Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-12-09

hood. and trick. and delusion? II was a
feather In your cap TO have Mr.. Lans-
dell, OF the Priory. madly In love with
you; and now that he grows troublesome,
you send him about his business. I am
to think this. ! suppose. 1t has all been
coquetry and falsehood from first to
lost"
oh. no, no, no!' cried Mrs. Gilbert.
despairingly. IL never thought that you
would ask me to be more to you than
am now; | never thought 1t was wicked
to come here and meet you. have read
OK people who. by some fatality, could
never marry. loving each other. and be-
ing true to each other for years and years
till death sometimes; and I fancied
that you loved me like that; and the
thought of your love made me so happy:
and IL was such happiness to see you
sometimes. and to think Of you after.
ward, remembering every word you had
said. and seeing your face as plainly rs
| see 1t now. I thought. ill yesterday,
that this might 60 on forever. and never,
never believed that you would think me
like those wicked women who run away
from their husband"
| "And yet you love meY'
| with all my heart"
| Roland Lansdell watched her face In
silence for some moments. and family
c0mprehended the exaltation Of spirit
which lifted this foolish girl above him
to-day. But he was a weak. vacillating
young man. who was unfortunate enough
not to believe In anything; and he was.
In his own fashion. truly and honestly In
love--toO much In love to be just or rea.
sonable-nnd he was very angry with
Isabel. The tide Of his feelings had
gathered strength day by day. and had
swept rclcntlessly above every impedi-
ment. to be breasted at last by a rocky
wall; here, where he thought to meet
only the free. boundless ocean, ready to
receive and welcome him.
Isabel" he said. at last, "hnve you
ever thought what your life il to be. al.
ways. after this parting to-day? You
are likely to live forty years, and even
when you have got through them. you
will not he an old woman. Have you
ever contemplated these forty years. with
three hundred and sixty-ive days In
every one Of them. every day to he spent
with man you don't love--a man with
whom you have not one common
thought? Think Of that. Isabel: and
then. II you do love me, think Of the life
l offer you and choose between them"
II can only make one choice" Mrs.
Gilbert answered. In a low, sad voice.
II shall be very unhappy. I dare say.
but l will do my duty to my husband.
and--think Of you"
$50 be IL" exclaimed Mr.. Lansdell,
with a Iong.drawn sigh. "ln that case.
good-by." lie held out his hand. aud
Isabel was startled by the GOODNESS OF
its touch.
"You are not angry with met" she
asked. piteously.
IL have no right to be angry will,
nny one but myself. have nothing Ia
say to you except good.by. For mercy's
sake. go away and leave me to myself
She had no pretcnsc for remaining
with him after this; no she went away
very slowly, frightened and sorrowful
hut when she had gone few yard.
along tho pathway under the trees IN,
felt all ut once that she could not leave
him thus. She must see his face once
more; she must know for certain wheth.
or he was angry with her or not.
She crept slowly back to the spot
where she had left him, and found him
lying at full length upon the grass, with
his face hidden on his folded arms. With
u sudden instinct Of grief aud terror she
knew that he was crying, and falling
down upon her knees by his side. muir.
INJURED, amidst her sobs:
"Oh, pray forgive me! Pray do no,
be angry with me! love you 30 dearly
and SO truly! Only say that you forgive
me"
Roiond Innsdell lifted hi, foce md