Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-02-22

So, on his birthday. she would present
him with one. and she would ask him
to wear it always. just as she wore the
plain circlct of gold he had placed upon
her finger.
Once in town. she thought IL no harm
to drive around. She had no intention Of
watching her husband. she preferred not
meeting him. She wished to keep her
present as surprise. and if she met him
she would have to give some evasive an
swer when he asked what she was doing
there.
AS i'll luck. or fortune. or fate, would
have 1t. ms she was driving through Hyde
Park. she saw him; he was seated by
the side of q lady. and he was so deeply
engrosscd in conversation with her that
he never even raised his eyes as Irene
passed by. She knew that expression on
his dark, handsome face. 1t was one of
deep and rapt attcntion-shc knew the
look in the dark, eloquent eycs-it was
one of profound admiration. she had seen
them with that same look lingcr on her
face. 1t was but II fiecting look on his
face. her glance fingered long on the
lovely lady at his side--a dark .browcd
woman with a mouth like rosebud
dark. proud eycs--a high-bred patrican
facc--a proud. graceful elegant lady, SUI
pcrbly dressed young. beautiful. and evil
IDENTIFY not indifferent to Sir Hubert.
1t was not so much jealousy that gave
her so keen a sense OF pain, that her
face blanchcd and her hands trcmblcd,
not so much jealousy as u sudden, subtle
sense of the fact that her world and his
lay far apart; that his interests. his
friendships. his likings. aud everything
connected with him. were entirely sep.
aratcd from hers. that had always been
one of unity, of harmony. two lives in
one, not of divided interests aud separate
worlds.
IL might rs well not he married" she
said to herself. "for ! live outside my
husbands life"
Another tiipc, when she was in town
on business which she did not wish him
to know, she saw him riding by the side
of the same lady. They were going to.
ward the park, and a sharp twingc OF
jealousy added to her pain: there was no
conccaling the fact that the expression
on Sir llulbcrt's face was one OF pro-
found admiration.
Then a fatal idea entered her head; 1t
was that the next time Sir Hubert went
to town she would follow him. and watch
| for herself what kind Of n life he led
there. and how he passed his time.
When he left Becchgrove at three the
next afternoon, she followed him by tho
four o'clock train; rs he rode into town
and she went by train, she was there
first. Instinct rather than knowledge
made her go to the club. where he told
her he spent the greater part Of his time.
She had wrapped herself up so securely
that she was sure. even II he passed her,
that he would not know her. Everyone
knows Estmcre House. the lovely and
magnificent mansion facing Hyde Park.
one of the finest houses In London. 1t
Is more like u palace than the dwelling
| place of q subject. On this August even.
ing while the silver moon hid her face
behind the clouds, and the sweet night
wind told its secret to the trees. one
might have seen Il tall. slender figure,
| drapcd In black. near the gates Of the
mansion; the figure of woman evidently
watching. but she was fortunate, SO far
as this. that no one noticed her. Every
time the grand iron gates opened she
passed near enough to see and hear. Her
patient waiting seemed to be rewarded
when she saw the tall figure Of gentle.
man In evening dress. a closed carriage
drove up to the porch with its long, broad
flight OF marble steps, and she overheard
the order given to the coachman:
Court place."
Now. who lived at Court place and
what was Il?
Tho only plan that suggested itself to
her was to hasten to the nearest cab
stand, and tell one of. the drivers to take
her to Court place. She did so, and the
first man to whom she spoke, said: II do
not know Court place. miss"
Up came another. quite eagerly. II
know Il, MISS" he said; ut is st. James
Park. Lord Gcrants mansion. l. know
It, miss"
"Lord Gerant's!' The words were like
a revelation to her. She remembered now
that a few days since. while reading the
fashionable intelligence 10 Sir Hubert,
she came across the following item: THE
Earl Gcrant still remains at his mansion
In st. James Park, where his official
duties detain him." She had asked at
the time what these official duties were,
and Sir Hubert had told her. She
thought of this as she drove to tho house
where Sir Hubert had gone. There tho
cuunluu uskeu " IuTe Unit tuisut HuNc
| astonished one more vcrsed In the ways
Of the world. She paid It. and would
have paid 1t IL 1t had been gold instead
Of silver. She saw before her man
sion little less magnificent than that Of
Sir Hulbert's. There were lights 10 the
windows, carriages driving to and from
tho door. Unexpectedly tho grand hall
door was opened. and she saw brilliant
lights. servants In livery, every sign OF
wealth. luxury and magni6cence. What
was Sir Hubert doing there?
She stood watching patiently, and
again her patience was rewarded. A
closed carriage, with pair Of fine horses
drove up to the door. and In few min.
utes Sir Hubert appeared, leading by
the hand the same beautiful lady she
had seen him with bcfore-a lady bril-
liant as the summer sun at monday
diamonds flashing In her hair. her eyes
bright as stars.
Go be contlnued.)
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