Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-11-02
CHAPTER I,
They all saw It coming!

They all saw IL coming!
The drawing room windows overlooked
the bog-which, from the village on this
western side, stretched In a gradual as
cent until 1t kissed the sky far off--so
they all saw 1t coming! And then the
boys laughed and Disappeared; and the
girls laughed, too, but dared not disap-
pear, however much they wished 1t. And
the vicar made little clicking sound
with his tongue. while his wife glanced
at her guests. In mute appeal for their
special indulgence In this trying moment.
But only one Of the guests met the
glance; and Mrs. Pennington saw with
horror that her eyes soon went back 10
tx themselves on the hideous conveyance
which was making its way with fatal
and premeditated directness straight to
the vicarage gate. As for the other
gucsts-well, 1t did not signify 50 much
about him. Mortifying as 1t was that
Miss Foster should encounter plebeian
acquaintanccs on this first visit VI hers
to the vicnrage where her brother had
been educated, 1t could not signify much
to the strange gentleman. who had merely
offered her his escort because he had
been himself coming to 1relIn. Just ut
the same time.
Mrs. Pennington pluckcd up all her
spirit and moved triie nearer to her
lady guest. by that time the object at
which they all gaxed was close to the
vicarage gate. The gaunt and aged quad
ruped dropped his pinchcd head, md seix-
ed alphabetically OH the brief rest allowed
by the opening Of the gate; and immedi-
ately afterwari the Old car ratified along
ha Upu nj >ba 1nc Ian NJ I'm yu tn
slam, and were running with the car;
while the young girl who was It's solitary
occupant was too much engrossed by the
management Of her steed to see the faces
at the window MS she passed.
Jump up on the other side the car,
Nat. aud balance It; then you'll see how
smoothly we shall 80 round to the sta.
bles. You may well laugh, Tor, vt
BOrak fresh tO.dayw
And then again the girls laugh w~s the
merriest Of the three.
"Of course. I cannot be mistaken"
murmured Miss Foster. turning gracious.
~ to the vicar; hut l should hardly rec.
ognize your sons who were sitting here
% decorOusly u few minutes ago."
The vicar breathei modest reminder
OF the fact that boys will be- bOys;" but
his own chagrin was plainly readable.
"And may I inquire" added Miss Eos.
ter, In the most soothing Of tones, what
name you have for that extraordinary
vehiclef'
1T purports to be n jaunting car" said
the vicar, but It certainly Is a curious
specimen. Old Col. 1t. George had a
crippled carpenter to come into his own
yard and make It ut odd moments.
dare say you noticed what bare machine
1t is-guiltless OF padding. cushions. or
even paint; and 1t needs only that bony
animal to make It the most disgraceful
turnout In county Tyrone"
miss Pennington. let us 20 into the
garden; shall WEI"
1t, was the other guest who made this
proposal to the wears eldest daughter,
while he held open the window that she
misht pass through.
I'm 10 glad" said Celia, In a little
6utter Of delight. 1T seemed 80 odd not
rushing out to meet Nora"
Her companion was walking idly. as II
be had no aim this April afternoon, ex.
cept to let the hours pass him by.
"Was that Nora In the shanderydnn? p
"That isn't a shanderydan, MIR. royfK.
How plain 1t Ii to see you IRE not Irish
Isn't 1t a frightful old carr And yet
Nora Is ~ pleased rs possible when her
grandfather lets her drive it.
Then her parents do not Forbid"
"N0ra has no parents" interrupted &c.
Tia. "And her grandfathcr--that's old
Col. st. George-doesn't care anything
about what she does. Besides, you see,
everybody knows her: and l really thin,
that there isn't man or boy In the
neiRhborhood who wouldn't run anywhere
at Nora's bidding. And yet she Is 30 ter
ribly Wild"
Mark POynz looked down into the girl.
gentle eyes. And untamable?' lie ask
ed. In his cool, Indifferent way; but ht
did not even hear Celia's answer.
"rhis Is the garden" said Celia. with
sweeping glance across tho sooty onion
beds which lay beyond the flower Dor
ders. You Will Ike to walk round,
supposaT
As Mark not only did not say NO.
but actually stopped now and then Il
pluck wistful little anemone, or u pre-
cOcious Canterbury bell, Miss Penn.ng
ton led him on all round the stragglin,
garden. They left It ut last, by a vel.
worn gap In the hedge. and came on
near the little coach house, at the Ope,
door OF which Nora stood mending ,
heavy old whip with some Irvine. III,
boys had heard no sound OF fOotstep
ON the grass, and Nat Pennington wa
generously improving the occasion By be
slowing an amateur rundown upol
NOra'a angular steed-discOursed clleeril,