Western Kansas world., 1886-08-21


mote, and had requested speedy an
swer Clara's unconscionable delay, as
he termed it, had provoked him, and in
spite of her telegram, he determined to
postpone no business which could not be
transacted quite IS well on bis return.
He made no effort to hasten his depar-
ture, and teleeraphed Clara in the mid
die of the afternoon that he could not
possibly leave New York before the next
day.
On the following morning came Clara's
letter, which he put in his pocket to
await his leisure, not doubling that it
was the long expected answer to his own:
Before the day was half gone, he had
become convinced that he was punish
ing himself in trying to punish her, and
regretted that he had not arranged his
business differently. He found it i'm
possible to take any train earlier than
the one which left New York at half past
eleven at night.
At last, sitting comfortably by his fire
in his room at Aunt Simpsons, he found
what he thought fit opportunity for
reading his letter from Clara, which, by
the absence of any appearance of writ
ing through the thin envelope, he Judged
to be very brief. Just as he was about
to open it his pretty cousin Belle came
in to chat with him before his departure.
"A letter." she exclaimed, "What
does she say?" Belle was tease.
II don't know myself" he answered,
and the letter came this morning. You
see by that, how impatient I ann
"You are worse than that" said Belle,
"You have saved it like
tid-bit to be devoured at leisure, and you
are heartily wishing me out of the way"
She had hit too near the mark for him
to deny the truth, and was too good
natured to make temporizing necessary,
so he let he 60. II shall give you just
half an hour, while mend that ragged
coat of yours" and she went out. At the
end of half an hour she returned with the
coat and found him lost in revery,
with the still unopened letter in his
hand.
sWhat is the matter noww she ex-
with q touch of real indignation
in her tone. Il have given you a long
half hour for yourself, on purpose that
you might read your precious letter, and
you havn't SO much as opened it."
81 am in doubt about it," he said. 81
shall see her tomorrow morning. Be-
sides, she telegraphed me after posting
the letter, intending to have me leave
New York before getting it. Women
seem to think that a man has only to
pack his grip sack and board train,
leaving his business to itself, while he
obeys their commands"
"And SO you won't open the letter."
queried Belle.
II did not say wouldn't, but I think
I ought to respect her intentions, don't
your"
"She wouldn't have written the letter
il she hadn't wanted you to receive it."
"She would not have telegraphed me
to come on directly if she had wanted me
to get the letter"
"Pooh She simply grew impatient
and did not want to wait for the letter to
reach you"
1T was about time for some one to be
impatient. I wrote her nearly two
weeks ago on a pretty important mat
ter"
"Indeedr'
Eyes, Belle. I wrote her about our
"It's all arranged, them"
II don't know. I'm waiting to hear
from her. The telegram makes me think
that she p efers to discuss the business
with me in person"
1T will do no harm to read the letter,
as long as she will know that you have
it; and she will certainly expect
you to know it's contents when you meet
her,"
But Belle could not turn him from his
opinion, and he parted with her with the
letter in his pocket.
Poor Clara! She had failed to pre-
vent her lover from getting the letter,
and could only await the result. She
had forgotten her own resentment and
dreaded his. She excused herself from
going to the theater, by most truthful
plea Of indisposition. She passed the
time before Charley's arrival as best she
could. Her mother, to whom she had
,onfided her secret, tried every mean
to cheer her spirits, but to no purpose.
When Mr.. Conant arrived Clara re-
,eived him alone in the parlor. As he
stepped forward to meet her, never
doubling his welcome would be such as
3 plighted lover has right to expect, he
was surprised at her manner, which
neither invited or repelled him but
seemed to indicate that she expected a
merit-d rebuke. She, too, was surprised
when he took her in his arms
and stopped to kiss her. She
opened her eyer, blushed, and
bursting into tears, nd her lace on his
without word.
"What is the matter, child?" he asked.
''Oh, Charles! That wretched letter"
'What do you mean? The one you
sent before the telegram
"Yes. What must you have thought
Of mer'
ss1'hor oht NJ vonl fhoT1oht vo11