he had passed through It; put
the key in his pocket, and went down into
the garden.
CHAPTER XII.
With slow steps Linley crossed the
lawn; bis mind gloomily absorbed In
thoughts which had never before troubled
his easy nature; thoughts heavily laden
with burden Of self.reproach. Linley
entered the shrubbery, because It happen.
ed to be nearest to him.
The instant afterward he was startled
BY the appearance Of figure emerging
into the moonlight from the further end
Of the shrubbery, and rapidly approach.
ing him.
"Who Il out 80 late" he asked.
A cry Of alarm answered him. The fig
ure stood still for q moment. and then
turned back as II to escape him by flight.
Don't be frightened" he said. "Surely
you know my voicef"
The figure stood still again. He showed
himself In the moonlight, and discovered
Sydney Westerfield,
your he exclaimed.
She trembled; the words In which she
answered him were words In fragments.
''The garden was 80 quiet and pretty
thought there would be no harm--please
let me 90 back-I'm afraid shall be shut
out"
She tried to pass him. my poor child"
he said, "what II there to be frightened
about? I have been tempted out by the
lovely night, like you. Take my arm. II
Is SO close In here among the trees. II
We 60 back to the lawn, the air will come
to you freely"
She took his arm: he could feel her
heart throbbing against II. Kindly silent,
he led her back to the open space. Some
garden chairs were placed here and there;
he suggested that she should rest for
awhile.
I'm afraid shall be shut out" she
repeated. pray let me 20 back"
He yielded at once to the wish that she
expressed. "You must let me take you
back" he explained. ''Thcy arc oil asleep
at the house by this time. No! no! don't
be frightened again. have got the key
Of the door. The moment I have opened
II, you shall 60 In by yourself"
She looked at him gratefully. "You are
not offended with me now, Mr.. Linley,"
she said. "You are like your kind self
again."
They ascended the steps which led to
the door. Linley took the key from his
pocket. II acted perfectly In drawing
back the lock: but the door, when he push.
cd Il, resisted him. He put his shoulder
against It, and excrted his strength help.
I'd by his weight. The door remained i'm.
movable.
Had one Of the servants-sitting up
later than usual after the party, and not
aware that Mr.. Linley had gone into the
garden-noticcd the door, and carefully
fastened the bolts on the inner side? That
was exactly what had happened.
Cant we make them hear usY" asked
Sydney.
"Quite impossible. Besides" He was
about to remind her Of the evil construc.
ton which might be placed on their ap.
pearance together, returning from the gar.
den ut an advanced hour Of the night; but
her innocence pleaded with him to be 81.
lent. He only said, "You forget that We
oil sleep ut the top Of our old castle. There
Ii no knOcker to the door, and no bell that
rings upstairs. Come to the summer house
In an hour or two more We shall see the
sun RISE"
As O mark of respect on her part, she
offered the armchair to him; It was the
one comfortable seat In the neglected
place. He insisted that she should take
Il; and searching the summer house, found
q wooden stool for himself. "What should
have DONE" she wondered, III ! had
been shut out of the house by myselfT
Her eyes rested on him timidly; there was
some thought In her which she shrank
from expressing. She only said: II wisl
knew how to be worthy Of your kind
ness"
Her voice warned him that she wal
struggling with strong emotion. Linley
treated her like . child; he smiled. and
patted her on the shoulder. Nonsense"
he said gayly. "Therc II no merit In be-
ing kind to my good little governess."
She took that comforting hand-it wal
harmless impulse that she was unable
to resist---she bent over II, and kissed !,
gratefully. He drew his hand away from
her a. IL the soft touch Of her lips hat
been FIRE that burned II. "Oh," she cried
shave I done wrong"
"No, my dear-no, nc"
. There was an embarrassment In bill
manner, the Inevitable result of his fea
OF himself II he faltered In the resOlut'
exercise of self.restraint, which was per
fectly incomprehcnsible to Sydney. Com
pletcly misunderstanding him, sh'
, thought he was reminding her Of the dis
|. lance that separated them In social rank
A fit OF hysterical sobbing burst Its wa!
through her last reserves Of self-contrOl
she started to her feet, and ran out OF thu
summer house. Alarmed and distressed
he followed her instantly.
She was leaning against the pedestal O
a statue In the garden, painting. shudder
ing, q sight to touch the heart of a IA
less sensitive man than the man who nov
approached her. Sydney" he said
"Dcar little Sydney?" She tried to speal
to him In return. Breath and strength
! failed her together; she would have fallel
, II he had not caught her In his arms. He
head sank family backward on his breast
He looked at the poor little tortured face
turned up toward him In the lovely moon
light. Again and again he had HONORABLE,
restrained himself-he was human; h
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