Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-08

5Ns.lI NNlSsNs.1
SIZE POLITELY GAVE HIN THE ONkY
They certainly did not get my
letter." she said.
do not be alarmed he replied. re-
assuringly. ''If you will permit me,
will see you safely home"
She accepted his escort, not knowing
what else to do, and as she bid him good
night. she said: ''Mr. Stanwood, we
arc, in the ordinary sense, strangers,
yet after your kindness to me
to-day ] can not treat you as
such. would be glad to have
you call tomorrow, that my mother
may add her thanks to mine" Stan
wood accepted the invitation with
alacrity, and when the door had closed,
declining to intrude at that hour, he
walked away.
Two hours later, as Stanwood was
passing through the corridor of the
Gait House, he met an old friend, Jack
Shirley, who impulsively grasped his
hand and said:
tsYOu are the very man OF all men /
am glad to see. My mother gives
reception this evening to my brother
Tom, who starts ON his wedding journey
to Europe tomorrow. came here
to meet some friends. but they did not
arrive"
'Stanwood interrupted this stream of
talk by saying: Cant possibly do it.
have no dress suit with me. and It'll too
late"
20. nonsense! The fun has just
began. I'll fit you out, necktie. bou-
tonniere and all, at the house."
Accordingly, in short time, he found
himself in the midst of gay and ami
mated throng, comprising the youth,
beauty and fashion of the place. He
was soon 80 engaged in conversation
with captivating little brunette SO
that he did not notice the later ar
rivals. When the beauty had excused
| herself to dance, Jack came up, and
said:
''Stanwood, i want to introduce you
to one of the incest girls here. Not
rich, you know, but belongs to one of
our best old families. Here, you
know. we go more on that than any
thing else. Her name is Virginia Les
ter"
At mention of the name Stanwood
started. Then he said, coldly: Swell,
Jack, don't believe care to meet any
more strangers. am staying such a
short time.'
But, were the days adventures
to never end? At that moment
his eyes fell upon the familiar
figure of his travelling companion,
| who had exchanged her rough cloth
dress for a gown of soft cream
colored null, with broad sash
| of cardinal silk, and great
cluster of cardinal saliva on
her bosom. There was no trace of
WEAKNESS in her face; her eyes and
cheeks were glowing with pleasure and
excitement. Catching Jacks arm,
Stanwood said: s.But do introduce me
to that lovely girl there-the one in
white and red"
"Why, that's her! Come along"
They danced and talked together,
and she explained that the bride was a
dear friend OF hers, otherwise fatigue
would have kept her at home.
On bidding her good night, for the
second time. Stanwood whispered !:
''Y0u may expect me tomorrow after
noon at four"
! The appointed hour found him pune
tually waiting for her in the pleasant
but plain little drawing room, as did
the afternoon of many succeeding days.
| Finally, upon the day fixed for his
return to Cleveland. he rose from the
chair in which he had been sitting and
sat down beside her, ON little divan
where she had established herself,
closer to the open fire He took from
his pocket a memorandum book, took
| therefrom a printed slip, handed it to
| her, and said $50 this is the reason
you would not tell me your name when
gave you my card"
She glanced at it, blushed very red
and murpured: Eyes, had seen that
before a friend sent me marked
copy of the paper" ~
Don't you think" he went on cour-
ageously, -'that we might have it re-
peated?''
| AS you like" she assented. shyly.
Three months from that time Gus
Landers was astounded when STAN
wood stopped him in the street and
said: ..You probably do not know
that you are a prophet or the SON of q
prophet" and gave him an announce
ment. clipped from Louisville paper,
that was almost a duplicate Of the onA
he had written VRGM1A Knox