Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-16
TIE KING OF NUECES.


appointment of the almanac. but by the
iifc potent authority Of the fierce 'norther,
j.,ai raGiug wind of the Sierras. that
hfirSed Wild through the streets, battering
in IFS l1ud, hectorinr way, at shutters and
doals. a if demanding admission upon pen
atty. bullying and toImenting the helpless
tree, a. # il would at once and forever make
ia ,1ld of them, catching the unresistlng
RAIN ia It's strong clutch, whipping it against
Windows ard walls, and driving it through
"a 'hna,sind unsJslected crevices-a sort OF
eioiah Of Gath wind, that roared up and
down through tho camp daring the whole
lot Il, &C ms out and do battle with it.
or the few unfortUnates whom circum.
uBcy, compelled to meet this rude chal-
h,.zci. tie omnibus Of the Island City hotel
b. two Just arrived BY train from some in
dcirfc region ia the northwani, and contiIni'
~, , ilis let-l'u s manner their journey to
ward rs~t aul Shelter They were Uf opposite
SIX. tn man burly, black BEARDED person,
with Lnld hlac. eyes that glowed beneath the
sllaiDW oi his wide-brimmed lat with iir.
scarcely inferior % That of the imposing
Giainpni upon his shiit-front. He sat sluarcly
ia the middle Of the seat. WITH one arm
stretched along lis back, nursing Il heavily
too:ed loot upon one knee, and coiEplacently
tltGAins The fingers % his brown
larry hand through his thick beard
The wonian, whom even the uncor
tam light Il the Intellectual little lamp
81 wed 10 be young and attractive was but
toned from throat to ankle in On all-envelop
lax waterproof hut her hat was II stylish
li:;lc affair Of felt, trimmed with IA hand.
4. L.
which reposel upon her lap, united its testi
mony to that OF the Russia leather travelling
sslchel upon the favorable side of the question
as 10 her fortune and social standing.
She sat with her bacl. as nearly turned upon
her fcljow-lraveler as the construction OF
the vehicle would allow, gazing fixedly out
of the front window, where the pickering ray
of the drivers lamp showed her the wet backs
and dropping cars of the horses. Her posi-
tioD afforded an admirable view of the
,ulidy cooled braids of hair, with IA fringe %
liiiic unprecedented curs, that feb from be
meath them upon n slender, well-mouldec
ncrl- which the llack-beanled man soene,
30 iinl pleasing.
The omnibus laborcd heavily forward il
the gale, which laid its lash of raindrofs
sharply across the closed glasses. All al
onre, with fearful lurch, it came TO "A mo
mcntary stand, hesitating apparently upon
the verge Of catastrophe; while the ilickering
ray CLEANED brOkenly upon the agitated sur
face OF u body Of water of undetermined ex,
tent. The young woman started up grasp
ing her sachel and looking about her as ii
for means of escape.
Don't be frightened, ma am said her fel.
low traveller, il "A deep voice just fordin
one OF the city ponds; keep your seat"
us there no danger The driver hasn't
gone into the gulf 10y mistake, you think =
she painted IN n sweet, tremuous treble.
ON. no: we're all right. III be dog-gonel
ii the omnibus oughten TO be schooner-rigged
though or the city oughter keep ferries on
their lakes They never know whether they re
;.foat or ashore in this town. I'll DE dogged
eG I'd live in it ct they give me the 'hor lay
out.
The numbering vehicle resumed lis dark and
psthlesS way, the young woman sank int
her scat and the burly man into silence. still
c,,ub.ng his whisscrs with his brown hand
AMI nursing the heavy foot upon his knee.
Here we are. he said cheerfully, as with
a final mrch, and complaining groan from
each separate joint, their ark rested. and
gathering his valisc in one hand and laying
the other upon the door he seemed 10 dive
headlnns into space As the young woman
:iniidlv followed, however, she saw that h,
WAS Whiting for her, his figure indistinctly
outlined against a luminous doorway, open
ing into q huge square shadow, which SD,
guess Cd rather than saw, to be the hotel
KS mos too wet for them there shoes OF
worm. lac SAID 10y way of explanation, and
without further speech he cast an arm about
her waist, and, crossing in two strides the in
t,i-vcnins strip of water and sand, set hei
down upon the gallery in front of the open
door.
\ waiter pounced upon them, and taking
the sachel and valise into one hand, as If sat
sfiel that they belonged together, led th,
way 10 the ladies' parlor
"licre's a fire. said the burly man, com,
ST 10y itDn' warm yourself. You mus b,
pretty nigh froze'
She yielded quietly, though with littl,
cir Of reserve, to his direction, and acceptc,
thc chair he placed for her before the op1i
lire. which was doing lis inefficient best u
warm Che large empty room. She iookeo
l,ac a woman accustomed TO being taken care
al. one toward whom every man would natu
rally experience the protective impulse, am
her present sclf-clected guardian regarded bel
with AN expression at once critical and ap
proving. as She leaned hack, and put two
sllapclv. well shod feet upon the fender.
Il sI,ose better 20 am see bout my room
an some supper" he said. Amt yo'
hongryi'
Il think could eat something.'
Al q, opf
to-. reckon"
-why, yes, TO be sure I forgot that
rlust register.
Il 'spoSe | might register for you jis' il
well lis not, cf you'd give me your name.
If You would bc ~ klnd. | should he 5,
much Obliged" She a,ssanted sweetly. M,
name is Hemming, of ST. Louis; wait, l hav,
"a card
Sine drew from some concealed receptacle
un,ler her waterproof "A rotund pocket book,
from which she extracted & dainty card
"Al right he said, taking it, "that'll ii,
it. I'll b. back in a mint"
lie strobe away. ANA she, turning herself ;
little in her chair, looked after him with AZ
,.NrrcSsiun Of amused wonder. A. the dool
closed behind him she rose from her chair
ana rapidly unbottoned the long waterproof
throw it OIL. and ran Ia the pierElaSs. 1t i
not often that a full length survey OF one
person after long railroad journey prove
81 satisfactory The dark. well-fittedl cos
tune looked fresh and crisp, and when sh'
had effected some mysterious change undcl
cover Of the ovenlreSs, the apparently shor
skirt fell into graceful deini-t-ain. witt
what the moliStes cali charming arrange
ment Of fiounces and drapery. Bring
ing her snchel from the chair wheT'
the porter had deposited il, she pouret
some cologne upon bandkerchie
and Rubbed il over her face, following it VI
With Il hit Of chamois which She first applies
10 the contents of small oval box Of whit,
cardboard, retiei her scarlet cravat, sott!s
her bat into more becoming position, then
with an approving nod n; the image thu
readjusted and frightened, retUIrlel 10 bel
pl;,ce by the fire.
The image was not indeed unworthy Of an
praval A rather petite image it was, viii
wel!-rounded figure, and q face which, though
somewhat lleavy-featurei, had that piqsian
charm OF clear. light gray eyes shadowed b,
long dark lasheS and contrasted with olivi
skin and dark hair which belong 10 orbs Of
deeper hue.
She had hardly regsined her seat whs' hes
new acquaintance returned He aisc ha'
Transformed his appearance somewhat b
the removal % his hat and over7ocat. am
looked ;rif'e lbs bgrly. though his M her
coat made No preteuse Of fitting him In
iecc presented that contrast in cclor- conno