Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-05-01

son gathered up the parcels she left be-
hind her, and she and reached the bug
gy just after Mrs. Stapleton had taken
her seat therein and while Grace was
still standing on the platform in front oil
the store. Mr.. Hudson had not heard
her remark, or at any rate, he was in the
dark as to what had occurred. He start
ed to put the parcels in the buggy when
Mrs. Stapleton said excitedly:
"Don't you do it! Twill not touch
one of them!'
"Why, Mrs. Stapleton," he exclaimed
in establishment. "Whatr' '.Don't ask
me what ask him." she said, pointing to
me.
fortunately no one was near, and
taking Grace into the buggy, she drove
rapidly away. leaving Mr.. Hudson and
myself to carry the merchandise back in
to the store.
Ricketts," he asked. "what on earth
have you done?"
"Nothing to offend her,"
"Yes, you have" he said impulsively;
you know how ferocious he could get in
moment. "You have driven our best
customer away and will ruin us foreverp'
II persisted that I was innocent of
any wrong intent or action. He storm
ed around awhile and finally left the
store. The next I knew he was on his
horse, riding out to the DOCTORS home.
When he came back his face was ivid
with rage, but he only remarked:
81 will pay you off tonight, and you
may quit!'
II was too proud to stay. I had act
ed very foolishly, I know, but I did not
consider that I deserved such rough
treatment. The next morning was in
Carrolton by the first train. 1 drew the
$500 I had saved from the bank and
came here. And here I am"
"But did you ever hear from Grace?"
Eyes, wrote her a note from Carol
ton and received the answer after 1 got
here. It was forwarded to me-"
"He turned to his desk, took bundle
of letters, and selecting one said: II do
not mind letting you see it, but you are
the only one, excepting myself, that has
ever read that letter, and I have, I be-
lieve, read it thousand times"
The letter was short, and this:
CAT HoME.-Dear, dear Ralph: Mann
ma commands me to write you, and I
would have SO even had not your letter
come to-day. She says I must say no.
do, because she says so. I shall be
your own true Grace as long as I live.
Do not write, for mama would be sure to
get the letter, and would make my life a
burden. Lovingly,
'sGRAcE."
"Dr. Stapelton took partner in the
cattle business. This partner was reck-
less Spectator; for time successful the
tide turned and he lost heavily; finally
he signed checks in the firms name to
cover his individual accounts. The end
soon came; all he, and all the Doctor
had, and all Grace had went into the
vortex, and now nothing remains except
the little home place in GRANVILLE"
"That is very sad," I said emphatical-
ly.
"Yes," he replied, with lively air,
'that is very sad, but not so sad as it
might have BEEN"
''True," I assented, you might have
bankrupt too, if your plans had not been
so suddenly thwarted, instead of living
here in the princely style you do"
"And then" he rejoined, II would not
have had the bother of selecting book
keeper from dozen applicants"
''Sure enough. But why did you not
take the one you said was well qualified
for the place-that lady you mentioned?"
"Just this, she recently graduated,
that is, above year ago, from a COM
mercial college in Chicago; served a
year with tirst-class house there, and
came west for higher wages. She had
a father and mother dependent upon her.
earnings, and I know that she cannot
support them upon the salary pay my
assistant book-keeper."
'But if she wishes to try, why not let
herr" I asked, imnocently.
II will tell you confdentially," he said,
"for old acquaintance sake, and it is to
go no further, mind you! That appli-
cant was Grace Stapleton."
"The duce, you say"
"And she is to be Mrs. Ralph Ricketts,
next month"