Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-01

SD tlIc W "UiSc
| 1t was q hard stretch for the men. and a
dreary outlook for the night, but there was
nothing to fIlghten any one until soon after
O'Clock, when the heavy spare spars dashed IL
checks or tie sides OF the deck broke adrift
1t was pitch dark, and the great tirnbers
went blowing about the deck ike huge bat
tcring rams. They had to be secured, or in
striking the stznchions and timberheads
they would tear the sides out of her and send
her 10 tie bottom like piece OF lead 1t re-
! ally an uncommcnly peaceful man, and
haven't an enemy, to my knowledge. living
OF dead i black cloud seemed TO have gath
cred about me- and l felt as though l were
living IL an uncertain existence like that as
cribed TO BudIha, neither sleeping, waking,
nor in a trance. / rang the bell at this juno
tire for the porter, who acted as a sort Of
valet. He came up smiling and bowling.
After giving him some trivial order dis
missed him, feeling somewhat Quilted, for he,
ut least, had recognized me.
At the dinner table seemed to everybody
TO be the same as usual and improved
greatly in spirits. l decided to go out
that evening. Strange chance caused
me TO pick up an invitation that l had
received to an impromptu party given that
night, and decided to accept it. Some little
time was consumed in dressing, and got to
The house late The hostess Mrs. Parker,
greeted me warmly, BY the way, Dir.
Stevens" she said, after her welcome, there
is some one here ] want You to meet-Miss
Earle, a charming grill will introduce you
later" Another arrival then claimed her
~ ( laft tr,,
over the large p2rlors, saw that / knew
nearly every one there, and decided that
particularly striking girl, standing to one
side, was Miss Earle. She was not very tail,
she was rather petite in fact, with charm
ing, animated manner and a most lovely
face, bright and enchanting to look upon.
AS | caught her eyes for an instant, was
GUnfounded. Such radiant eyes / had never
seen before, and they affected me strangely.
Then and there | registered a vow to make
her my wife. | suppose you will laugh at
this. | 90 now as | write it twenty-four
hours later, but | know Of such cases that
nave turned out exactly as prophesed. l
wonder how mine will end' Although l am
supposed TO show all my inmost thoughts to
the world on this paper, find it impossible
10 describe how I felt. But you, who may
have passed through some such experience,
can imagine what my safe Of mind was; q
sort of love at first sight, you might cali it,
I was standing alone, lost in my resolve
when a voice intended only for the person to
whom it was addressed, interrupted my rev.
erie:
why, l can scarcely believe nv eyes,
May, bat if there isn't the waiter who at
tended to Us last night at the cafe after the
theatre. 1t must be true what tho paper
said about fashionable houses hiring those
fellows to stand around and act as private do
tectivss and look pleasant / didn't believe
it then, but it must be So" and there was
sound OF lnaidens giggling. l turned to look
at the person referred to, but seeing no one
around, it flashed upon me that | was the in
dividual. Horrors! To resemble a waiter as
we'll! But no time was allowed me for con-
temptation, as Mrs. Parker came Up at that
moment and took my arm
Come now" she said, 'let me introduce
yOu to Hiss Earle. ] know you viii like her
All! Miss Earle, Mr.. Stevens" and found
myself bowling 70 the young lady whom mad
fled upon III any mind as the future Mrs. S.
Self possession is my great pride, but | must
confess | felt nervous as Miss Earle'S ewes
wero turned upon me. Would she see in me
a deceased father or uncle? The music came
to my rescue theD-how blessed it-and in a
moment we We're lost il a waltz. Lost-yes,
actually lost. AL my doubts and fears van
ished as l sped over the floor as lightly as
as-l am unable to supply suitable meta
phor. [ SAG going to say dream, but that is
50 hacknaYed.
We danced as long as the music held out
mud otter iTtla Gn n,o
minor subjects suggested a seat in the con-
just of the parlor. where we
could watch the lively scene. She accepted
and led the way. From our seat We could
see a portrait that hung over the mantel of
the parlor II was picture OF the most hor-
rible looking young man CT boy that | had
ever seen, and Miss Earle, CHANGING at it, be-
gan to remark upon Its lack of beauty Sud
denly she stopped short.
II beg your pardon" she said, earnestly,
'but that is not-the caricature was never
meant for you, was it, As | spoke some
thing in your look made me fear that If was"
My face must have exhibited some fear, for
she started, and then bursting into {. merry
laugh, cried: How ridiculous I am GER
tsinly crazy; of course / geo that it wasn't
Pray pardon me, Mr.. Stevens" and she
bowed II mock humlhtY.
Ny Nemesis again. Fried to laugh it of.
but my heart was heavy and my tongue IN
. / really felt relieved when
few moments later, Mrs. Parker announced
that her chaperone was waiting for her.
saw Miss Earle to the carriage and when
seated inside she held out her hand, saying:
Forgive my unfortunate remark about
the picture. please" / held her hand for a
moment ana with a strange sensation |
watched the carriage disappear in the dark
ness. No, it was not indigestion. | have ex-
that before.
One thing l have really discov-
cred. Late last nighp l sat il nv
great chair smoking and thinking; | was in
love; Enew it; | was positive of it; ard al
though | have never been that way before
there is something that tells man when he
is il love as surely as he knows there is a man
with a bill around. "To plead for love de-
serves more" wrote the Bard of Avon Il
don't commit myself as to what his name
was, but as yet my love is untold The bare
idea of 1t is prcpoSterous. | know nothing
Of Miss Earle. She may have been engaged
a hundred times over for aught know, and
for me to he in love with her is folly. But
did not weigh these dread may have
beeus" last night; only realized my infatua-
ton.
Such were my peSsinistic m;inigh.
thoughts, and my dreams when ! finally go.
to sleep were disturbed by thing as horrible
rs that which tortured Zanoni II haunted
nc with the pcrsistsncy of IN advertising
agent, and the dreadful, indefEabie shadow
had the face Of Miss Earle.
write this now with no such fears The
lav IS pure ard bright, and the only thought
If last night that remains is that / am in
love with Miss Earle.