Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-03-14

between her and Miss Marvin, saying
further, for his manner emboldencd me,
that II was surprised. for did not think
her such a one as he would fancy"
Neither is she," said he. again relnps-
ing into silence. At last, rousing up. he
continued, II must talk to somebody, end
an you seem to be a sensible girl, may
MS well make n clean breast. and tell you
all about It. Ada came up here from
Georgia last spring, and the moment
mother saw her she picked her out for
her future daughter-in-law. I don't
know why Il IL, but mother has wanted
me to get married ever since I began to
shave. believe she thinks 1t will mako
me steady; but I am steady enough now,
for l haven't drunk drop In almost
year. I should. though. II Ada Montross
was my wife. But that's nothing to the
point. Mother saw and liked her. saw
her. and liked her well enough at hrst.
for she IL beautiful. you know, and every
man Is more or less attracted by that.
They say, too. that she Ii wealthy, and
though would AZ soon marry poor SRI
az a rich one. provided liked her.
shall not deny but her money had its IN.
fluence with me to certain extent. And
then, too. II was fun to get her away
from the other young men who Hooked
around her. like bees rounod honey jar.
But. to make a long story short. we got
engaged-heaven only knows how; but
engaged we were. and then" Hcrh
he paused. az II nearing a painful sub.
jcct. but soon resuming the thread Of his
story. he continued: "And then l stopped
writing to Anna. for I would not be dis.
honorable. DO you think she felt 1T"
The question was 40 unexpected. that
I WINS thrown quite OF my guard. and
replied: "Of course she did; who wouldn't
feel mortified to have their letters I'm.
answered.
""Twas wrong. I know" said he. II
ought to have been man enough to tell
her how II was. and did begin more
than a dozen letters, but never finished
them. DO you think Anna likes me now.
or could like me. II I was not engaged.
and she knew Id never get drunk
againf"
Could he have seen her when first she
learned that his affections were given
to another he would have been sufficient
~ answered; but he did not, and II was
not for me. I thought, to enlighten him;
no I replied evasively. after which he
continued: As soon a. l was engaged
to Ada. she began to exact 90 much ut
tention from me. acting so silly. and ap-
pearing 80 ridiculous that ! got sick Of Il.
aud now my daily study II how to rid
myself Of her; but I believe I've COM
menced right. Can I make a conRdant
Of you, aud feel sure you'll not betray
me to any one, unless 1t IL TO AnnaT'
I hardly knew how to answer, for II
II was anything wrong which he medi-
tated, I did not wish to be In the secret,
and 30 I told him; but II made no differ.
cnce. for he proceeded to say: II shall
never marry Ada Montrose, never; Meth.
or would II break her heart II I shouldn't.
for she's more than half tired Of me
now"
l thought Of the dark stranger. and felt
that he was right. but I said nothing.
and he went on: Sometimes I thought
I'd 20 up to Sunny Bank. tell Anna Ill
about Il, ask her to marry me. and No
settle the matter ut once; but then l did
not know but she might have grown Up
raw. awkward. and disagreeable, 80
devised n plan by which could find out.
Mother would burn her right hand of.
believe. 10 save me from a drunkard's
grave. and when ] wish to win her con-
sent to any particular thing. all have to
do In to threaten her with the wine cup
"Oh. Herbert! how can you" l ex.
claimed, for l was incxpressibly shock
| cd. =.
Its way I've got into" said he
laughing mt my rueful face. And wher
I suggested that Anna should spend the
winter here. l limited to the old lady thu,
II she didn't consent. I'd go of with q
party Of young men on n hunting excur
sion. OF course she yielded ut once. fol
she well knew that II Joined my former
boon companions I should fall"
"And so we are indebted to you fol
our winter In Boston," said 1, beginning
to see things In n new light.
"Why. no, not wholly" he answered
''m0ther consented much easier than
supposed she would. The fact Is. he,
changed some since she was at Sunny
Bank. Shes Joined the church. and
though that In my estimation don,
amount to much, Of course, she has to do
better. for Il wouldn't answer for a pro-
lessor to put on 80 many airs"
Il was nearly dark when We reached
home, and 40 the lamps were not ~,
lighted In the psrlor. went Immediately
to my room, where ! found Anna lying
upon a sofa. with her face buried In the
cushions. I knew she was not asleep
though she would not answer me until
had thrice repeated her name. Then
lifting up her head. she turned toward
me Q face 40 white ~ ashes. while chs
said. motloning to little stool near her
"Sit down BY me, Rosa; I must talk L
some one, or my heart will break"
Taking the seat. ] listened while Oh,
told mo how much she had loved Herber
I.angley--how she had struggled to over
come that love when she thought he hat
slighted her, and how, when she saw hin
daily In his own home. 1t had retunst
upon her with all lts former strength
until there came to her the sta:tlin.
news that he was engaged to another
II cannot stay here" said she. II M
going home. ] have written to mother
see." and she pointed to n letter whicl
lay upon the table, and which she biz
me read 1t was u strange. rambling
thing. saying that "she should die II sh'
stayed longer In Boston, and that she wal
coming back to Sunny Bank"
There was the sound Of footsteps u
the hall. and Herbert's voice was heart
at the door. asking for admittancc. III
had often visited us In our room. ant
now. without consulting Annals wishes
| bid him enter, going out myself m,
leaving them alone. Whit passed be
tween them ! never knew. hut the sup
per table waited long for Herbert. rnt
was finally removed. my aunt thinking
he had gone ont, ITO see Ada. perhaps,
she said. and then she asked me how
liked her, telling me she was to be Her