Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-11
A STARTLING EPISODE.

uuIinS u monentdry pause, one OF tDe party
who was longing in an easy chair with his
legs dangling over one of the arms, and his
hat tilted over his eyes, idly took up a news
paper which was at hand, and read out
from the agony column the following adver-
tisement:-
HJAck.-Meet me at the Marble Arch to
morrow, Tuesday, at o'clock p. IN 1t is
the last favor ! shall ever ask. Come if you
love me.-MAGGm"
There was a sheer on the face Of the read
or, and the announcement caused laughter
among his audience One Of the young men
turned to another, and said, iokingly:
"Jacl, you base deceiver, It's your little
milliner friend You've behaved shocking
ly, and it's your duty to 60"
"Bosh,a returned Jack Canister, slipping
TRANQUILITY at his tumbler "She has con-
soled herself long ago Besides, Maggie
isn't her name"
Il should like to know whether this adver-
tisement is genuine or not" said one of the
youngest oil the party, possessing himself of
the newspaper. 1T would be rather fun to
investigate it. I'll go if any one else will "
whats the good.' growlod Jack Can
lister, contemptuously.
The youngster who had suggested the
expedition WAS newly elected member of
bhS Siuo WIZ, tfGh Ills LOfltttbs- iliQ
contrivei TO establish reputation for
Irritation, of which he was immensely proud.
He was universally lied on account OF his
amiable disposition and his boyish frank
ness, and though he fondly imagined that
hs had attained the dignity of a man of the
world, he was really regarded as an honest,
foolish young fellow, who would soon sober
down into dignified member of societ,r
When the pextevening arrived, and yoh--s
Thurston, who was still determined to carry
out his investigation, found that none of his
friends were disposed to fulfill their promise
Of accompanyin him, he started off to the
trystins-place alone in a hanson. and ar
rived there exactly at the appointed hour.
1t had heen thoroughly wet day, and
the rain had ceased recently that the
pavement5 were still shining, therefore there
were very few people about Thurston lit
n cigarette, mentally deciding not to waste
more than five minutes, and then began to
look leisIrely about him
As he did SO, he became conscious of the
figure of woman standing close against
the ratings, watching him inten.ly She
advanced straight up to him his glance
met hers, and accosted him
Are you Jacks" she inquired, abruptly
"Yes," replied Thurston, recklessly.
They were standing beneath a street
lamp the light from which fell full upon
his face, while hers was i'm shadow He
could See however, that she was a young
woman, quietly and decently dressed She
scrutinized him for few minutes in 81
lence, during which Thurstou, unable to
control his habit of blushing, turned IN
comfortably red
'Maggie" he murmured interrogatively,
instinctiyely guessing that he was address
ing some other person.
Maggie can net COME said the young
woman shortly. Il am he, sister Helen
Follow me-
Thurston, completely taken aback by this
peremptory request, and hardly realizing
what had happened, followed his companion
without a word He was naturally dis
concerted by this unexpected turn OF events.
He had never designed to personatc Jack
his response TO tho girls question had come
almost involuntarily TO his lips But hay
ing once done SO. he resolved TO wait and
see what would happen, impeiled by an ad-
venturous spirit and the desire Of having a
good story TO relate at tho club
The girl silently led the way along the
Edgware road She walked quickly, with
her head bent; but the brilliantly lighted
shops revealed that she was deadly pale
After walking several minutes without a
word, Thurstoa began 10 feel embarrassed,
and he attempted e. utter some phrase of
boyish gallantry. At tho first word. how
ever, the girl stopped him.
@Don't speak 10 me, she said. in a voice
trembling with suppressed emotion
Young Ihurston was so Disconnected that
he had serious thoughts of disappearing
doan a side street One thing only was
quite clear TO him, and that was that the ad
venture he had embarked upon was very
different from anyt thing he had vaguely an
ticipated The girls appearance and man |
ner precluied all suspicion of lightness Of
character. Her derneaaor, indeed, impressed |
him with feeling of solemnity. lie could |
not for the life of him bring himself to ex-
plain that he was rot the person he had pre- |
tended Youthful awkwardness and n sense |
of shame kept him silent
At length his guide turned aside into a |
mean narrow street, and stopped before one /
of the poorest houses Thurston, unfamiliar /
with the Limitations of the poor, forgot his 4
embarrassment in uncomfortable wonder 4
and distrust
At the top Of the highest fiight-the high |
est story, in fact-the girl laid her hand 1
upon the hanilc OF a doorway, and then |
paused She lifted the candle which she |
carried, ami gazed scrutinizingly at Thur |
ston.
Summon up your courage" she said, /
sternly, yet with knocking note in her |
voice. ~Do not lie afraid
The girl conducted him into a small, mis-
erably furnished room, with s,oping roof. /
One end OF il was partitionei of with a cur
tain. Tturston, staring about him curl
ously, had barely time to notice these de-
tails before his companion, advancing TO the
curtain, drew il aside
Look here she said
Thurston started, and then. with an in
voluntary exclamation, took a step back
ward; Tor there. upon . narrow bed, lay
what he first imagined to be a waxen fi--
ure 1t was the dead body of young
girl A child almost, with delicate features
and Masses OF golden hair, which
streamed upon the pillow and over her
shoulders. The poor creatures remains had
evidently been arranged with a view to pict-
urescue effect The thin, waxen hands
werc folded upon her breast, which bore a
cross Of towers The tableau-a trifie NOR
bid and theatrical, Ierhaps-was neverthe-
less strikinsiy beautiful and touching.
Poor young Thurst0 was appalled, and
horrised He was but n lad. and had never
yet seen dead person The sublime serenity
of death sleep was never more impressively
manifest than in the motion.ess face Of this /
dead girl He gaTed with a sort of terrified
fascination, and the spectacle, combined
with the painful shock OF surprise, made him
turn white and faint
His companion-the girl Hcien-mcan-
while stood gazing at him with an express
sion of relentless severity. The veins in her
hand, which ciutched to the curtain, stood
out blue and hvid, and her eyes glared
speeches Indignation.
That is why Maggie could not come
she said at length, slowly. -Shs ID dead. as
y0u 80 II was by her wish that brought /
you hsra She would not tell me your name /
and address, but made me adversise - shs /
airectsd"
Thurston opened his lips % spsak but |
oslA not ind words to coa6so hi thougns |
- fftvolity ct such . momank
So ibid nas 70 tai you continued the |
ri. sthat she loved you and forgave yoc
Your ls:3ers ars hese. nsxt ~ heAzt; 30
vishsl them to b buried VIII heEs