Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1886-12-09

he said, DredInieSSIS- -DuL you, OF ALI
people, and at this hour! What in the
world brings you into this region?"
He is holding her hand IN his warm.
friendly clasp, and looking down
searchingly at her half-averted face.
'.Oh. was walking away from the
furies, she said, trying to speak Light
", s.but they have come with me. i
think l really did not know where 1
was going. l only wanted to walk.
Did You ever have that feeling, sgd
ney, that you were 700 unhappy to be
quiet?''
..She asks me il have ever had that
feelingi All, Marie, there are few
feelings, born of unhappiness, that L
have not had. You ought to know
that, my dear. -"
'.But-but- they pass away some
time, don't they?" she asked, visit
fully. people can't go on suffering
some change, some relief, must come. y
81 don't know" he answered, with
a long sigh. perhaps. 1 have not
found it yet. :"
..Oh, Sydney" she said, passionate
", with wild burst of tears Sgd
ney, SYDNEY" she laid her cheek on
his shoulder, sobbing like a child
BY this time they had passed from
the glare of Fourteenth street and were
facing up town again. He had taken
the umbrella from her hand and held
its shelter between them and pasSers-
by. Sydney's knowledge of suffering
had made him very tender toward the
pain of others. He allowed his COM
panion to weep unquestioned, patting
gently from time to time the little
h al, oh cd
"How good you are.' she stammered,
whisperingly, at length. ''Oh. Sydney!
how could you forgive mellow could
you ever look upon me again if had
made YOU suffer like this? 1 never
knew it could be so terrible! / did not
dream of what you felt when we parted;
YOU were so noble and so good. You
never made me understand how cruel
-cruel-cruel-oh and you bore it all!
8 can pity you now!'
Eyes, dear" he said. tenderly. IL
am glad 90 hear you say that. am
glad You have, at last, some pity to
give me-"
ooh, but You do not need any more.
Surely you can't care still as you used
TO-
ooh, hushr' Sydney interrupted,
very gently: .'HusS, my deari hush,
MarieI You have never understood my
love If you think it could change or
pass away in few months or years.
And you do love me this minute
now-as YOU did then?'s
'.Always
s'But if should sell you that ad
thrown my heart away. unasked, I'M
sought-oh, so hopelessly and vainly!
and if L should say to you: will you
take my promise to be your wife-ah,
not soon, but some time, when am a
better and a happier woman?'-if I
should ask you to accept the poor SER
vice Of my life and let me try to love
you-would that atone little for the
pain and trouble of the past?"
oh, Marie, you do nos mean itP"
His grasp frightened on her fingers"
''Do you think what you are saying?"
e'xes, yes, yes!-if you will take my
poor, half-broken heart-but not yeti"
she checked herself piteously. 81 could
not love you yet-by and by it all may
come right. And meanwhile, if you
wish it, we can be engaged. You must
stay near me, Sydney. and be good to
me. OH help ms!-help me to live.
You know how hard it is--how impos-
sible it seems that joy OF hope can ever
come again.
Fate did know what she was about,
as she usually does if minds finite
could but compass her infinite plans.
A few days later brought Sydney
Worth the unexpected fulfillment of a
hope that he had patiently placed a
long way off in the future-the full be-
stOwal of Marie Pirot's love. They
were driving through the park in
brilliant October sunset. and Sydney
had been talking brightly of various
Of interest, when he threw his
head back with a short laugh. and said
in a kind of triumphant tone:
ssWell, l was pleased to-day, Marie.
Z GU remember that fellow l told you
OF that had defaultcd from our Office
with lot of money last week."
s'No, said Marie, vaguely. Did you
tell mc?"
s'Come to think of it, didn't said
sydney smiling. s.That's so, was
afraid it might annoy you. Well, it's
all right now. They've got him-at
least, not him. Cor he gave them the
slip ut the last moment; but the
moneys safe. He took away seven
thousand dollars, and we've recovered
all but three hundred dollars; that he
spent. tell You we have been lucky,
and so has he. Its curious thing"
pursued Sydney. thoughtfully; but
m awfully glad the scamp escaped"
''Glad?' repeated Marie, solemnly,
''Oh, why? He will be sure to victim
ize other poor people"
sOther rich people, said Sydney,
''Of course he will, for
it turns out that he is regular conf
1ence man; but you've no idea how
much ] liked him. We all did. He
said he had just arrived in the country
ana was quite frieadless. Well, the
irm took him on trust, actually. He
had gotten himself up like German
hair and broken English
nd A, I,. Al