Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-05-17

not have missed this for anything. BY
the way. let me make you and Mr..
Haynes Haviland known TO each other
Mr.. 1Iayncs-Haviland Is the gentleman
of whom Uncle Wilfrid bought I.orI,
Abbey last autumn: hut he has added to
his name since then. for family reasons.
We met at Nice. and he came back with
us to England a few days ago
| knew now why Paula had chosen to
bring this man to England in her train.
why she smiled at him, with beguiling in
her eyes. She had made up her mind
that he would be able to recognize the
Woman In Gray. lie was the stcpson
OF an cx.scrvant. That alone. I thought.
would have been enough to ban him in
her eyes. had she had nothing to gain
from his acquaintance. Now she was
still leaning on his arm. with a certain
air of confidence and good fellowship.
Uncle Wilfrid has told me that he Is
ready and willing to forget" Paula said,
looking up at me with a peculiar burning
glance. II asked him. though 1t was
hard. for I don't like humiliating myself.
Now I ask you--will you do the sameT'
GLADLY. II you consider that | have
anything to forgive you"
Not that ] mean to beg Uncle Wilfrid
to take me back" she went on. 81 am
emancipatcd: and. besides. tonight he
has formally and publicly filed my place.
But we can all be friends. Don't mind
my saying this before Mr.. Haynes.1lavi-
land. He has been with us so much OF
late that our affairs are no secret to him.
And now there Is some one else who must
forgive me for past rudencss. else my
state OF Identification will not be complete
Il mean Miss Hope. Take me to her,
please"
''She Is dancing. I dare say" answer.
ed .cOnfuscdly. "rhcrc are SO many old
friends Of yours here. Paula. who will be
glad and surprised to see you. Better
stop and greet them first"
NO. They can watt"
81 will take you. then" I said. Bat
Mr.. Haynes.Ilaviland should not be COM
PEELED to lose dance. l will introduce
him TO a partner
| "Mr. Haynes-Haviland Is going TO
dance with me by and BY" And Paula
looked up at him bewitchingly.
Miss Wynne has excited my curiosity
In regard to this wonderful Miss Hope"
said he.
II cannot help you." I answered. Il
Il
found"
"Ah, II you won't. Uncle Wilfrid will"
| She almost pushed past me, clinginy
pletcly to have subjugated. I did not
wait TO see what they would do. An I'M
controllable impulse babe me 70 to Con.
suelo. IL she were still In the ball room.
and stand ready for any emergency that
might arise.
I got myself into the now apparently
deserted conservatory out OF the dancers
way. Then, feeling that my mission had
been taken from me. l sat down In u re-
tired corner, into which rustic seat had
been pushed under a palm.
| l had scarcely occupied the hidden nook
for sixty seconds when some one passed
behind me, having entered from the outer
door. There was rustic Of silken skirts
along the floor, accompanied by the step
Of man, and then followed the creakinH
Of n seat as one or more persons. subsidized
upon It.
I began TO feel distinctly uncomforta.
bic. 1t would not be pleasant to Overhear
u snatch Of love.making, perhaps even
a proposal Of marriage; but where I sat
] was completely hcnmcd In. As I hest.
tated the man spoke. Instantly, though
! had not met him for years. l knew that
] was listening to Tom Gordon, the fam.
| GUS barrister who had pleaded the limo.
cencc Of the dead Florence Haynes.
What are you going to do!' he had
| questioned.
II do not know" answered the voice Of
Consuclo Hope.
Strange that II should come at the
moment Of your triumph-if It has cOme."
but life Is strange. My life stranger
than all"
III l stand by and see that there Is
danger for you, what will you do for me
II can save your
What could You do?"
"Ah, you'1l find. I'm never quite with
out resources. Other people have hal
occasion to learn that BEFORE"
IL know. l should be grateful, what.
ever you did for mc.'
Gratitude! We've got past that. Con.
suelO. ] want more from you. Give me
my answer tonight. And there's only
one answer possible from you to me-"
Mr.. Gordon! DO You mean to threat
en- nc!'
mo. no. And yet. l don't know. l
think sometimes there's a demon in me,
mad, desperate. which would send me to
the worlds end TO work for you IL you
loved me, or to work against you II you
didn't. don't know Of what I should
become In such case, 50 don't try me. I
warn you."
"Oh. for Il friend--a true, disintercsted
friendv'
Nonsense! Women OF your sort don't
make 'dislntercsted friends among the
men. Let me kiss you once. and III
stand between YOU and danger, as I've
done before. What! You won't? Ill
take II them"
! could bear no more. I sprang from
my seat, and. with crashing OF flower
pots around me. strobe out Of my ambush.
! stood there, cycling him. my breath
coming hard.
With little involuntary cry which cut
straight to my heart. the Woman In Gray
moved close to me-away from him. For
the fraction Of second her hand lay ON
my arm. and ! could feel the electric
Quivcring OF her slight body. A wild.
passionate joy surgcd over me- She had
come to me for protection from him.
Gordon had leaped up from the bench
where they had sat together. and faced
mo. frowning and silent for the moment.
"licllo" he calculated In a peculiar.
meditativc, yet angry growl. glaring at
me the while. "rerence DarkmOre, of
all men! What fool I've been that this
never occurred to me befOrew
"Consuclo," said-ncver before had l
Io sol ~ ,oll hon lao ho mama h,,> 80,