Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-09-14
CHAPTEl, XXI.

to London.
CHAPTER xxi.
One of my first proceedings, after my
return, was to ascertain how the Eng.
lish law stood with regard to Olivia's
position. Fortunately for me, one Of DIR.
Seniors Oldest friends was a lawyer Of
great repute. and he discussed the ques-
ton with me after dinner at his house
ut Fulham.
"Therc seems to be no proof of any kind
against the husband" he said, after l
had told him all.
"Whyw I exclaimed. "here you have a
girl. brought up In luxury and wealth,
willing to brave any poverty rather than
continue to live with him."
"A girls whim," he said.
"Thcn Foster could compel her 10 re.
turn to hint" I asked.
"As far as see into the case. he GER
tainly could" was the answer, which
drove me frantic.
But there Is this second marriage" l
objected.
"'rhere lies the kernel Of the case." he
said. You tell me there are papers.
which you believe to be forgcries, pur-
porting to be the medical certificate with
| cOrroborative proof of her death. Now,
IL the wife be guilty Of framing these.
the husband will bring them against her
as the grounds OH which he felt free to
| contract his second marriage. She has
done very foolish and very wicked
thing there"
"You think she did III" I asked.
He smiled significantly, but without
| saying anything.
But what Gun be done now?' I asked,
"All You can do" he answered, rs to
| establish your influence over this fellow
and 60 cautiously to work with him. As
long as the lady Is In France, IL she be
alive. and he Is too III to go after her, she
Is safe. You may convince him by de.
grees that 1t IL to his interest TO come to
some terms with her. A formal deed OF
| separation might be agreed upon, and
drawn up: but even that will not perfect.
~ secure her In the future"
I was compelled to remain satisfied
with this opinion. Yet how could BE-
satisfied. whilst Olivia, II she was still
living. was wandering about homeless
and. as I feared, destitute. In a foreign
country?
I made my first call upon Foster the
next evening. Mrs. Foster had been tt
Brook street every day since her re
turn, to inquire for me, and to leave m
urgent message that I should go to Bell
ringer street rs soon as I was again In
town. The lodging house looked alm0s,
| as wretchcd as the forsakSn dwelling
down at Noireau. where olivia had per
haps been living: and the sitting. must,
air inside It almost made me gasp fol
breath.
80 you are come backw was Foster
greeting. ms entered the dingy room.
EYES," I replied.
IL need not ask what success you'v,
had" he said. sneering. "'Why 80 pal,
and wan. fond loverY Your trip has no
agreed with you, that II plain enough
II did not agree with Garry. either. FOL
! she came back swearing she would nevel
70 on such wildgoose chase again. 70,
know I was quite opposed to her going 2
"No," I said incredulously. The din
mond ring had disappeared from his fin
ger, and 1t was easy to guess how tn,
funds had been raised for the journey.
altogether opposed" he repeated. "l
believe Olivia Is dead. am quite sur,
| SHE HIS ucNcV ucVu VIII
me, Us Miss Ellen Martineau has been
l should have known It as surely az evcl
n tiger scented It's prey. DO you suppos,
| I have no sense keen enough to tell m,
she was In the very house where wasy
"NOnsensc!' ! answered. His eyes ellis
tened cruelty, and made me almost read,
to spring upon him. l could have seizet
him by the throat and shaken him I,
death. In my sudden passion Of loathinI
against him; but ! sat quiet. and ejacu
lated Nonsense" Such power has tn,
spirit of the nineteenth century amonI
civilized classes.
"Olivia Is dead" he said, In a soleml
tone. II am convinced OF that from
another reason; through all the miscr
Of our marriage. never knew her guilt
Of an untruth. not the smallest. She wa
as true as the gospel. DO you thin
You or Garry could make mo believe tina
she would trihe with such an awful sui
ject as her own death? No. l woul
take my oath that Olivia would neve
have had that letter sent. or written t
mo those few lines Of farewell. but t
let me know that she was dead"
There was no doubt whatever that b
was suffering from tho same disease a
that which had been the death CT m
mOther-a disease almost invariably III
tai, sooner or later. A few cases Of cure
under most favorable circumstances, ha
been reported during the last half cen
fury; but the chances were dead agains
Fosters recovery. In all probability,
long and painful illness, terminating Il
inevitable death, lay before him. In tn
opinion OF my two senior physicians, al
that could do would be to alleviate tn
worst pangs OF 1t.
His case haunted me day and night
In that deep undercurrent OF conscious
ness which turks beneath our surfae
sensations and impressions, there was al
ways present the image OF Foster, wit
his pale, cynical face ana pitiless eyei
With this was the perpetual remen
brance that subtle malady, beyond tn
reach OF our skill, was slowly eating ava
! his life. The man abhorred; but IN
sufferer. mysteriously linked with tn
memories which chung about my mother
aroused my most urgent, instructive con
passion. Only once before had watche
the conflict between disease and Its rem
! edy with SO intense an interest.
1t was a day or two. after a consulta
ton that ! came accidentally upon tn
little note book which ! had kept !
Guernsey--a private note Book, access
! BILE only to myself. 1t was night; Jacl
D as usual, was gone out, and ! was alon'
! | 7 turuol nvar tho Lon yao ,naralv for liza