Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-03-08
CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)


cried; "the gulf between us Is deeper
than the grave. You make no mistake
about me- She stood before him, proud
as a young queen. make no mistake.
I am not going to float down the stream
with the lost and the unhappy. was
good, innocent girl when met youth
my own heart l am good and innocent
now. You have duped and deceived me;
the shame of that falls on You. and not
on me. Before the pure, bright heavens
I hold up my head proudly as I have
ever done. and the shame recoils from me
to you. 1 have willingly done no wrong;
I would rathcr--heaven knows l am
speaking the TRUTH would rather have
died than have done wrong; and, to my
thinking. the wrong-doing falls from me,
leaving me unframed. I go from your
presence. Inundated. mortified. gricved
and wounded, but. thank heaven. not dis
graced. You have sinned against me. |
have not sinncd."
Irene" he cried, to stop the passion
ate current of words, "1rene. do listen to
reason; We need not part. ! will love
you to my lifes end. will live for you.'
"Stay." she said, haughtily. 'Remem-
Der that each word Of yours adds insult
to injury. l ask you now one fair, honest
question. You own that you have sinned
against me; that you have wronged me;
that you would fan undo the evil you
have DONE"
"Yes, own all that" he replied.
II ask you now. most solemnly, most
pleadingly. will you undo that wrong?
You say that you love me. that you can
not live without me. ask you. will you
make me your wife? Give up Lady Lira.
I will love you more faithfully and fond
~ by far. I will give all my woman's
wits and talents to help you. Marry me.
even now. and make me your lawful
wife,"
II must refus >" he answered.
~ on persist in your resolution Of mar
rying Lady LiraT"
II must 80 persist" he replied. II
cannot help 1t. Irene."
mo tears, no prayers. no pleading will
availT' she asked.
"No. I must speak plainly. No."
She was silent for minute. then said
70 him:
'You have trusted me so far: will you
tell me the name Of the man who helped
you In your fraud?"
He half hesitated.
"YOu need not fear" she said, scorn.
fully. III you could trust me with Lady
Lira's name you may surely tell me his"
81 will tell you." he said. 1T is Vane
FORESTER"
She repeated II.
"Vanc Forester. All. well, we shall
meet some day. Heaven Is great and
just; we shall meet; so here In life. Sir
Hubert Estmere, We part--remember al.
ways, with my unutterable scorn and con-
tempt. should despise from my heart
the man who ncedlessly shot a sweet
singing bird. who wantOnly tortured a
butterfly. who destroyed. without reason,
the life Of u flower. What I feel for the
man who could deliberately take the
heart and soul Of an innocent girl into
his hands to destroy 1t you eau better un.
derstand than | can explain. Or one
thing be assurcd--yOu have not 80 de-
stroyed mine. Against you and vane
Forester | appeal to heaven. cry for
vengeance. And, listen while I swear It.
This is my vow. You will remember 1t In
the years to come. swear by the trutl,
of heaven, l swear by my mothers grave.
by my fathers love. by my own outrag-
ed honor, l swear to have vengeance
against you, should l spend my whole life
In seeking 1t. When the time comes
for 1t you shall kneel before me with
binding hot tears asking for mercy. but
you shall ask In vain. Now, farewell
Greatness, honor and glory lay before
you; but tremble In the midst OF II. do
not forget. sleeping or waking. Irene.
VOW"
'Stay. Irene" he cried.
But she was gone-gone with a low
passionate cry that he never forgot, lcav.
ing him there stunned and dazed with
her passionate words.