Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-04-05

would not apprehend danger there was
no doubt that the absence of Sir Hubert
weighed them down.
The greater part of the visitors retired
early. The duke, with one of his foot
men. went down to the keepers cottage
to send the men out to the woods. Lady
Estmere went to her room, where her
maid sat up to comfort her the greater
part of the night. and the Duchess of
Bayard went to rest. She had barely
patience to wait while the maid took OF
that sumptuous dress of blue velvet, with
its rich, trailing laces. and the diamonds
with their shining light; she hurried her,
and seemed possessed by the very spirit
of impatence.
81 am going to read, Marcia" said her
grace; "give me the blue dressing goodwin.
and you can CO."
But first she must take the diamond
stars from the queenly head and brush
out the silken shower of golden hair.
More than once while that was being
done the duchess asked the question:
"What kind of night Is 1t. Marcia
does the moon shinc?'
And each time the maid answered:
mo, your grace. 1t is dark yet; but the
clouds are breaking over the MOON
More than once she started so violent.
ly that the golden waves of hair were
almost torn from the girls hand.
did you hear cryY' she would say.
And the maids answer was always:
mo. your grace; 1t Is the wind among
the trees: the wind Is high tonight"
At last the door closed and the maid
was gone.
Ireen was alone, aud she locked the
door. lest any interruption should come,
She flew rather than walked to the win
dow and opened 1t quickly; she leaned
half out of it, and bent her golden head
as though she was listening intently. Just
then the clouds parted. and the moon
shone out clear as day. Those silver
beams never fell on any sight more tragic
than the beautiful head and face framed
In roses and passion flowers. bent with
such eager. desperate intent.
The windows of her room looked to
ward that part Of the woods where tn
living horror lay. She could not take hel
eyes from the group Of trees that led t.
Il. The wind stirred the branches. ant
they were like great arms stretching 4
her, like huge giants reckoning to her
| Sne cfleu OUT WIN terrOrs anu tueu III
clouds parted still further. and the mooi
shonc out clear and bright as day; II wa
as though food OF living. clear silve
had fallen over everything. and she knew
she knew now that light would fall 81
the upturned face, the dark, handsom
face she had loved with such a passion
ate love. on the white hands that woul'
now probably be tearing the grass ant
beating the ground In the widest agony
The moon would be shining down upol
him; the light lying on mis- face and hal
just as It lay on hers; the wind woul'
whisper. and moan. and wall; the pure
pale stars with golden eyes would h
watching him; the night birds singinI
over him; the hares pause In their leap
ings ut the terrible sight before them
the bright.eyed squirrels would halt Il
solemn wonder as they saw what lay Of
the ground.
She shuddcred and tremblcd as sh
thought OF Il; she stretched out her hand
to the east. where he lay. Her Who'll
soul seemed to 60 out to him with rus
Of pain. She claspcd her hands rs sh
cried to herself:
(To be continued,