Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-10-06
CHAPTER XVIII,

NIIhIIFN ~ Ill.
Once more Violet and Felix Lonsdale
stood face TO face. They looked at each
other for a moment in silence. To Felix
there came back, with u keen, bitter pain,
the memory of his passionate farewell;
to Violet there came the sudden. Keen
conviction that she was looking ut the
face of the only man she had ever cared
for.
Lady Maudc Arlington, much as she
disliked the brilliant young beauty, felt
pleased. after bringing the two together,
that she had screened Lady Chevenix
from observation. for she trcmblcd. her
face flushed crimson and then grew
white.
Felix was the first to speak. He did
not hold out his hands in greetings: he
simply bowed and murmurcd some few
commonplace words.
II am very pleased to see YOU, said
Lady Chcvcnix. and the words had
ring Of truth that touched both listeners
With her usual smiling grace Lady
Mnudc said:
I'VE have little time to sparc-would
you like to look at these photographer
They are quite new, and finer than any
thing ! have yet seem"
They sat all three round one OF the
pretty little tables that were covered with
pictures and books. Lady Chcvcnix turn
ed to Felix again.
II should like TO see your father and
Mrs. Lonsdale," she said. "Are they
wrllT
They are quite WELL" he told her, but
he made no response to her desire Of
seeing them.
"lie does not care ut all about seeing
me-" she thought; che does not seem In
the least degree agitated or embarrassed
he has forgotten me-" and rs the
thought came to her her eyes filed with
tears. 'llc never could have cared no
very much for me-" she said to herself;
'hc could not really have gricvcd about
losing me"
She looked ut him--hc was talking in n
lively and animated strain to Lady
Mnudc. She wondered to herself IL this
calm. proud, handsome man, so perfectly
wcll.brcd, SO sclf-posscsscd, talking SO
brilliantly TO the earl's daughter-if this
could really he the same ardent, despair
ing young lover who had hidden her a
passionate farewell. He was in no hurry
to talk to her She had rather pictured
herself as having to hint something like
prudence to him: she could have laughed
ut herself for the notion.
lie did not look at her: she doubted
even whether he had noted her rich
dress, her shining jewels. When she
spoke he replied with polite Indifference,
| with wcll.brcd calmness, but he never
once voluntarily addressed her. Il was
all so different from what she had pic.
turcd that she experienced q strange
sense OF depression.
! Lady Maude was compelled to leave
them alone for q few minutes, and then
Lady Chcvenix turned to Felix.
"liow strange II seems that we should
meet here" she said.
Yes, II is strange" he replied. II am
very often here on business-you, / pre-
sumo. come equally often on pleasureI"
1T Is my first visit she said.
| Then came the signal for dinner, and
Lady ChevcniX was little surprised to
find that Felix took down Lady Maude.
Never In her life had the beautiful Lady
Chevenix felt SO surprised. She had al.
ways heard Felix spoken Of as being
clever and gifted; but she had never
dreamed that he was really the genius he
was. When with her he had seldom spOk.
en- of anything but herself and his great
love for her. Now, for the first time,
she heard him converse with intellectual
men, who oil seemed to look M to him
as their superior. She was astounded
The great statesman, Lord hayden, talk
ed much to him, and the earl asked his
opinion.
1T does me good" said Lord hayden
Ito hear such ideas as yours, they are se