Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-08-18
CHAPTER If.-tContinued.)


Love and youth were strong WITHIN
him: he could not breathe within the
narrow compass Of four walls that nignt.
lie went ont into the moonlight; ne couid
Nhink Of Il ull--realize 1t all--better there.
lie had won Violet. She was his own,
abe beautiful girl whom everyone loved
and admired-his own, to love him ana
bless him. to crown his life.
The union was a settled thing. Both
families met and talked II over. 1t was
a certainty; and a few days after Felix
had placed the little ring on Violet's fin.
ger he went to make inquiries about the
cottage, while Mrs. Lonsdale said to her.
self more than once: II do not know how
Ii II, but wish that he had chosen Eve.
lyn Lester"
Hers was the one pure, gentle heart to
which the news of the engagement came
like a terrible blow, although 1t bad long
been expected. Evelyn Lester had never
even owned to herself that she loved
Felix Lonsiale, yet when she heard the
news 1t seemed to her that the bright
face OF heaven was hidden from her by
a dark funeral pail. They had oil been
children together, and In their childish
auarrels 1t was always Evelyn who de.
Tended Felix. He could do no wrong In
her eyes; In her opinion the wide world
held no other 80 brave, so handsome or 80
noble; and the childish love had uncon'
sciOusly grown with her-she called II
Friendship, and believed It to be nothing
else.
1t was the puzzle Of the whole neigh
borhood how so sweet girl rs Eve Les
ter could have grown up under the charge
of one like her Aunt Jane. She was the
perfect type Of an English girl-graceful
healthy, with a rounded figure, a cleai
complexion, fair brown hair, red, ripe
lips, face that one would call sweet
rather than beautiful. OF hundred mer
perhaps nincty.nine would have passed
Eve by and thought but little Of her; thu
hundredth would have considered hel
face one Of the sweetest and dearest
There was q quiet dignity about her, {
graceful ease and self-possession that dc
lighted her aunt. Evelyn had small FOR
tune entirely ut her own command, bu
her aunt was always ut hand to see tina
there was no undue expense.
Outlands was a pretty farm not NOR,
than half a mile from Lilford, and Mis-
Lester was supposed to have mad,
money. She, with her niece, belonged Il
the gentry, but, owing to the elder won
ans peculiarities, the two ladies' visited
seldom and seldom received any visitors
II there was one man In Jane Lester
eyes less contemplate than another !
was certainly Felix Lonsdale.
1.-THE boy has a beautiful face" sh,
was accustomed to say Of him, "and beau
~ Is a woman's gift"
So, because he had a "woman's gift,
Miss Lester looked more kindly on him
She liked to see him ut Outlands. Sh,
gave him any amount Of good advice; sh
was pleased that he should be friend 0
Evelyn.
No one was more delighted than Jan
Lester to hear Of the legacy, but the en-
gagenicnt did not please her 40 well. Low
and marriage were folly In her eyes.
IT am disappointed In you, Felix Ions
dale" she said, sharply. II thought 20,
had a little more sense than the general
ity of men. Pray expect no congratula
lions from mel have none to give"
But Eve smiled at him with her clear
tender eyes.
II am very pleased" she said, "for
know that you love Violet dearly"
1--WE shall always be friends" he toll
her.
And she answered him with happ
smile on her sweet face.
Always"
They would always be friends; for sh
desired nothing better In life than tn
friendship Of Felix LOnsdale.