Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-27

did not see how he could under the cir
cumstances. It was novelty to Lola,
this quiet life. She enjoyed lying upon
the big chintz covered lounge and gazing
out at the green fields and the quaint
old-fashioned garden of the cottage. And
then the knowledge that she could make
John Sturdy, such a great powerful fell
low, tremble at her touch, amused her.
How he waited upon her, never firing
even when she became a trihe exacting
and perheerrs bit cross. He had ALWAYS
! en- excuse ,or her. Her arm panied her,
or it was lonesome for her. Till his
mother one day, taking his honest face
between her hands, said:
John, John, my son, am afraid YOU
are laying up trouble for yourself. The
Lord give you strength" Tenderly
kissing the wrinkled sses he answered;
"You will love her, mother, for my
sake and-and her own
Lola's arm mended rapidly and one
evening she suddenly announced her in
tention of leaving Quietton to join he1
sister, who was still travelling with the
circus Swinging gracefully to and frc
| on the little whitewashed gate at the end
of the lane that led to the cottage, she
leveled this shaft at John, who stood at
her side, a wealth of intense feeling
darkening his eyes.
"Going away? he gasped; '.no,-oh
Lola cannot spare you; stay-stay
and be my wife. 1 love you so I will dc
anything in the world to make you hap.
py You remember Hawthorn farm, the
pretty place you said you liked SO much
We will live there. Oh, Lola, my dar-
ling is it SO hard to love me just lit
tle?" Holding out his arms yearningly,
yet not offering to touch this bit of girl
he could have crushed in his strong
grasp, he awaited her words.
CHANGING shyly from under her dark
lashes, while half smile quivered
athwath her rosy lips, she answered:
'Do you really love me SO much? It's
nice to be petted, and Hawthorn farm is
a real pretty place, but it must have a
bow window and a lovely flower garden
At his he drew her towards him and
kissed her SO passionately, that perhaps a
Titled awed by this strong mans deep
love for her, she said hurriedly:
II am afraid / do not love you enough,
and perhaps Ishall not make you happy"
Il am willing to risk it," he murmur-
ed fondly, as he again clasped her in his
arms.
Just month from that day Lola be-
came Mrs. John Sturdy and they went to
live Hawthorn farm, where the bow win
dow and everything the young wife had
expressed desire for awaited her.
For few months not cloud dimmed
the horizon of this happy pair. Lola
was pleased with her newly acquired dig
nifty and her power over her stalwart hus-
band. Then the novelty began to wear
off and the young wife waxed restless and
Johns heart ached with the fear that she
was growing to feel like bird that had
been been deprived of its liberty. Once
when she had driven with him to the
neighboring town, he noted the quick
color dyeing her cheeks as they passed a
large circus poster and with what eager
eyes she scanned the red letters, and he
made up his mind when the circus arriv-
ed to visit with her. But unfortunately
he was obliged to be away on that day
on business and it was not until late in
the evening that he returned to find an
empty home and few hastily written
words, bidding him farewell. His wife
had gone back to the circus. She
babe him get a divorce, that she was
not worthy of bis love, for she cared more
forthe old life than she did for him.
Not word to any one did the wrong
ed husband say concerning his wife, ex-
cept that she had gone on visit to her
sister, and that he intended following her
as soon as he could put things in order
His mother suspected, but held her
peace, although the sight of her sons
face came nigh to break her heart. Then
he went away, and only a sorrowing
mother knew how he was travelling
from town to town, following the for
tunes of his wife, yet never seeking to
speak to her, or even enter the circus to
whose company she belonged, just guard
ing and watching over her in every way
possible without her knowledge. Lola's
sister, happy in the knowledge that her
young charge was well provided for
when she gave her into John Sturdy's
hands, and with her husband Joined a
circus en- route for California some two
months previous, and consequently knew
nothing of Mrs. John Sturdy's actions
or 1 am afraid the little cul prit would
have been taken very severely to task
Only once during the year that John
followed in his wife's wake did he witness
performance, and what took place you
have already learned.
x x x X x
A pretty, sunny room with bow win
dow opening upon perfect bouquet a
garden. A tiny mite of some two sum-
mers being tossed in papa's arms. AS
the little girl gleefully claps her dim
pied hands a voice exclaims
ooh, John how you do spoil baby"
Then two pretty white arms clasp
Johns broad shoulders, and soft cheek
lays itself caressingly against his rougher
one, as he, seating both mamma and
baby upon his knee, answers:
"Why, how can I help it, Lola, she
is the image Of your"
With smile that fails to hide the tears
clinging to the wife's dark lashes she
suddenly raises her husbands hand to her
lips, murmuring passionately;
SsOl> Tol-1 a.
much I loved you until I thought you