Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-04-01
CHAPTER xii1.-(Continued.)

and what everybody was saying. In the
first place then. you must remember that
there was great deal snid about a paid
of my silk stockings. Now shrank par
ticularly from having an intimate matter
Of that sort made the subject Of public
gossip. Ii was neither becoming nor
ladylike, to drag little questions Of my
wardrobe into the eye Of the nation 80.
Already II was too much to know that a
pair Of such articles had been found
bearing my initials. Most decidedly I re-
fused, and I am sure any lady would do
the same, to 90 into hard cold witness
box and under the eyes Of some scores
Of males proclaim my completely with
such things. II I had seen It my duty.
I would have cnlca vorcd to conquer my
feelings; hut Of course I took II all for
granted that everything was too clear NJ.
ready. And my dear brother. l thought
of him: and thought of every one. except
myself. Coujd I do more, Russell Over.
shuteY"
"Indecd. my dear madam, I do not soc
how. But I thought that something had
occurred quite lately"
"Oh. ycs. to Le surc II WINS only to.
day. I mean, to have told you that. first
Of ALL I was grossly insultcd. A pc.
culiarly insolent proceeding on the part
of moor Mrs Sham 4, nnnoars--or. nor.
hans. some ono for her: for everybody
says TINT she really now has no mind Of
her own, She did NOT write me one sin
Gle line, although I had written politely
TO her; and she sent mo n messnee-,oo
bad to be repeated. No one would tell
me what II was: which arvrovotes Il to
the last degree. I assure YOU have no,
been 40 upset for ycnrs: ar. nj amy rate
not since moor (;rnce wns Lost. And
about that. unless I am much mistaken,
that very low. selfish and plotting pcr.
son knows n great denl more than we
have ever dreom mel. II womb not surprise
me IN the lenst. e.peciully inter what
happened today. Ia 6n,I Mrs. Sharp Mt
the bottom of all OF Il, AT any rate, she
has aroused my suspicion by her con.
temptible insolcnce. And I am not a per.
con 10 drop n thing"
"Why, what has she doncY' asked
OverShutc.
"Wbat she did WINS this. sbc sent mo
back, not even hacked In nice white nm.
per. NOT even .rrinSled with ON" do 90 co.
ioene. NOT even wnshed--wbnt do Won
think Of thutY--but rolled mn ANYHOW IN
brown pnp.r. tho snme ma n irnvmnn
would use for bis taps--oh. Russell. would
you ever believe nv'
Certainly. II seems very impo,itc. Bu,
what was Il she sent bock 10 youY''
"Not even the nrticle I expected! Not
even that ingredient Of costume which
had lent poor Oracle. very nice and pref.
~ ones-but an old grey pair Of silken
hose. disgraccful even to look ut. 1t Ia
true that they bear my initials; but ]
had discarded them long ago."
what a strange thing"' cried Over.
shute, flushed with quick excitement.
"HOw reckless We were at the inquest
We had made up our minds without evi.
dence. on the mere faith Of coincidence.
bic to look into this point until now
we're told that you had recognized the
stockings; and II turns out that you never
even saw them. II II strange and almos,
wicked negligence"
II have told you my motives. I can
say no more." exclaimed Mrs. Permit.
age, with her fine fresh color heightened
by shame or anger. "Of course. I felt
sure-whO could fail to do sO2-that the
stockings found with my name on them
must be the pair had lent my niece
20 see them. 1t In more than my nerves
could bear; aud the coroner was not NJ
unmanly Is TO force me. Pray, did you
60, and see everything, sir;"
Mrs, Fermitagc. l am the very Inn,
person who Inns any right 10 renronc,
YOU, failed IN my dnty. far more finn
you In yours. In n man. of course. i,
was n thousand times worse. There i,
no excuse for me. I Yielded 10 n moor
unmanly weakness, l wished TO keen m,
memory OF the poor dear, as | Ind seer
her last, I should have considered Tim,
the moor frnil body IL not our true iden
thy"
quite 40. Of course. And thcrefore
what was the use of your going M se,
III No, no, YOU behaved very we'll. Rms
sci Overshute; and 80 did I. 10 II come,
TO tLatr'
"I,et IA settle that We both hovo don.
our hest" said Russell very sadly. knnw
ing how far from the truth II was "An,
now you will tell me what made vou s.s.
for those silk ingredients of COSTUME .,
suddenly"
"With Measure. dcor Russell, 7 so,
for them. or mt least for what I f,ll,
expected to he the ones. because an Ln
pertinent Young woman. foolishIv tr',,t..
with very good KEYS. gave ma not,cs :,
60 last evening. or course shc will ~
before ! have chance OF andinw NJ"
how much she has stolen-thev nil ,aL,
very GOOD care 10 do thoY. oni tno,.,','
=, u.s." ""s