Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-16
CHAPTER rvI.,-(Continucd.)


"WellT lie said almost sulcnly, with.
ont turning to look at her
The hand which had touched him very
gently and appcalingly at first, frightened
upon his sleeve and began TO tremblc
strongly. At this he looked over his
shoulder aud met IIcpzibahs beseeching
gaze. There were tears IN her eyes. and
he noticed Il curious little throbbing In
her throat. MS IL n pinnoforte hammer
were tapping from within.
Don't break your heart. Edward
she besought him, speaking with great
difficulty. Don't go to the bud for her.
There's nobody us is worth that, my darl-
Ing. What good can that do!'
Don't worry about me. 1Iepzibah.
he said miserably; ut isn't worth WHILE"
"What else have I got to worry for
IL il amt the child | nursed when | was
n child mysclfy' said IIcpzibnh, holding
to him with both hands. And. oh. as j
should ever ha' lived to have to ask you
such thing! But oh, my darling, do.
do come home"
She paused. and Ned filed up the brok-
en- sentence.
"Sober. I suppose" he said.
ooh. do. dear. do!' she begged him,
clnging to him.
every WELL" he said. with n gloomy
laugll--two little spnsmodic sounds. as
far from merriment as light from dark
ness.-''you shall have our way for
once. You pretty generally get 1t here"
He stopped and kissed the hard-fea.
tured face. and Ilepzibnh, dropping her
head upon his shoulder. chung to him and
shook with silent tears and internal sob
bings.
1--WE got your word. dearY'' she asked
when she could trust herself to speak.
YES" he answered. Good night,
Hepxibnh."
lie set ont on his seven.mile walk. and
having posted his letter In the town.
turned back. A certain halfway house
tugged ut him us II II had n cord about
his heart. but he broke pnst II with a
rage Of resolution. and walked straight
home. md ut once went up to his own
bedroom. Hepzibnh heard the assured
and steady footstep. and was thankful
for the news 1t brought her, though the
feet went like lead, and had not even II
memory Of their old lightness.
Next morning Ned Blane's criminal
prctense was delivered into Mary Hack
ett's hands, md she felt her heart alto
gether cheerful and strengthened by Il.
Cue WouueItu Ut Tue DeThOuut
lence her husband kept. but at least here
was proof positive that he was not the
henrtless creature she had found herself
beginning TO believe him. lie had not
found It In his heart to forsake her and
to cast her back upon her parents. And
she herself could face the world again.
lie had really gone away on business Of
some sort; and though, she was still In.
Quieted about him. she had no longer the
shame Of being forced to believe that
the affairs he had spoken Of were no
more than an nbOminnble pretext.
But now came n consequence of the
letter which the forger had not antici-
patcd. Before the welcome banknOte
WIS NO much nv broken for the purchase
Of household necessarics. Mary sat down
and wrote letter to that imaginary
John Hnrgrcaves who lived In the mag
inary Eeston Square:
''Sir-I should he greatly obliged II
you would furnish me with my husband
present address. ! am afraid that re-.
cent letters may have miscnrried.'
II this little blind wns something less
than absolutely truthful, she posted Il
all the same. and snlved her conscience
with the hope that It might be true. Two
or three days later her inquiry came
back again. directed and redirected IN
half n dozen different hands. md ut las,
officially marked "Misdirccted: no Kes
ton Square In Breton" This amazed
her and awOke new anXieties. Obviously
win IL moving In crooked ways ana wa,
In hiding from her. 1t was easily pos
sible that he might be cOncealing him
self. and. inspired by some feeble hope
Of meeting him. she took the bus into
town day after day and walked YEARLY
up and down the principal thorough
fares. thinking that perchance she nigh
catch sight Of him.
She had never known It until now
but she was little short-siahted, ant
a thousand times her heart leaped with
In her IN the crowded street as she i'm
aginetl that ut last the errant husban,
was In sight. and she would advance
huttering from head to foot, to meet III
absolute stranger. No habitude Of fail
ure lcssened the shock Of hope and feal
md disappointment. and she would y,
home at night too tired to care for any
thing. Her whole life seemed to hav,
grown into one constant duh and empt,
ache.
1t seemed strange and ghOstly sOr
of life to lead, for she was altOgethe
alone now. and hardly ever exchange,
word, except upon matters Of mere ne
cessity, with fellow creature. Sh,
called upon nobody, and nobody Gale,
upon her. Those people of the it'll
township who had ut first been indignan
against John Hownrth and his wife 70
their neglect of their daughter supposed
now. naturally enough. since Mary wen
on living In her husbands house, tina
the builder supplied the necessary funds
and so forgot their Indignation.
A NVUI