Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-01-11

90 subt1y creeping from the water, seem
ed to pause, as IL the light and gayety be-
yond had stayed 1t on its way inland,
two little groups had met and Joined.
while many pairs of idle eyes rested upon
them. Leaning back on her seat, facing
the people, not the sea, Genevieve Foster
sat, with a novel in her hands; but her
eyes though fixed upon its pages, had
a sullen expression in them for which
the novel could not be to blame. Near
her, sitting sideways. with one elbow on
the back Of the seat, was Willoughby;
his usually merry eyes full Of perplexity,
and his words breaking off every now
and then in real and uncharacteristic EN-.
barrassment, as he sought to win his sis.
ter's whole attention. A few yards away,
Mrs. Pennington walked slowly to and
| fro, leaning upon her husbands arm, and
following them came Mrs. Foster and
| Celia, talking cheerfully together. Wills
eyes went a little further still, to where
Nora stood very still against the outer
edge of the pier, looking out across the
dusky sea with lovely. dreaming eyes. He
saw that others watched her, too. and he
smiled little, knowing how unconscious
she was of any admiring glances; but
the smile was very short.lived. and swift
| ~ his gaze grew anxious again, and re-
turned to his sisters face.
| "You don't help me at all. Gena," he
fretted. 81 certainly expected you would
feel for mother. if not for me-and your
self, and suggest some way Of breaking 1t
to her."
III it is quite impossible for you to
discuss Victoria's prospects except In
such a provokingly funeral tone" observ-
ed Genevieve. pray don't discuss them
at all with anybody"
But if you tell mother without prep
aration--"
"I1ow terrible 1t would be-! put In Miss
Foster, with her supercilious smile. "Vic.
toria has chosen her own husband and
married him without bridesmaids or cake!
Oh, poor Willoughby, to have to break
this terrible, overwhelming news to his
poor mother"
"You put 1t kindly. must say" Will
answered, angrily. mo wonder dread
your telling mother, IL that Is how you
look at 1t"
"Then how do YOU look at it," she
asked, in a scoring tone; but her face
grew a trife paler rs she spoke.
How do look at 1T" echoed Will, In
dignantly. "Why, as anyone who has q
grain Of feeling In him, or Of honor, must
look Mt II. She knew right from wrong
and truth from falsehood. II she didn'i
at first know a gentleman from sneak
she must now have known one from an
unbeliever and a liar. And IL she did no,
know how to act as lady, she might al
any rate have behaved with ordinary
womanly reserve. To think that my faith
I ers daughter should have Joined tina,
villain aud married him. knowing wha,
she must have known!
"If It has been an unwisc STEP" OBJ
served Miss Foster, Jelly, 'she will suf
fer, not you"
~ declare" said VIII. his subducd
voice full Of rage. "rm tempted to think
you have no heart at all. For PHYS sake
leave 1t to me to tell my mother this mis-
cradle news! l detained you here to bes
for your help and advice. I don't wan
either now"
"Then have done you good" smiled
Gena. III you considered that you need
cd help In disclosing the fact Of youl
sisters marriage to DIR. Armstrong, you
must have been rather weak or out Of
sorts. am glad you feel no longer so.
III DR.. Armstrong had courted hel
openly and honorably. and she had chos
en- to DO such an idiot rs to accept him
even knowing all know now" fume,
viii, II would not have made any trou
bit for her by putting difficulties In tn
way. But to do as she has done; to le
him show himself as the liar he 10. to &C
ccpt the burned-out ashes Of his regard
to fly ut his call; to marry him In secret
and voluntarily share his shameful ant
degraded reputation! Gcncvieve, how
can you know 1t all, and yet be SO I'm
movedy
II SEQ 1t a little differently" she an
swered, with slow distinctness. ''Tor!
had allowed DR.. Armstrong to win he
affection, even while, perhaps, he wa
tempted to pay court to Nora 81
Georges fortune. Aud, now that the Law
has made good use Of a peculiar phase 0
his belief, and meanly turned 1t to &C
count against him, she gives him the re
gard he has successfully sought, and full
Alls an old promise to marry him."
"Genevieve," whispered her brother, 4
really look ut this disgrace rs you ar
/ " uos VT uO you buy WI
only in your pride? DO not fear. on
not going to seek pity from anyone. An
I'm sure, IL you are afraid Of Nora
fancying you are humiliated--"
"What has Nora to do with me at all :?
cried Miss Foster. rising quickly, with
cold, unmirthful smile. Don't drag he
name so constantly into your converse
ton, please. You have no idea hov
wearyiug 1t IL. But do not ask so I'm
possible q favor as you think, so DON
look crestfallen. ! am going away In
day or two. I am going to Paris. to al
old school friend Of mine. and shall ne
hurry back. You shall take your tur
now as tho recipient of mammals advic
and sympathy, and--and senseless prais
OF other girls. Pray give her plenty 0
Nora's society. and Celia PenuiugtOn''
J and she will be content. and not at al
sorry for my absence"
"Oh, Gena. how unjust you are" erie
VIII; but she was strOlling on now, an
by a sign she bid him leave her.
"How miserable It isl! he unused. a
he slowly turned. "But--yes. I dare sa
!, she will DO different when she come
back from Paris. Poor mOther!'
With the utterancc of his mother
name In his thoughts came the remem
brance Of what only he must tell her; an
with sigh he went on to seek her-slow
ly, very slowly, while he wondered no,
he could tighten the blow for her. Hi