Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-03-01
IRENE'S vow
by CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME.,
by CHARLOTTE N. DRAEME.,

| "Well." he cried. half impat iently. SAY
what you have to say, 1rene."
| What does this meanY' she asked.
| My dear. II tried to explain. or even
to understand all that newspapers say,
! should never have finished"
| Hubert. you must speak earnestly to
me; light word Jars on me. want to
know what right any journal has to pub.
lish such thing Of a man who Is al
ready married"
MY dear Irene, they will publish any.
thing; the difficulty with them Is to know
what not to publish"
You must write and contradict it,"
she said. impcriously.
II should be very sorry" he said,
laughingly; ut Is not worth the trouble"
ut Is question Of my honor" she
said.
| "A question of nonsense" he replied.
"iou know quite well that there Is not
a marriagenbc man in England Of whom
they do not say the same thing"
| But that Is circumstantial; 1t enters
into detail is 1t true that Hendcn Il Son
have received orders to decorate the
Mere?"
| Yes he answered. several weeks
|
since: that Is true enough"
| And 1t Is for me, for you to take me
home there, Is 1t not, HulbertY"
| There was something of sharp anguish
In her voice that touched him, and he
turned to her with a caressing gesture Of
ms nnnd.
| no" she cried; do not touch me;
make this clear to me--tell me how you
| VIII contradict 1t. Must lie IKE this
IA ne thnt involves my honor-g0 abroad
10 a., 'ne w9riu without contradiction
My dear irene, do not be SO very I'M
petuc's. am very patient. as a rule,
; put ! cannot stand too much impetu'
osity.
| 'ou 40 hot seem 70 remember tnat u
] Is matter OF life or death Tor me-, she
cried. You are my husband, ! am your
wite. How then, do they dare to circu'
late this story that you are to marry an
otmer woman!
| The sweet voice thrilled with pain. but
did not falter; the beautiful face flushed
with hre ana indignation; he saw that
she was In. no mood to be trifed with.
what do YOU wish me to DOR he ask
cd. hotly. This Is scene-and l hate
scenes-what do you wish me to doT
rumor. Say boldly that 1t is not true;
then make your marriage with me known
to the world. Whatever may have been
your motive for Keeping II secret 1t can
not be 80 important as my honor. Listen,
Hubert. the honor Of your wife demands
that you should do So"
Il do not see It," he replied, coldly.
Hubert. have you ever loved this
| Lady liraT
you are the only woman ! have ever
loved. and you know 1t. IRENE" he re-
piled.
why have they connected the name
with yours!' she asked. '"Why. IL there
be no reason for 1t, should they say that
you are going to marry her rather than
anyone else :"
"rhe sapient public have made up their
mind that 1t Is to be n match; and per.
hnps they think 1t a suitable one. II 80.
why need l Interfere! Lot Us leave 1t
alone. IRENE
NO.. she replied; there are some
cases where to yield Is madness. My
yielding now would be wrong. Write to
this Journal to express your surprise that
they should wantonly insert what they
know % DO untrue; secondly, write to the
lady-Lady i.ira Gerant--sny the same
thing to her. that 50 far as lies In your
power you apologize for the annoyance
this rumor must have caused her; then.
to prevent q repetition OF II, make your
marriage known to the world"
what u ! decline any OF these steps.
ireneT h. asked.
Then ! shall take measures to defend
myself. she replied.
lie laughed; aud there was enough Of
n sncer In his laugh to rouse oil the pride
and anger within her:
what would you dor he asked.
Write to the editor hrst OF all. then
to Lady Gerant.
"iOu dare MOI. y he cried. sudden fierce
anger lenping In his face. you dare
not. Irene"
u dare, ana ! would she replied. II
love you with all my heart and soul. but
J love honor more. ] would write to Lady
Gerant and say how sorry ! was to lind
that such false rumors were circulated;
that ! myself have the happiness OF being
SIR Hubert EstnAre's wife. and that
feIt Indignant at her name being used
ut ALL
you would DO that. IreneY" he said,
bis race dead white with anger; you
would 10 It. after promising to keep the
secret OF our marriage Just as long a. !
wlshed'
d'd promise that: nut then there
was no question OF such thing a. this.
! consider n0w'tpat my honor ~ at stake.
anu u more dear 10 me than lIfe."