Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-12-01
CHAPTER vi.-(Continued.)

of the announcement to her of Tudels
return, and on the afternoon Of the third
that man called again. AS Irene had eS-
pected, he came to her apartment hiohe'
He smiled when he came In, and having
reached the place where the maiden SAT-,
he extended his hand; she took 1t, anu
without Il shudder. She gazed calmly up
on him. There was In her soul con
scious superiority to the man before her'
and yet. MS much as she had cause 10
dread him, her only feeling now IN MS
presence was one Of deep, unmitigateu
disgust.
"Irene," snid the visitor. In a tone
which he meant should have been very
sweet, but which sounded like the graf
ing hinges when too carefully moVed'
"you came very nigh losing me- =.
"Ah, Is 1t possible?" uttered the maid.
en-, In tone too calm for terrorf ana yet
too sarcastic for joy. 4,
Eyes; came nigh being lost man.
fell into the hands Of prowling iankee
"A Texan cruiser" resumed Tudel. d,
"Ah! said Irene, In a very guarded
tone.
"Yes; and but for my own wit and bold
daring, l should now have been i'll
Texan prison"
"Ah," said Irene again, more guarded
even than before. "Who was 1t captured
your"
"A fellow named Howard. He com
manded a heavy vessel called the Lone
Star"
The maiden said nothing to this; she
only let her hand drop upon sheet Vi
music before her, and as soon as ne,
nerves were steady. she picked II up anu
ran her eyes over the notes.
But made my escape pursued tne
dark lover, taking no note OF ms com.
panion's peculiar emotions. Il was pu,
in double irons, stout and strone-put
cast them of. There was stout man
watching over mc-but overcame MN,
killed him on the spot. and then
KILLED him." uttered Irene, ID QUICK
terrified whisper.
Jay; Of course did,"
"Killed Captain Howard?' gaspea I'M
maiden, letting both her hands drop, ant
scixing the edge Of the table. -.
"No, not exactly him; though ! wish !
might have been him. 1t was the sent
mel nc posted over me. But why does y
move you so? What had II been to 20,
II I had killed the whole Yankee crew.
"Nothing, nothing" whispered Irene
with a mighty struggle: "only though
Of your hands being red with the blood o
one who had spared your own life.'
bah! He would have given me VI
to his judges as a pirate, II he could. ~
would have brought me to the gallows'
Il had been In his power. That IL spar
ing my life with vengeance!'
Irene soon composed herself, and thei
she said, with the old GOODNESS upon her
"You were very fortunate In thus es
cnping. for Of course the Texans wOul'
have hung you IL they had found you II
their power long enough"
"Ay, lady. was most fortunate; an'
yet, In all the risk ran, the thought
meeting you once more was all that nerS
cd me on. All, am not fortunate In thu
being spared to bask In the sunlight Q
your smiles once more"
"Did you ever see me smile. serorf
the maiden asked, In quaint tone.
"Wcll-rcally--I don't know as eve
did. But you will smile; you must smil
when you are my wife,"
"Perhaps ! ought to-"
"You ought to, and you must, swee
lady. Why, 'twould be like night all tn
time to have sun that would give n
light. l think you do smile sometimes.
"When I am happy, senOr."
"Then Il shall be the work Of my ever
thought to make you happy, Irene"
"You can do 10 very easily. senor."
"Ah-pray tell me how"
"Jilok Tudel, leave me, and never thin
again Of making me your wife, and wi
not only be very happy, but ! will blei
You from the very depths Of my soul"
"Why couldn't you add, just by way {
filling up the pleasant measure, that III
cutting of my head would heighten yOr
joy?-because OF course ! should do
0, yes--Of course"
The man spoke this In tone half {
anger, and half Of irony; but he did u,
allow his passion to manifest itself.
do not misunderstood me, senior,
Irene returned, very calmly. II do NJ
wish you harm. only wish peace Il
myself"
$50 II I should take a fancy for 20,
head, and ask you to let me chop It Of
might swear that wished you no harm
but only Joy to myself. But 1t won
work, lady. thought that part Of Il
business was settled. When ! reckc
up my observation at noon, after ha,
taken the sun, don't stop to find II tw
and two make four. because that was q
tied way back In the FIRST lesson Of mat
ematics. And SO with this sum; TIL
you are to be my wife IL one Of the sol
facts of the past, that must last throul
all coming time; so now we have only
reckon up from that. ! hope you unde
stand"
Eyes, senor--very WELL"
"I'm glad Of that, because you'll kno
now how to work. But will just say
Just for your present satisfaction and &
your information for the future, and 4
your guidance, too, that nothing on Il
face Of the earth can induce me to gi'
you up. Nothing-not even death itsel
30 just consider that settled"
Certainly, senor-if you say So"
"Well, do say 50; and mean It, to
And now to something more impOrta
NOW to working out the sum. WI,
shall we be marriedT
"As my wishes are not consulted In Il
other matter, ! see not why they shOu
be IL. this" replied Irene, directly.
Because ! explained to you that Il
first proposition Is an already establish,
fact; so there Is no need Of consultil
any one about that part"
But | might surely have been consu
ed before the fact, rs you are pleased
call II, was substantiated.'
The pirate lover shook his head al
smiled
"Ah," he uttered, "whcn this fact W
made You were not quite sensible enoui
10 discuss the subject understandngly