Wichita eagle., 1888-09-16

calm summer evening. after . recent
| rain, will I'LL him with foolish recollec-
lions of the perfect bliss that was his for
q moment Just because certain fair
haired GIL lay in his arms, and hid her
face on his shoulder Bat only for q mo-
ment- Then she suddenly slips away
| from him. and stands Hlotioning him
| away, and says quickly. "No-no-you
must not say another word For Gods
sake. don't tempt me. II can never.
never be"
There Is short time for explanation or
entreaty, for the sound Of wheels on the
gravel gives warning Of the return Of the
driving party.
What do you meant" demands Tou
savasely.
oh. Tom. forgive mel didn't dream
that this could happen No. it can never
bel I'm e7GareG
"Jilted. BIZ Cd Beg your pardon
forge. myself shonld say. congrat-
ulate the mxn very heartily. May
ask
''Oh. don't ask anyshing-dont say
anything Here comes the people
Tell them I have headache" And
Miss Stuart rushes up stairs. and
Blake has TO s2unter quietly out TO meat
the others, and 10 hear what a delightful
evening it is for driving. and wasn't IL
very warm walking. and he and Miss
Stuart must have enjoyed quite tetc-a-
tete. and similar platitudes. which ara
anything but soothing when one Is hard
hit
Dinner st the ysnvoorsts' is always .
good thing considered solely as dinner. but
this evening there is certain amount of
I'D
Mackenzie does not trouble herself to be
agreeable; Miss Stuart begs to be excused
for the evening; the old gentleman's most
elaborate compliments and best turned
periods fall Hat. end he evidently has
sonnet hing on his mind; his son Is more
Ike al idiot than common, and only Mrs.
Vanvoorst is in good spirits, for Blake has
very little 10 say, and has nearly lost ths
fine appetite he brought home from his
walk. Every one is glad when dinner is
over. and every one is disturbed when
Eanvoorst senior beCs the ladies to re
main moment. sends the servant ont Of
the room. and is apparently about to make
a speech.
MY dear friends-Mr Blake. viii you
be good enough TO I'll Mrs. Mackenzie's
glass; feel that here in the privacy Of
the social circle, among my family and
among my friends. / am justified in an
nouncipg TO you whs: | trust you will
agree with me in saying is one Of those
events Wilhelm fact | may say. which
should fill the-the mind with the most
amiable eIaotions. You will. trust par
don me when | speak Of myself; bat
among friends all false modesty should
be-in fact. dismissed-yes. l am aware
that am not in my boyhcod, but Kind
Providence has endowed me with remark
able vigor Of health. ard may Say with
youthful buoyancy Of spirit which-in
fact, has encouraged me TO take the
step which | am about to speak of.
My children my dear friends-I
have great pleasure IN announcing
TO you that ! have formed a mat
rimonisl engagement with a young
lady, who. although considerably my ju-
nior. unites in rare degree those quail
tics of mind and person-good sense.
amiabIity, he2nty-which fit their pos
sessor TO make any man happy. You
will, | trust, Join me In drinking the
health of the lady when propose-Miss
katherine Stuart"
The response IS not unanimous. Young
Fanvoorst drops his glass with tiukls
to the floor: his wife falls back specchless
In her chair; Mrs Mackenzie makes no
sign, but sits still and tugs In curious
way at the broad gold bracelets she wears
Blake bursts into roar OF laughter. and
reaching across the table. touches glasses
with the astonished old gentleman. and
drinks the toast with unpleasant llilarity
As his glass comes down on the table
Mrs. Mackenzie dashes her bracelets with
10 gentle hand among the fruit dishes
and decanters- Blake picks them up with
q sneer and hands them back to her Its
n warm might. know. Mrs. Maci.enzie."
he says. but you Il need them when you
get cooler She rises. and tho bracelets
roll on the floor II don't wan. them"
she says. That old man gave them 10
me. and he has deceived me and insultsd
me. When is the next train TO New
York? Mr.. Blake viii you take ms 70
the city-you sre all the friend ] have
here?'' And 30 Miss Stuart's engagement
is announced.
An early train brings Mrs. Mackenzie
and Blake-no congenial pair--to New
York early Sunday morning Here
they part-the lady - reapp-ar Ike
meteor at Long Branch. the nlsn 10 so on
with his aiuless life. little wiser and
good deal ssdder. Il Is NOT until tho
panic comes, and be secs the lettering
fortunes Of the house of Stuart propped
up and carried through By the timely re
enforcement Of TIE Vanvoorst credit that
he realizes how completely every one has
been sold
TUE END