Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-07
CHAPTER III.

The garden ut the back Of Mr.. Slea.
ford's house was a large square plot of
ground, with fine old pear trees shelter
ing n neglected lawn. A row of hazel
bushes screened all the length of the wall
upon one side of the garden; and when.
ever you looked. there were roses and
sweet brier, apples and tall struggling
| raspberry bushes, all equally unfamiliar
with the gardeners pruning knife.
1t was a dear old, untidy place, where
the odor of distant pig sites mingled
family with tho perfume of the roses
and 1t was In this neglected garden that
| Isabel Sleaford spent the best part of
her idle, useless life.
She was sitting In a basket chair un.
der ono Of the pear trees when Sigis.
mund Smith and his friend went into
the garden to look for her. She was
lollng In Il low basket chair, with book
on her lap, and her chin resting on the
palm of her hand, SO absorbed by the
Interest Of the page before her that sho
did not even lift her eyes when the two
young men went close up to her. She
wore muslin dress good deal tumbled
and not too clean, and Il strip Of blacl,
velvet was tied around her long throat.
Her hair was black and was rolled up
in great loose knot, from which long,
untidy curl fell struggling on her white
throat--her throat was very white with
the dead, yellowish whiteness Of ivory.
IL wish that was Colonel Montefi-
asco,'" said Mr.. Smith. pointing to tho
book which the young lady was reading.
II should like to see a lady SO interest
ed In one Of my books that she wouldn't
so much as look up when a gentleman
was waiting to he introduced to her."
Miss SleafOrd shut her book and rose
from her low chair, abashed by this re.
proach; but she kept her thumb between
the pages, and evidently meant to 20 on
with the volume at the first convenien,
opportunity. She did not wait for any
ceremonious introduction. to George, but
held out her hand to him, and smiled al
him frankly.
"You are Mr. Gilbert, I know" she
said "Sgismund has been talking OF
you necessarily for the last week. Nam
ma has got your room ready; and l sup
pose we shall have tea soon. There arc
to be some chops on purpose for your
friend, Sigismund, mamma told me t.
tell YOU"
She glanced downward at the book, n,
much as to say that she had finished
speaking and wanted to get back to it
What 10 1t, Izzie?" Sigismund asked
interpreting her look.
"'Alberman MOuntfOrt.'"
II thought so. Always his books"
A faint blush trembled over Mis-!
Eleaford's pale face.
''They are 80 beautiful" she said.
Dangerously. I'm afraid, Isabel" thu
young man said, gravely; beautiful
swcetmeats, with opium inside the sugar
These books don't make you happy, d.
they, Izxie?"
"No. they make me unhappy; but
she hesitated a little, and then blushet
as she said-"I like that sort OF unhap
piness. It's better than eating ant
drinking and sleeping, aud being happ!
that way"
George could only stare st the youni
lady's kindling face, which lighted VI
all in a moment and was suddenly beau
tiful like some transparency which seem
dingy picture until you put a LAM
behind It. The young surgeon could onl!
stare wonderinGly at Mr. Sleaford'
daughter, for he hadn't the faintest ide,
what she and his friend We're talking
about.
She shut her book altogether at Sigis
mund's request, and went with the tw,
young men to show George the garden
but she carried the dingy.looking volum