Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-02-08
CHAPTER III.

right or wrong, whether she was keep.
ing u secret from those who loved her
best or not. She soon ceased to think or
remember anything else except that she
was to see Sir Hubert every day. ana
seeing him had grown dearer than life
to her. She made no positive appoint.
ments with him, she never said. shaii
be by the brooksidc at such an hour;
but it was understood between them.
Irene rose early that every duty might
be performed, that no one would be able
to say she neglected anything. Every
thing intrusted to her was most care.
fully attended to, in order that she might
have more time for herself: and so 1t
came to pass that in the early morning,
before the others were awake, she spent
long. happy hours by the brooksidc with
Sir Hubert. then fastened home, wait
ell on her father with such loving attcn'
ton, and was SO thoroughly kind to Mrs.
Cotrcl that they could see no flaw In her.
Then in the long sunset hours she was
free again; and no one ever asked where
she went or what she did. The artist was
in his studio. the mistress of the house
resting. as old age loves to rest. There
was no one to hold cut u hand to save
her.
Sir Hubert accustomed her to his pres
ence rs the flowers grew accustomed to
the sunlight; il had become q necessity
to her before she realized ii. She might
never have understood how 1t became
part of her life but for his absence dur
ing one day. The sun was setting, nnd
the waters of the pretty brook were Grim.
son In the red glow of the sun. They
were sitting under the dropping boughs
Of the willow tree; and he, looking up
from the pages OF the book. said:
''This time tomorrow evening ! shall
be- In London"
He knew, for the first time. how much
she cared for him when he saw the love.
~ young face grow white rs death and
the shadow Of unutterable pain dim the
bright, sweet eyes.
I'm London!" she repeated. "Are you
going away"
'Only for day" he hastcncJ 20 reply.
II could not remain longer II 1 would"
II shall not see you oil day. then!' she
said, plaintively.
1T Is rather l who will not see YOU"
he replied. The day will seem longer
to me than 1t possibly can to you."
II am not sure" she said, gravcly.
you will have n thousand distractions.
l shall have nothing to do but think"
what shall YOU think of. lreney' he
asked, gently. Her fair young face droop-
ed from his as she answered.:
"You know that l will think Of you.'
And the silence that fell upon then,
both was far more eloquent than words.
When the sun rose Oh the morrow she
realized all that he had become to her.
The bright sun shOne In vain, aud In
vain did the birds sing; her heart was
a. 1t.,l la, lao,
eyes, no spring In her step, no singing
over her work rs she went through her
duties; no delight In hurrying to the
brooksidc; all life seemed blank ana
drcary.
"What is the matter this morning,
Ircncy' asked Mrs. Cotrcl. 'You seem
] to have lost all life"
what Is the matter. Ircne!" asked
the artist. "Why, child, all the bright
ness has gone from your face; what ails
your"
"What II the matter with Irene to-
LayI" asked the old servant. JacQuelinc.
~hcse jclies will not set, and the cakes
will not rise: nothing seems right that
she does"
All! what allied her? that she, so light
OF heart, so brilliant. so beautiful, had
no words-nO smiles.
what ais mc!" she asked herself
and her heart gave her no answer.
Without him she was like flower
without sun to warm or rain to nOurish
II. He had become part OF her life-thC
best part of it-and what she could do
she could not tell.
On the morrow they stood together in
the clear morning light, each one chang.
ed. lie read In her face that the time
had come In which he might snfely say
that he loved her. And she knew that
she had learned with her whole heart u
love him.
did You miss me. IrcneY' he said,
looking with passionate eyes into the
lovely, dropping face. "Tell me. DO not
he afraid that shall grow vain; tell me,
did you miss mcT
More than l thought l should miss
YOU" she answered. And your
~" he replied. II will tell you; Lon
don looked very bright and full Of life
I saw many friends and many friendly
faces, but ! was 80 anxious to be back
here with you ! did not stop to exchang,
one word except with the solicitor wen,
to meet. DO You know what this Is Il
sign OF, IreneT
She made no ywer. The golden morn
ing llkht uulNer> Oh tho leaves ami IN
the water Ut the brook: little bird from
the alder tree sang swcetly. He bent his
dark, handsome face over hers. Us he
whispered:
Irene, does not your own heart wills
per to You what this meansy Why
should ! miss you? Why should you
miss me?'
because we are friends" she an
swcred, gently.
mo, not that; We are now In the land
where friends never stand; the light my
darling, that never shOne on land or sea
shines for Ms, the golden gate of the gold
On land opens to us; there can he no 20
ing back to the calm regions OF friend
ship. Irene, my darling. look up ut me
do not turn that sweet face from me; II
is that we love one another. Oh. my
darling, do you hear the words? We love
enc another"
The little brook might become a biz
ocean, and Its mighty tide would become
AS nothing before the mightier sweep OF
love that rushed through the girls heart
when she heard her lovers words.
CHAPTER w.
There was no more question OF friend
ship between them; that was forgotten
Sir Hubert was able to smile at himself
when he remembered how cautiously he