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

we ncCu never part, VI you VIII CoH
sent TO one thing. Irene. and that is a
secret marriage. In time we can make
IL known. but at first. and for the pres
cnt. we must keep it dead secret What
do you snyY'
With these words Sir Hubert announc.
cd his decision.
Slowly enough the rose bloom died from
1rcne's face and white look Of pain
came into it; slowly the love-light died
from the beautiful eyes. and the shadow
of despair took its place. She spoke 10
word. but the golden head droopcd more
| heavily on her lovers breast.
you do not answer me. lrcnc.' he
cried.
She broke from the clasp of his arm
with a little shuddcr as of cold or pain.
~ secret marriage she said; that
| means unknown to my father or grand
mere. IL cannot Sir Hubert; it would
not be right"
lie understood the dclicacy of her ma
turc far too well to attempt just then 20
argue with her. but la the far distance
he already saw his triumph.
Not right. my darling. have never
heard that secret marriage was not
right. II may not always be wise; but !
will not persuade you: it shall be as you
will: ! will not urge You to consent to
anything in the world you thought not
right"
She looked at him through n mist Of
| tears.
You know. Sir Hubert" she said
gently. that I have not been brought up
quite as other girls. My father has held
but one idea up to me. and 1t Is that one
day l must go to my mother In heaven
She loved me so much. yet she hardly
saw ma before she died. Now, Sir HUI.
bert. You are 50 much wiser, so much
better than !. will you tell me IL I could
go to my mother IL I should consent to
a secret marriage? Her face, they tell
me. Is full Of light, but she would turn
1t from me. I fear she would say. This
Is not my baby girl, whom ] left so
young; this Is girl with a great. dark
secret over her soul; and she would not
love me, would she now, Sir HulbertT
For shame and for PHYS sake he should
have fallen OH the long grass and buried
his face there. lie should have trcmbled
as he stood there, bold, defiant and hand.
some. As 1t was, the question startled
him with keen, sharp pain. This dead
mother In heaven was like an enemy 20
him. lie did not dare, reckless as he
was. to answer her. The girl went on
In a low, plaintive voice.
ut Is not long since someone said TO
me that where there Is secrecy there is
guilt II that be true OF ordinary mar
riagc. what must 1t he Of secret mar.
riagc"
"You are too much Of q philosopher,
Irene, to love very much" he said In a
| ,tutp
foolish | was to think you would do any
thing In the world for me-
She answered him only by bitter tears
and sobs. lie might have had mercy on
her. she was 50 young and so fair.
Irene" he said. gently, "do not weep
so bitterly. One word at any time will
bring n,N n your side again; you have
but to say come and I will fly TO you.
Perhaps when You have thought 1t wei
over. u secret marriage may not appear
SO dreadful to you."
She answered him only by bitter tears
and something like rcmorsc did come Over
him when he saw the beautiful face all
wet with tears: still he said to himself
II he were to conquer In the end he must
be firm now.
Irene" said Sir Hubert. ''let us try
before we decide. let us try IL we can
live without each other. We need no,
mart lust vet, | can remain at Lord
Arundale's, 1t Is Tuesday now! take a
whole week to think IL over, and Lot us
meet here next Tuesday. just one week
from to-day. to decide whether We shall
nnrt forever or never mart moro. VIVA,
do YOU saw, my darlipg?"
ii will do ANYTHING \ on wish" she said
clad of any prctcyt thar DELAYED tho futn
parting.
"rhcn II shall be So h, said. "N,xI
week shall decide our fatc-ncxt Tues
day, ". shall meet here. and II shall
mo for wenl or for woe. Forever to low,
each other, or forever to part. Mex,
Tuesday, Irene, how shall / live unit
the day comes"
uc kissed the tears from her eyes nut
left her tho most miserable and desolatt
girl under the summer sun.
The following Tuesday she was at tn,
trysting place, fully determined to tel
him that while she could not bear to par,
with him, neither could she consent to q
| Spctpt muttluke.