Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-03-21
Sunny Bank Farm
FLOYD LIVINGSTON
CHAPTER XII.


!ention of going to Worcester with Anna,
who, he said. wished to visit the asylum.
and as a young physician of his acqda,nt-
0nce had Just commenced practiclng
there, 1t would be good opportunity for
them to go over the building. To this my
aunt made no objection, merely propos-
ing that Ada. too. should co. Afterward
] remembered the peculiar look III Her.
bert's eye as he replied, "Oh. fy! moth
Of, Ada's nerves are not strong enough
To endure IL. She can 90 with me some
other time"
Accordingly. when breakfast was over.
Anna went up to her room to make the
necessary preparations for her ride. while
stood by and gave her whatever assist
ancc she needed. observed that every
articlc which belonged to her was put In
it, proper place. but gave it no further
heed, though I did wonder why she kiss
ed me so often. turning back even after
she had reached the door to bid me an.
other goodbye. Slowly the day passed
away and night came on. dark. cold anu
stormy. | listened to the sound ot me
sleet and hail, which drove past the
window, where had watched 80 long
for their return, Seven. eight. nine. ten
had rung from more than one chureh
dome. and then we gave them up. FOR
the shril, whistle of the last train on
which they would be likely to come had
long since sounded In our ears.
"They must have stayed somewhere:
don't you think so?' said my aunt. nd
dressing her husband. who. man-like.
was not In the least alarmed, but bat
coming his evening paper. nearer asleep
than awake"
"Of course they have" said he. look
ing up at his wifc's inquiry. II wouldn't
come In this storm, II l were In their
plnces."
That night I watered my pillow with
tears, scarcely knowing why ] wcpt,
save that ! felt oppressed with sense
Of desolation, ms II Anna was gone from
me forever. The next day came and
went, but 1t brought no tidings of the
missing pair, and half unconscious Of
what she was doing. my aunt went from
room to room, sometimes weeping anu
again Frightening up, rs she enumerat-
ed the many things which might have
prevented their return. At evening Ada
came In, and my aunt Immediately be-
gan urging her to spend the night. This
she did willingly, seeming very anxious
COUCeTuluS tue UuSeh-e VI hAVipV't
feeling. / was sure, n little suspicious
that I might know more of his where
abouts than l chose to tell. for once.
when we were alone, she turned toward
me and very haughtily asked II Il had
my idea where they wereT
"None whatever" said !, and she con.
tinued:
HAS II never occurred to you that
n. a.. 4 A.A 1tnu hos tnn
marked preference for n gentleman
whom she knew to be engngedT
"The preference was mutual" l re-
piled. Herbert likci Ana, and Anna
liked Herbert"
"And they have gone off 10 consum-
mate that liking by marriage" inter-
rupted Ada.
II do not know that they have" I re-
turned; but such termination Of affairs
would not surprise me-"
She was very pale, and there were
tears In her eyes; but l thought they
arose kfbrc from sense Of modification
than from any real love which she bore
for Herbert Langley. md SO did not
pity her us I should otherwise have done.
The next morning at breakfast both she
and my aunt looked weary and worn, MS
IL neither had slept at all during the
night. Ny uncle, on the contrary, SEEM
Ell unmoved. lie probably had IN opin-
lon Of his own, but whatever 1t was he
kept 1t to himself, merely saying that II
the Eastern mail brought 10 letter he
would go In quest of them himself.
knew ] could not study In my present
excitement, and 30 asked permission to
remain ut home. StatiOning myself ut
ebsaa p.p Il ~ N y al hn
return of HerOd. WHO, us usual, had been
sent to the office. He came at last,
bringing his pocket full Of letters, rwO
Of which were for me, one postmarked
Sunny Bank and the other Albany. With
a trembling hand tore open the latter.
which was In my sisters handwriting.
CHANGING at the signature, my fears were
confirmed. for there stood the name Of
Gamma Langley" In Herbert's bold, dash
Ing hand.
The letter contained no apology from
either for what they had done. but mere
y informed me Of the fact that instead
" stopping In Worcester, they had gone
straight to Albany, Were IN less than
an hour they were husband and wife;
Herbert's old cOmradc. Tom Wilson. ac-
cOmpanying them. and being a witness Of
the ceremony. What affected me more
unpleasantly than all the rest was the
derisive manner In which Herbert spoke
Of Ada.
'Give her my love-" he said. "and tell
her not to feel too badly. Id like well
enough to marry her, too, but under the
present laws man can't have two wives,
unless he joins the MOrmons. Maybe l
shall do that some time, and then Ill re-
member her."
OF his mother he wrote differently, and
though there was ~ ,:rlngng. no Gc-
acknowledgement Of wfsr,5 No spoke Of her
kindly and respectfully. saying che hoped
she would love his Anna for his sake"
OF course ! could not tell Ada what
he said of her, neither was 1t necessary,
for guessing the truth from my face,
sh came up softly behind me, and look
ing over my shoulder, read every word
until she came to the message intended
f,r her. Then stamping her little foot,
hhe exclaimed passionately, 1.-THE villain,
to insult me thus! As II !, sprung from
the best blood Of Georgia, would stoop to
become rival of that low-horn country
girl! No! by this act Herbert Langley
has shown that he IL all unworthy of me,
and rejoice In my escape. while I give
him much JOY with his highly refined and
polished BRIDE"
All my Lee temper, which IL consid-
cradle, was reused, and turning toward
the lady, ] exclaimed: MY sister, Miss
M0utrOse, Is as good as you, ny, or as
Herbert Langley, either, and the news Of
her marriage with him will carry SORROW
IA I.