Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-04-25
CHAPTER xvill.-,Contiuued.)

sunlight which was dawning upon nis
horizon. 1t wns a dark rainy night, to-
ward the last Of April that l sat with
the family In the pleasant little sitting
room. As usual, Mr.. Delaiield was with
10, and this evening he was reading
aloud from 1cngfcllow's wonderful poem.
He was just In the midst Of Hiawatha's
wooing when heavy tread upon the
piazza and loud ringing OF the bell
startled us, for 1t was not often that we
were favored with visitors on such a
night as this. Zillah, the colored girl.
FASTENED to the door. where she found II
stranger, who. stepping into the hall. ask
ed III Miss Rosa Lee lived there
Starting from my chair, turned very
white, for ] recognized the voice Of Dr.
Clayton, who the next moment stood be.
fore me. I forgot the past--forgot that
he had been my lover. forgot that Rich.
ard Delafeld's eyes were upon me, forgot
everything except that he had come from
dear New England, had tccathed the mir
Of my native hills, had heard the sound
OF my mothers voice. and had brought
me undoubtedly tidings Of that mothers
welfare. Springing forward with a cry
Of Joy, took his extended hand, nor
shrunk away when. with unwonted ten
derness, he stopped to kiss my lips, whis-
pering low a. he did 50. Dear Rosa."
Then, indeed, I blushsd, for I knew
he had no right to call me thus; but the
next moment It was forgotten, and with
something Of pride In my manner, I pre-.
0snted him to Mrs. Lansing and Mr..
Oelaheld, the latter Of whom greeted him
rather coldly, and after a few words Of
common courtesy, bade us goodnight, but
not until he had learned what until that
moment was news to me, viz, that Dell
Clayton had been dead nearly six months.
~ he passed me on his way out, he said
- low that no one else could hear him.
Fare thee well, oil, Laughing Water"
sSferring to the line he had last read.
There was a deep scowl upon his dark
face, and a. ] gaxed upon him, could
not help wondering II II were thus the
old man looked when from his lonely
wigwam door he watched the departing
footsteps Of his daughter.
Come again tomorrow, Uncle Dick"
said little Jessie, following him into the
hall; but he made her no answer save
bis accustomed goodbye kiss. md soon
heard his heavy trend as he strobe down
the winding walk and out into the open
field.
Yes, Mr.. DelaAeld was jealous, terri.
bly, jealous Of DIR. Clayton. the nature
OF whose business he readily OWNED,
though did not, and nothing was furth.
CT from my mind than the thought that
he intended hOnoring mo with a chance
Of becoming Mrs. Clayton second. And
yet 1t was this alone which had brought
him to Georgia, he taking the precau,i, On
to send Oh In advance letter, In which
he had made known his wishes, and ask
ed for a return of the affection which,
tor five long years, he said, had never
known one moment of abatement, even
though another had slept upon his bosom
a. Ills wife. But she was gone, md In
her place, he would see blooming, he
said, the Rosa he had loved 80 long. Ow.
Ing to some detention this letter had
failed to reach me, hence was wholly
unprepared for the scene which follow.
Cd when ut last we were left alone.
was talking to him Of Anna, and from
speaking Of her and poor Herbert's
death, 1t was nh easy transition to Dell.
Of whom he spoke kindly, nay, even af-
fectionately, M he told mo Of her lust
days; how much she suffered. and how
gentle she became, never Gliding him In
the least for thing unskillfully done,
but seeming satisfied with everything,
and loving him at last with a love which,
had 1t been earlier born. would have shed
happiness over his comparatively cheer.
less life. Then he told me of the little
child, not yet three years old, whom he
had called Rosa Lee" and gently push.
Ing back my curls, and gazing down INTO
my face, he said, 1T IL a fancy Of mine,
perhaps, but l love to think she looks
like you. who should have been her
mother"
With all my stupidity, I understood
him then, and blushing crimson, moved
away to the end Of the sofa, while he
continued. "What did you think Of my
lstteri You received It. suppose?"
! had received no letter, aud 90 I said /;
whereupOn he proceeded to tell me Its
contents, q part Of which the reader al.
ready knows. Utterly COMPOUNDED nnd
p0werlcss to move, sat m0tiOnlsss,
while with his arm round me, he went
over the past, recalling to my mind the
time when FIRST he had found me weeping
In the sOmber old school room, away to
the nOrthward; the night when, with the
soft m0Onbeams falling around ~, we sat
together beneath the tall oak tree, while
laid before him my childish griefs; and,
lastly, the many pleasant hours we had
whiled away together, listening to the
sound Of the running brook, which ran
past the twining grape vine, whose broad
leaves had rustled above our heads.
ION these occasions, Rosa" said he,
ibid nothing ever tell you how much you
were beloved 2"
EYES," ! answered. bitterly, my WON.
ans nature rousing up as I remembered
the times to which he referred. Eyes,
and what did 1t avail me, even though
] was beloved? Ambition proved the
stronger attraction of the two, and you
welded another. You. who. now that
other was gone, would talk again to me
OF love; but Rosa Lee Ia no longer a
child to be deceived. and you mistake her
strangely II you fancy you can cast her
on and take her up again at will"
And then again he told me how much
had been loved; how he had striven In
vain to cast me from his heart, when 1t
was madness and sin to keep me there;
and how, when his horizon had been
darkest with want and care. there was
still In the distance ray Of sunlight,
the remembrance Of me, which had kent
bis soul from fainting. And now that It
was right for him to speak to me of love,
would ! not listen and give him an OPP
portunity to atone for the wrong he had
once done me?
"Will not my darling answer meY" he