Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-08-04


"Well. then, Mr.. Helstone, we shall
meet in the morning." the vicar said
checrily ms Godfrey took his leave ut last.
I'll come to you, and we'll have grand
day Of IT,"
II shall feel sure Of that II I have your
company" Godfrey answered with
warmth: and Mr.. Bercsford balanced
himself on his heels and laughed.
"Ah. you are trying your hand at nat
tering an old mani" he exclaimed. "Well,
well. we don't get wiser always as we
grow In years, and the old FISH, am
afraid. feels tempted to rise to the bait.
On with you, sir, and get to bed. or In
the morning you'll find me before you at
the river"
CHAPTER Xxx.
In these pleasant idle days when God.
frey was leading the same life again
that he had led In that other unforgotten
holiday 30 many years ago, a consider.
able part Of his time soon came to be
spent with jeanne. He was at the vicar.
age during some part Of every four.and.
twenty hours. As II had been Of old, he
became again almost one Of themselves,
uuu BOsuB 10 Nv uHeus A1c Oitcu
went fishing with the vicar; he made
friends with the new generation Of chill.
dren; he talked great deal with Edith,
and little with Violet, but most Of all
he cared to be where jeanne was.
She was fond Of walking, and a. often
as II was possible he used to accompany
her on her walks. At first he tried to give
an appearance Of chance to these meet.
ings with her, but presently he ventured
gradually to let her see that they did not
come by chance. One day he found her
sitting sketching, and he threw himself
down on the grass beside her.
She made her picture that day, and he
lay at her feet with feeling Of supreme
content. His life since he had been here
last seemed to be fading away from him
In these happy weeks-all growing dim
In the charm Of this recovered atmos.
phere that was giving him back his youth
and the hope that he had lost % long
ago. He often now almost forgot that
neither he nor she was young; she seem.
ed SO little changed; he felt 20 little
changed, too.
He was thinking this to-day, when,
curiously, In the midst Of his thoughts,
she began suddenly to speak about that
life that he had left behind him.
She had never done this until now;
the briefest reference to the past and to
Margaret had been oil that had ever
passed between them. But perhaps she
had already had II In her mind to break
her silence; for to-day, after there had
been pause for q minute or two be.
tween them, she all at once began to
speak In way that did not seem to b
unprecedented.
MAY ! say something to your she
asked abruptly, and rather nervously,
"You know. after that day-long ago
when saw you last-of course ] often
| thought about your marriage. often
wondered II you were content" She
hesitated for q moment. II have no right
to ask-but-you were content, were you
not 2" she said timidly.
"Yes-r was content" he deliberately
replied.
He made no other answer for q minute
but at the end Of that time he began
| to speak again very gravely.
"You helped me that day when I need
ed help" he said. "Heaven knows have
oil my life been grateful to. you. No,
never repented my marriage. My Wifi
was one OF the best and most unsel6sh Of
wonderland she never knew-what
went that day In my trouble and told 4
you. That was best-wasn't itr'
II knew you wouldn't tell her." Joann,
said quickly. ut was only to keep silen
for little while-till her love made 70,
love her."
"Well, ! did that" he answered. "Yo,
gave me strength to do II. 30 hav,
owed not o little to you, you see. oh
no, ] have not been an unhappy man
She gave her whole life to me for seven
teen years. poor girl; and she gave mi
Rita, too. My little daughter was {
great consolation to me-"
One evening. when the vicar and Mr.
Helstone happened to be alone, Godfrey
yielding to q sudden impulse, said some
thing to him about jeanne.
Mr.. Bercsf0rd, I think you must know
why ! am here" he abruptly said
"Twenty years ago, IL II had been Ia M
power. ] would have asked jeanne to b
my wife,"
"And-lad! have you come back to as
her nOwy' said the vicar, almost with
cry. There was Q m0mentary Ore In hi
face-a sudden wrath that made bis eye
fash, and gave him the look OF an oil
soldier facing his foe. But the fam
hardly lasted more than q second. t"
might have known" he added almost In
mediately, In tone that had fallen int
another key. II am an old fo0l-for
} might have known"
! "She Ii more dear to me than ] ca
trust myself to tell YOU" Godfrey sal
In low voice, for he was trying to col
troll an emotion that almost got the maj
terry Of him. "She was the love Of m
youth, but she IL dearer to me now eve
, than she was III those old days--thoug
both her youth and mine are gone. II
take her from yOu---"
J $50 you think she'll have yOu" tn
> vicar interrupted him wistfully. II
looked at Godfrey for moment. IA
well-yOu know about It, probably"
added, with an eifOrt-'and have an oil
mans dim eyes and have not seen." II
, was silent for few seconds; then, In
low voice, my poor lass" he said; ian
! did she think Of this, too. twenty yeaI
agoY'
J II never had the right to ask her that
| Godfrey answered. with keenness {
memory that sent the hot blood to b
} face.
J The vicar walked on quickly a litt
, way ahead OF his companion. They wei
near the gate that led into the meadow
and when he reached It he opened It an
/ passed through.
Zone can breathe better here" he sal
40 Godfrey followed him, land q ma
D feels the need Of deep breath at time
You see. sir, you have given me blow
|, II am afraid have" Godfrey answe