Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-11-04
The Doctors wife
BY MSS N. e. BRADDoN


whose sudden sound made her drop her
book all confused and frightened. cried.
Hi. Frollo! this way. Frollo." And In
the next minute gentleman, followed by
third dog. came along the narrow
bridge that led straight to the bench on
which she was sitting.
Her parasol had fallen back as she
stopped to pick up her book, and Roland
1.ansdell could not avoid seeing her face.
lie thought her very pretty. but he
thought her also very stupid; and he had
clean forgotten his talk about her COM
ing to Mordred.
"Let me pick up the book. Mrs. Gil
bert" he said. what a pretty place
you have chosen for your mornings
rest! This Is favorite spot of mine"
lie looked ut the open pages Of the book
as he handed 1t to her. and saw the title.
and gnncing at another book on the seat
near her. he recognized the familiar
green cover and bevclcd edges of the
"Alien." A man always knows the
| cover of his own book. especially
when the work has hung rather heavily
on the publishers hands.
"You are fond Of Shelley" he said"
ooh, yes, I am very. very fond OF him.
| Wasn't II pity that he was drOwnedY'
She spoke Of that calamity as II 1t had
been an event Of the last week or two.
These things were nearer to her than
| all that common business Of breakfast
and dinner and supper which made up
her daily life. Mr.. Lansdell shot
searching glance at her from under cover
| Of his long lashes. Was this feminine
affectation. or what?
Eyes. It was a pity" he said; "but I
fancy we're beginning to get over the
misfortune. And 20 you like oil that
dreamy. misty stufff' he added. pointing
to the open book which Isabel held In
her hands.
II think II Il tine most beautiful poetry
that was ever written" she said.
| "Better than Byron'sT' a-sed Mr..
Lnnsdeil. II thought most yoras ladies'
made Byron their favorite."
"Oh. yes; I love Byron. But then he
makes one 30 unhappy, because one feels
that he was no unhappy when he wrote.
Fancy his writing late at night, after
being out ut parties, where everybody
adored him; and II he hadn't written Il
he would have gone mad" said Mrs. Oil.
bert, opening her eyes very wide. "Read.
Ing Shelley's poetry seems like being
among birds and flowers and blue rip
ping water and summer. 1t always
seems summer In his poetry. Oh! don't
know which like best"
Was all this afrcctntion. or was II only
simple childish reality? Mr.. Lnnsdell
was so much given to that dreadful dis.
ease. disbelief, that he was slow to nc.
cept even the evidence Of those eloquent
bushes. the earnest shining light In
those wonderful eyes. which could
scarcely be assumed ut will. however
skilled In the light comedy Of everyday
life Mrs. Gilbert might be.
Mr.. Lansdell and his dogs fingered
for some considerable time under the
shadow Of the big oak. Mr.. Lansdell
was amused by Isabels talk; and he led
hef on very gently, till her shyness van.
ished. and she dared to look up at his
face as she spoke to him; and he attuncd
his own talk to the key OF hers, and
wandered with her In the valhalla Of heI
heroes, from Eugene Aram to Napoleon
BOnap artc. But In the midst Of all thi,
she looked all In a hurry Mt tho little
silver watch that George had given hor
and found that II was past three.
"Oh. ! must go. IL you please." she
said: IL have been out ever since II
| CLOCK, anu wv ulue Ut uuIt past ..
"Let me carry your books little
way for you. them" said Mr.. Lansdell
But are you going that way?'
Eyes, that IL the very way I am 60
Ing. I suppose you often stroll as faI
us Thurston's Crag?"
"Oh. yes. very often. 1t isn't too Ions
walk. and 1t II 40 pretty"
ut Is pretty. Mordred is quite as near
to you, though, ana l think that YOU
would like the gardens ut Mordred
there are ruins, you know, MI it's alto
gether very romantic. l will give YOU
and Mr.. Gilbert a key, II you would lik,
to come there sometimes. Oh. by the
bye. hope you haven't forgotten your
promise to come to luncheon and sec the
pictures. and all that sort Of thing"
No. Isabel had not forgotten; her face
flushed suddenly Mt the thought Of TIL,
rapturous vista opening before her.
'"Thsn will you ask Mr.. Gilbert to &C
cept an unceremOnious invitation. and e
bring you to tho Priory to luncheon
say next Tuesday. as that will give m,
time 10 invite by Cousin Gwendolin,
and your old friend Mr.. Raymond. and
the two little girls who are so fond Of
your
Isabel murmured something to the Of
feet that shO would be very happy, ant
she was sure her husband would be Yer,
happy.