Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-19

but firmly dbcodsnfa WIT an1Wsr wns Il
possible to maks 70 Ahf Ard yst, 10 ksep
silencs would b Ike giving up every thing
Il must 60 away said Bell, hurrying Lest
moro should follow. "but I hope shall never
forget any Of my friends And then there
VII always be the commencements and the
reunions. o, / think our class will all meet
again frequently"
This prompt disclaimer was followed by
complete silence. Bell felt that the whole
speech had a false ring which made it ut
terly abhorrent to her; but all the same she
did not know what else to say.
They were nearing the top Of the long,
gentle ascent, and already the welcome sun
light from the open land began to fool their
way. Bells heart beat rapidly. o. if she
could only make one bound into that daz-
cling haven Of safety; and harkl the jubi-
liant whistle Of some noisy young teamster
not far away.
BELL. said Will, turning toward her. He
was pale as If he were leading forloEn
hops. and she trembled Ike leaf
BELL" be began again, Il meant that l
loved you. 1 thought you knew it."
Il am-very sorry" faltered, Bell not dar.
ing to look at her victim, and feeling her
own heart bleed with the pain she was in.
ficting, yet steady after all in the contempla-
ton Of her own ideal
She broke down. She would have sobbei
piteously had she been aione
No sound followed; nut she felt that the
decd was done. What came after, where
they went, or whom they met, she knew not
What she dreaded had come upon her, in
spite Of gallant fighting to Save it off; she
had done what she thought wss right, but
OH the pity OF it, the misery and uncom.
fortableness
HWhy, why she reflected. with return
ing CLEAN Of her usual wisdom, swhy will
people take such things into their heads be-
fore they know what they really do want to
complete their lives and make them perfect
don't know yet l don't believe he does.
But those boys"
And yet more to the same effect, until the
great stone gateway was reached again.
The arrival was all that Bells fancy had
pictured il; nay. worse, far worse. II Bel,
had one bow to return, she hal twenty
Such a gauntlet Of no Is and smiles to run
as they drove in, and that idiotic lilly
Smith actually waving her handkerchief
A very small knot-hole would have been "a
welcom e refuge to Bell just then
But those who met Will face to face, as
he drove away. were thunderstruck There
could be no doubt as to what the event had
been. Conformation not unminyled with
awe settled upon the whole class. For
moment it seemed doubtful whether the
commencement could pass OFF successfully
after such a catastrophe.
Il never saw a fellow SO cut up! l don't
believe he will show tomorrow. said Mr..
Drake. in tones Of deepest sympathy
Just like oil girls, i say. Catch ma hav.
ing anything to do with 'em," responded
Jenny Harris, who set mp for a precociogs
woman-hater
mo, no." reioinei the deep bass decidedly.
mot ut all like Nj Fraser consider Miss
Fraser a very sensible girl. Ithink--I think
there must have been some other reason"
Some other fellow That's the best rea-
son, isn't it,"
Mr.. Drake shook his head in depreciation
Of the levity Of Jenny Harris. Jenny
Harris was q great trial to Mr.. Drake Mr.
Drake was tall, serious, and considerable. and
had a sneaking kindness for Miss Fraser
himself, although he had always considered
that il would be dishonorable to indulge
it in the face Of Wills evident devotion, and
Bells apparent acquiescence. Jenny Har-
ris was short, and quick, and saucy. AMI
fair-haired, and Jenny Harris rather dis
liked Bell and thought she knew too much
As Bell was rushing up the stairs she met
DR.. Williamson walking slowly down, tall,
solemn and dis.nified, a vast expanse OF
black, with cleaning island Of viii te
linen.
Good morning Miss Fraser" said he be-
nignly; shave you had pleasant drive this
morningP
Bell corresponded almost perfectly 70 his
ideal of model student. and he distin-
guished her on principle whenever be met
her.
yes, sir" Boil was obliged to reply.
blushing deeply, and feeling like second
edition Of Ananias and Sappbira; very
pleasant"
But this ponderous advent saved her from
all other attacks. She got into her own
room and locked the door behind her. the
key rafting furiously In her frantic haste.
The foremost heard it and retreated. There
were times when some of them did nor
understand Bell Fraser
Bell hardly knew whether she understood
herself First she sat down and cried She
would hardly have been q woman had So;
not done that Then her natural superiority
asserted itself in disdain Of such folly. And
lastly. she took Oft her hat AMI pushed back
her hair. AMI tried to think whether it
really was all folly, or whether there might
be grain Of reason about the thing after
all. Now that it was over, was it quite GER
tain that she had done right! While
the thing was yet to be done
an even in the doing of il,
Bell had been firm. though intensely CON
scious Of the attendant suffering. Vow,
doubt and remor-e got holl OF her AMI
dragged her mercilessly this way and that,
until she began to feel uncertain about her
own identity, and 10 wonder il there were
not possibly two Bell Frasers, with one of
whom she was just making acquaintance,
while the other size knew by heart, and felt
rs if she never wantel TO Sc, her again
Poor Bell, She meant to do just right, AID
she thought she had god reasons for doing
what she had done. She never hal meant
to engage berself TO any one till sic hal
been several years out in tie world. in the
full tide OF real. practical life That prac-
teal life was what Bell looked forward to
with ardent longing. And yet, was there
not a certain truth and honesty. a depth and
perfect naturalness in the love just offered
10 her, which made it worth the having,
Bell C uld not deny that there was. But
thing may be well worth having without
being desired with any particular intensity
Bell bad possessed this so long that she was
quite accust med to it and dill not care
much about it. Having it, she had not yet
imagined what it would be TO lose it That
experience was yet 70 come
After such a day AMI night OF conflicting
emotions. it IS no wonder that Bell looked
pale next day She felt as II she were
spelling the whole commencement, when
he saw the girls looking at her and wills
pering TO each other This depressing con
,ciousness added to her naturally serious
look on any important occasion As for
Will, she dared not glance at him. and il was
we'll that she did not. WIN carried thick
cloud Of gloom with him wherever he went.
md no one came very near him withou. be-
ing perceptibly dampened. II ever two
thoroughly worthy, ainiahle. and generally
beloved young people came near being
heartily execratei by all their companions.
hose two did on that commencement day.
Cupid has much TO answer for: il indesf
Minerva were not chargeable on this
occasion with rather more than half the
niachisf.
TOO bad! Too badl- was the whispered
rsrdict passed around. Just spoiled every
:hingl' added one or two energetic and in
iigpant ones
Bell knew it. heard it saw it, suffered IL
Ill She went through agonies that day.
She was SURF they must all hate her for
breaking up every thing just at the last; and
he did not blame them ono bit Bell was
Just.
1t Is my fault, she said TO herself. and |
ret could not help it
When her hand met Wills reluctant and |
ret lingering clasp in the final good-hyes. !
Bell had much ado not 10 break out sobbins |
L WAS all over at last, and they were al ]
zone upon their separate ways
Bell Fraser came from very pleasant. and |
,vao , fpvur,o,,s h,,ra t. ~ Sha r,.urD~i i