The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-11-26

II have net lntim2ied, - he said, "tha
| ] am so fortunate as to be known By you
j II was the very desire 10 know you tina
1 impelied me-
81 don't understand you, sir. I'll cal
/ an officer unless you leave instantly!''
-Such language humiliates me exceed
| ingly, madame Accept my humbles
apologies for having caused you any IN
easiness or fright. The street is thronged
and any one would protect you against
an indignity at my hands. / beg you tc
wait just moment, that / may explain
myself
"But to be seen standing in the street
ccnversing with a man OF Your-your-
appearancen'
Madame, if my face is crimson at that
cruel remark it is merely evidence of a
weakness that / am unable to conquer
call it pride, if you please. Iregret that
my poverty obtrudes itself, obscuring
everything else"
A look of pity appeared in the girls
eyes, and, although she eyinced in her
attitude of Impotence strong desire to
be left alone, her original feeling of fear
and repugnance gradually melted under
the firm, deliberate, polished, gentleman
~ bearing of the man. The stranger ex-
hibited kindly, patient dignity that
would have made California girl, with
a speck of adventure and romance, think
twice before she rejected his advances
summarily.
THAT is true" she said, II have no
doubt. But that is no reason that
shouldn't put an end to this interview by
saying, once for all, decline your es-
cort.''
Her tongue uttered these words. Her
eyes said: Il dare you to try me little
al IL - I,..k axr
the look. She felt the superiority of this
mans will. She turned to leave, scorn.
fully. He promptly stepped to her side
OF course she was greatly angered at
this persistent impertinence, and, turn.
ing upon him with flashing eyes, she
said:
81 thought had said enough, sir, to
put gentleman on his honor. You
place me in false position. Your i'm.
pertinence IS extremely distasteful to
me. Please leave me-"
So said her tongue. Her eyes said
You haven't got the nerve to go any
further" He said (as by this time they
We're walking slowly along):
GU misconstrue me entirely. Let
me explain my motives, that you may
understand my apparent rudeness.
have no friends here. / haye been un-
was ouCu q hAuh,
womanly expression in your face-please
don't turn away. Thank you. Apart
from the consideration that you should
have an escort over the Guadalupe
bridge
"You know where / live, then, it
seems?'
Certainly; and your name also"
And you stranger here 81
absolutely"
There was such delicate little com.
| pliment concealed in this that she was
f1attered.
81 was saying" he continued, that
| apart from that necessary consideration,
did not think it wouid be wrong, OF
that 1 was lacking in respect, to speak
| to you, to be few moments with you,
and then leave you forever. I put it to
You as a reasonable, sensible woman
whether or not | appear to do anything
In violation of mans proper regard
| for things that should be handled ten.
derby and sacredly / am separated
from every face and scene that has here
tofore made life pleasant. am q
| stranger in strange country, and it is
with shame that l admit that the appear
ance make procludes my entry into so
ciety congenial to my tastes. ] am lone
ly and destitute, hungering for a kindly
look, and it is only desperation on thai
account that forces me TO approach you
And then, your face reminds me sc
| strikinglY of my mothers that could
not resist the desire to hear your voice
also"
| This fellow was a born diplomat. The
| girl was about eighteen or twenty years
1 of age. OF course she was handsome
| and had sweet face. The young mar
had the bearing of a polished, though
| unfortunate gentleman, proud, but with
a pride tinctured with sorrow and lone
illness, calm, slow, erect, and possessed
of that ability to look steadily and un
dauntedly into the eyes of woman
that has more weight as expressing pow
er and superiority than all other things
| combined. The girl was touched with
| pity, and spurred by desire for adven.
ture. She had strong self-reliance-tht
ruin of nine-tenths ofthe California girl.
that are ruined.
81 really don't know what to do" sht
said.
AZ don't believe" replied the stranger
"that woman with as much strength
and character as | see in your face would
naturally lay as much stress on conven
| tionalities as would those of shallowel
feeling.''
| During this time they had advanced a
| few steps. The girl looked at the ground
confused. The man at her side was evi
IDENTIFY gentleman. He was in distress
was reminded by her of his mother, mac
no friends-perhaps he was in want
Poor fellow! But what would heI
| friends think of such an escapade? New
ertheless, after hesitating a moment she
admitted that she had been conquered
by saying:
| al grant vour REQUEST cir fhotIOl, I'm,
afraid of doing wrong"
| 1t is somewhat singular that, at tha
particular moment, il did not occur Il
her that the street cars passed over the
terrible Gaudalope bridge. Furthermore
nobody was ever known to require az
escort over it. After introducing them
selves, she commenced to tell him abou
her fear in crossing the bridge alone a
night; and he said yes, he had heart
that was considered dangerous place
They were both terrible liars.
His name was Hardy; hers, Sophro
mia. Her fathers name was Morris. Ell,
was rich kind hearted old gentleman
| who had mansion on the Alameda.
As the two passed the postoffice corner
| pair of blesred eyes winked quietly
and a couple of whisky testing lips
grinned sardonically. They belonged t.
Tarantuia Joe.
AS soon as the couple got under thu
shadow of the wall of Notre Dame
Hardy placed Sophronia's arm within
his own. She did not object He en-
tertained her marvelously well. Hi
knowledge of the world was extensive
and his education good. She began t,
think he was an angel in disguise
At the east end of the bridge a shad
owy form, scarcely perceptible in thu
darkness, emerged from behind thi
board and crept noiselessly after them.
This sneaking person carried clul
in his hand. Stepping rapidly behinG
Hardy, he raised his deadly weapon an,
brought it down upon the mans head
There was dull, crushing thud, ant
Hardy sank with a groan- There was
slight convulsive contraction of the mus
cles, a gurgle, and all was quiet
The girl heard the blow, and saw he
defender stretched at her feet. She wa
instantly rendered powerless and speech
less by sickening terror. Immediately
a powerful and brutal hand closed upol
her throat, stopping her breath. Othe
shadows emerged from the darkness,
dozen strong hands seized her, and befor
she had time to offer resistance ths
would have been useless, a gag wa
thrust into her mouth, choking her.
So intently had the highwaymen bee
engaged in rendering the girl helples
and robbing her of her jeweIry, that the
did not perceive Hardy stagger to hi
feet. He was dazed and uncertain. TIL
blood poured down his face and sstul
ated bis shirt, A glance at the struG
Cling forms brought him to his senses.
"Has she any moneys" demanded
gruff voice.
II can't find any"
take those rings of her fingers Thur
derl how she strugglesi isn't that
watch2 Snail on 10 il. Pull out thos
earrings-quick 20
II can't-don't know how they al
fastened
: Tear 'em out, then-you, and hurr
upr'