Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-07-13


ten years time"
"What would you say IL I told you I
had once loved girl better than do
your I asked.
That's not true" she said sharply.
eve known you all your life, and you
could not hide such thing from your
mother and me. You are only laughing
ut me, Martin"
Heaven knows I'm not laughing" I
answered solcmnly; ITS no laughing
matter. Julia, there Is a girl I love bet
ter than you. even now"
The color and the smile faded out Of
her face, leaving 1t ashy pale. Her lips
parted once or twice, but her voice failed
her. Then she broke out into short
hystcrical laugh.
"You are talking nonsense, dear Mar
tin." she gasped; you ought not! am
not very strong. Tell me II Is joke"
II cannot" I replied, painfully and
sorrowfully; at Is the truth, though l
would almost rather face death than own
It. I love you dearly, Julia; but love
another woman better"
There was dead silence In the room af-
ter those words. I could not hear julia
breathe or move, and could not look at
her. My eyes were turned towards the
window and the islands across the sea,
purple and haxy In the distance.
leave me!' she said, after a very
long stiffness; "go away. Martin"
II cannot leave you Alone" l exclaim.
cd; mo. I will not, Julia. Let me tell
you more; let me explain 1t all. You
ought to know everything now"
go awayw she repeated, in mechan-
lcal way.
I hesitated still, seeing her white and
trembling, with her eyes CLASSY and Rxed.
But she motioned me from her towards
the door, and her pale lips parted again
to reiterate her command.
How crossed that room I do not
know; but the moment after had closed
the door heard the key turn In the lock.
dared not quit the house and leave her
alone In such a state; and longed ar
IDENTIFY to hear the clocks chime five, and
the sound Of Johanna's coach wheels on
the roughly paved street.
That was one of the longest half hours
In my life. stood at the street door
watching and waiting, and nodding to
people who passed by, and who shipper
ed ut me In the most inane fashion.
The fools! I called them to myself. At
length Johanna turned the corner, and
her pony carriage came rattling cheer
fully over the large round stones. I ran
to meet her.
"For heavens sake 70 to Juliaw I
cried. II have told her."
"And what does she say?" asked Jo-
hanna.
mot a word. not a syllable" replied.
IN mn Inn haS
locked herself into the drawing ROOM"
gether," she said, "and leave me to deal
with her. Don't come In. and then I can
say you are not here"
A friend Of mine lived In the opposite
house, and though knew he was not at
permission to rest for a while.
The windows looked into the street,
and there I sat watching the door Of our
new house, for Johanna and Julia to
come out. At length Julia appeared, her
face completely hidden behind veil. 10.
hanna helped her into the low carriage,
as II she had been an invalid. Then they
drove of, and were soon out Of my sight.
BY this time our dinner hour was near,
and I knew my mother would be looking
out for us both. ] was thankful to find
at the table visitor, one OF my fathers
patients, widow, with high color. a
loud voice and boisterous spirits, who
kept up a rattle of conversation with
DR.. Dobree. My mother glanced anx.
iously ut me. but she could say little.
"Where IL Julia9" she had inquired, a.
we sat down to dinner without her.
"JuliaY" said absently; "Oh! she 10
gone to the Vale, with Johanna Carey"
"Will she come back tonight" asked
my mother.
mot tonight" I said aloud; but to my
self added, NOR for many nights to
come; never, most probably, whilst I am
under this roof. We have been building
our house upon the sand. and the foods
have come, and the winds have blown.
and the house has fallen; but my mother
knows nothing Of the catastrophe yet"
She read trouble In my face, as clearly
a. one sees thunder cloud In the sky,
and she could not rest till she had faith.
omed 1t. l went up into my own room,
where I should DO alone to think over
things. ! heard her tapping lightly ut
the door. She was not In the habit Of
leaving her guests. and was surprised
and perplexed ut seeing her.
"YOur father and Mrs. Murray are
having game Of chess" she said. 1--WE
can be alone together half an hour. And
now tell me what IL the matter? There
IL something going wrong with YOU"
She sank down weariedly into chair,
and knelt down beside her. 1t was
almost harder to tell her than to tell
Julia; but 1t was worse than useless to
put Off the evil moment.
"Mother, ! am not going to marry my
cousin, for ! love somebody else. and !
told Julia 10 this afternoon. 1t Ii broken
of for good now"
She gave me no answer, and ! looked
| up into her dear face In alarm. 1t had
grown rigid, and a peculiar blue tinge Of
pall0r was spreading over 1t. Her head
had fallen back against the chair. 1t
was several minutes before she breathed
freely and naturally. Then she did not
pale evening sky. and her lips Quivered
with agitation.
martin, 1t will be the death Of me-"
she said; and a few tears stole down her
cheeks, which wiped away.
1T shall not be the death Of you,"
exclaimed. III Julia Is willing to marry
| me, knowing the whole truth, am ready
to marry her for your sake. mother. I
would do anything for your sake. But
Johanna said she ought to be told. and
think 1t was right myself"
Who 10 1t, who can 1t be that you
loveY"
"Mother," I said, II wish I had told
you before, but l did not know that !
loved the girl as do till saw her yes.