Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-05-31
CHAPTER X.

nOu NJ u ulUHtT purity '''N"" W
having merely dincd on fnmilic In quiet
house, which was. In all probability. In
be her future home: and at breakfast
next morning | observed that her right
wrist was bound round and round with
narrow strips OF sticking plaster.
1sn't it shamci' she apologizcd.
"Naughty mongoosir has scratched me
with his sharp claws. Last night l man
aged to hide it with glove. but at break
fast that will hardly do. l hope nobody
minds the sight: it's sure 40 be quite
right again In day or two
thought that the wrist seemed badly
swollen. and an angry rod showed be-
tween the strips of plaster. while MISS
Trail herself looked far from well. At
luncheon she did not appear. and heard
from Lady Towers In the afternoon that
she was i'll. had taken to her bed. ana
the doctor had been sent for.
"Poor Miss Traill"' the little woman
exclaimed cxcitclly. "Dr. Hnsbrouck
says that she has torn the flesh on some
bits of rusty metal. and that. unless her
hoods In a better condition than he
fears It Is. the consequences may be Sc.
Nous. Isn't that odd. too! for l heard
her say only this morning the scratches
had been made by the mOngoose. VI
course, after that. had to go mp AMI see
the poor creature. She was In such an
excited state. especially when she heard
I'D been talking TO the doctor. she NUT
tered something about being u prisoner to
her bed for an indefinite time. Then
she asked me. very quick and hurried. to
tear out the pocket Of the dress she had
last taken of. 1t was hanging over a
chair, as though she had expected to get
up shortly and put II ON again. Tear out
the pocket! said I. And, l must con.
TESS, I thought, and think still, she had
gone of her head! why not let me give
you what's In the pOcketT She glared
at me as though Id made an insulting re-
mark, and then said no; 1t must be the
pocket itself, and before any one could
come into the room. II was q fancy, and
I knew, didn't I? that sick people must
be humored. ] assure YOU l didn't lose
any time tearing out that pocket and
handing It to her. She snatchcd at 1t.
and tucked II under her pillow, and In IN
instant more COnsuelo had come In with
lavender smelling salts. couldn't help
wondering what was In that pocket
Leaving Lady Towers. I made my way
TO my own room. Suddenly a black fly.
.ure appeared ut the window and rccog.
nixed Paula.
PAULA I exclaimed. show did you
come hercT'
Through this window" she said. Il
wished very much to see you. AMI
thought you would come here sooner OF
later. I watched Uncle Wi!frid and the
others drive away. And now ] have
found you. Yet It II difficult TO speak
o, Terry. can't you guess what I've
come to sayT
Her voice was gentle and cooling as !,
had never been before.
II cannot guess, Paula" said. trying
not to speak with too marked GOODNESS
II am afraid you will have to tell me
what you want Of me-"
She laid her hand on mine. and IT.
palm was dry and burning.
II want your love, Terry she cried
In a thick, chokcd voice. "Fve CONT
10 beg you to take me back again; yes
even on my knees, II need be! oh, yes
know what you would say. ] know
wrote you that l never loved you. ! ma.
have thought 50 then. for ! was MAJ
with jealousy and hatred Of that Othc
woman who had come In my way. 4
Terry, you are above other men In every
thing-the handsomcst. bravest, the no
blest, the strongest! Take me back, d
] shall die"
"For heavens sake. Paula, what arr
you saying"
To my horror. she was on her knee
beside mo, covering my hands with kisse
hot as fire.
Don't say that You have given you
love to anyone else. 1t isn't no long sine
! went away, since We were bound 4
marry each other. will be gentle, swcc
anything You like, II only you will ~!
that all shall be as before"
mot on your knees to me, Paula! Rise
! beg OF yOu."
And ] would have lifted her to he
feet; but she chung round me, weepin
tears that seemed to scald my hands u
they fell upon them.
II will not get M until you have for
given me for everything, and promise
me your love. After all, no harm cam
Of my sin-for sin 1t was. know, an
knew it then, In shutting that woman i
with the tiger. l shall kill myself II 20
won't take me back! Terry, cant so
see that my heart IL breaking? VIII
don't you answer meg
~ can't answer as you wish,' ! gen,
~ S0lu. on uOn KNOW Wnut you ush.
"Why not? il 1t so hard for man I
love me! There Is Mr.. Haynes-Iiavilan
handsome, rich, clever, and OF goo
enough birth on one side. At one time
thought, out OF ennui and sheer spit
against You and Uncle Wilfrid, ! migl
consent to marry him, as he has beggc
me q dozen times to do. But yOu--yo
love COnsuelO Hope"
ut would do me no good II did"
"Ah, what a cruel answer! Now
know why you turn against me. 70
think only of her." She stood up an
faced me, looking straight into my eye
"Cold as ice! she cried. "And Il
this, as for all the other troubles hay
known, ! must thank that woman-Col
suelO Hope"
She turned and was gone like nasl
springing out of the open window on
the grass. Most probably she had O.
pected me to follow her, but 1t was II
one thing which at that moment ! coul
not do. l walked to the window an
looked out after her-no more.
There was rustlng In the thick GU
tain Of vines that had draped the hou'
for generations as ! stood there and u
voluntarily ! turned my head with
wary glance, thinking that possibly the
had been an eavesdropper, and our CO.
versation had been overheard. But ! 50
nothing, and In another moment the y
significant circumstance had passed col
nletelv from nv mind