Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-09-18
The DOCTORS STORY.

THE DOCTORS STORY.
By KATHERINE wHITEsIDE-
1T Is five years, isn't it, since you
were here?" asked the doctor, as we two
lag little behind the rest of the eques-
TRAN party, who are winding along the
road through Mission Canon, iu south
ern California
eyes," responded, "and think now,
az then, that southern California is the
garden of the earth, and Santa Barbara
the most delightful spot in it,
"Thanks," he replies; "of course en-
dorse such sentiments to the fullest e1-
tent"
"And tie people," I proceeded en-
Enthusiastically, "are certainly unusually
entertaining; those that one likes are
charming, and those that one dislikes
generally have thrilling history as a
background"
"Thats true" he says. "By the way,
were the Luckeys here when you left?
II think so. Weren't they a family
of girls with a widowed mother, who
lived Just beyond the Abingdon"
"That is the family, and the second
daughter, who was Miss Wilhelmina, is
that third lady yonder in advance, with
the dark blue riding habit"
"What lovely, pensive profile" I e1-
claimed, as the lady in question turns
her head in response to some remark OF
her escort. 1t is lovely face, with deli
cately cut features and knot of blonde
hair on the nape of perfect neck. The
doctor enjoys my enthusiastic admira-
ton to the utmost, and continues:
"You shall Judge whether she would
make the heroine of thrilling romance
when tell you her history during the
past five years."
We are walking our horses toward the
camp in the canon whittier we are bound
and the delicious air is like Champagne
The doctor, an old friend, has promised
me q new lease Of physical and menta
vigor if I spend month literally out-of
doors, and I am only too glad to join hi
family party for that purpose. Accord
ingly be has come down to the hotel t.
act as escort, and a large riding party
have volunteered to go up to the camp
for dinner and return by moonlight. Thu
doctor, ia consideration for the weakness
that compels me to ride slowly, has rein
ed in his staid little bay pony, which up
on occasions can distance all the othel
horses and we have slowly fallen behind
the entire gay party; 80 settling our
selves in our saddles, the doctor begins
1T was the next autumn after you
left, that Harry Stsyman's father moved
. his family here. He, the old gentleman
had patent for making paper from the
caches plant, and made an astonishing
amount If money. Harry was a good
boy, not brilliant you know, but he sent
to New York for his clothes, and duly
adorned his outer man. Well that win
ter there were the usual number of hops
and private theatricals among the young
people, and about Christmas time the en-.
gagement of Wilhelmina Luckey to Har-
~ Stayman was duly announced. So
in spring they we're duly married, and
went down on the coast to live, as Mas
ter Harry was to have new paper fac
tory established there for himself. Oh
course the usual number of talkative
folks said she never would have looked
at him if it hadn't been for his fathers
money, and that he would find pretty
. face wasn't all woman needed to make
q good wife. But thought there was
n o{E hot hit
that is in the usual marriage leave you
: to Judge"
And the doctor chuckles little ma
liciously and then more gravely contin-
ues:
ut was about year later that Harry
was caught in some machinery and
found mangled and dead"
At this I heave sigh and unconsci.
ously quicken my horses gait to catch
ahlimpse Of that pure, proud, womanly
face. The doctor, after sufficiently
impressive pause, resumes:
I'VE were all shocked, and Of course
the entire town was full Of sympathy FOL
Wilhelmina. She came back to SAINTS
Barbara, but couldn't 60 to her mothers
house, where everything reminded hel
Of Harry; 90 abe went to stay . little
time with some friends living near by
One day, as I was riding post, I wa
called to see Wilhelmina. They told ma
that she had tainted and that they couli
not revive her. applied the usual 10
storatives, with no effect, and was com
pletely puzzled BY her condition. A
last I noticed one little spot Of blood Of
y tho left side Of her waist, and upon hav
ing her undressed, the mystery was az
- plsined. She bad placed small pisto
next her body and shot herself Tn
slothing had detected her aim, and tn
hall had missed her heart.
nJust here curve in the winding roa
throws out in bold relief against the ak
the 1.-the figure and we'll poised head y
!, my sympathetic eyes there = unnttez
i able pathos in the lovely colorless fac
and . sadness in the smile that curve
the beautiful bps, which 6lls me- wit
, intense sympathy. Iscarcely endured th
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