Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-09-15
CHAPTER XII.


half his fortune to make Violet his wife.
He had asked them to help him, and mad
promised them their reward. Mrs. Haye
went on a short visit to her cousin, ana
was dismayed to hear from Violet that
Felix had been to see her-that ne mad
gone back home with the hope that all
was right.
"why did you not tell him the truth,
violet?' asked Mrs. Haye, sternly. 1T
was cruel to deceive him further"
II could not, mamma" she replied, her
eyes filed with tears. "He looked SO III
and unhappy I could not"
1T was cruel kindness, Violet" de-
clared Mrs. Haye; but she said no more,
knowing that, In her daughters place she
should have done the same thing.
1t was arranged that Sir Owen should
20 down to North Alton and renew his
offer Of marriage. II Violet consented,
the marriage must take place, Mrs. Haye
said, in London. II they were married
at Lilford, Felix Lonsdnle was quite ca
pable of going into the church and taking
the bride from the altar.
So all was arranged as she desired. Sir
Owen went to North Alton. and the beau-
tiful, tickle girl who had loved Felix
Lonsdale had given up, plighted her troth
to q man she did not love--plighted 1t
because he was rich. He had taken with
him a magnificent diamond ring, which
was to be the pledge Of their engagement;
and as he placed It on her finger, he look.
cd wistfully into her face.
"You care for me q little, Violet, do
you not? You are cold bride. after all,
for man to win. II thought you real.
~ liked that lawyer better than me, !
would not ask you to marry me-upon my
soul would not! give you all have
my love and my fortune. Surely you have
a smile and kind word to give me In
return"
"Am not kind?" she asked, with an
exquisite smile-a smile that pleased him.
But she said to herself that she could
not 20 through with this new engage
ment; that she must let the wealth, the
rank, the title pass; that she must give
all up and go back to Felix. She loved
Felix, and she did not, or would she ever,
love Sir Owen?
She had few minutes for these reaec-
tons; and then he was telling her Of the
future. OF all she would cnjoy--how peo-
pie would envy her. and what position
she would take In the great bright world.
She listened. for the words were pleasant,
and forgot her pain.
To Felix Lonsdale there came strange
rumors, but he would not believe any Of
them. lie had implicit faith In Violet
1iplicit trust. Until she told him that
She was false to him he should not be-
lieve one word to that effect.
One morning he received two letters.
One was from Violet, and 1t said:
''Try to forgive me, Felix. have never
been worthy Of the great love you hav<
given me; am not worthy Of It now.
Try to forget me; for have been think.
Ing 1t nll over, and ! can see that our
engagement must be broken. You said
you would believe II when ! wrote Il.
Believe 1t now, for ! say that It must
end. In the years to come we may be
friends-never anything more.
lie read II with unbelief. Someone had
compelled her to write II. 1t had not
been one OF her own free will-of that he
was sure.
The second note was from his humble
faithful friend, Jennie, the pretty house
maid, written with many apologies fol
the liberty she had taken: but she want
cd him to know that her young lady
would be at home at The Lines that
night, on her road from North Alton &c
London. Her master and mistress were
going to London with Miss Violet, she
added, and she was afraid there wa,
mischief ON foot. 1t was her own privat,
opinion that they had persuaded Mis-,
Violet to marry someone else. IL HI
went to The Lines late that evening Sd,
would keep the entrance gate and thu
garden gate open, and she would manag,
that he should see Miss Hayc.
He read both letters through. but III
did not lose his reason this time.
calm, settled despair came to him, agains
which he struggled blindly. He woult
not believe It unless she told him so her
self-anything was more credible thar
that she should have deceived him ant
broken her word. When he believed
that, he said to himself the heaven,
would fall. Whom could she be going 4
marry? How absurd! How ridiculous
Again he wrote home to say that b,
should not return until late; and Kate
kind eyes filled with tears as she read
thinking Of how hard he was working
and her heart misgave her that II was al
for nOthipg-that the prize he was labor
Ing and waiting and hoping for woul,
never be his.
Felix went. He hated himself for 70
ing at night, when no one could see hin
for seeking clandestine interview witt
his promised wife. The night was darl
and the wind blew cold. 1t was afte
nine when he reached the entrance gate
He found 1t open, and Jennie waiting TO
him inside.
"You will not be angry with me, sir
will your" she said. But it seemed 4
me almost as though someone were beinl
killed. ] am quite sure they have per
suaded my young lady to marry sOmeOn
else. ! heard her crying bitterly thi
evening"
do yen think I shall be able to SCI
Miss Haye, Jennie?" he asked.
Eyes, sir. I will give her messag
that In few minutes will bring he
down here to you. She will not be angr'
with me-"
In few minutes she had kept he
word. The girl Jennie delivered her mas
sage, and Violet quickly appeared at tn
gate of The Lines.
Before Felix had spoken to her, befor
he had touched her hand, the moment b
had looked into her fair, dropping fac
he knew that she was guilty. Somethin
had gone from It that he was never to Sc
again; something was there which wa
never more to leave It. She gazed at hin
and gave little low cry; then, standin
before him, she buried her face In he
hands. He went up to her slowly. H
took her hands from her face and arise
1t to his own. Then the lovely eyes clOs