Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-10
A MANS MISTAKE.


Its all over now, and you viii never have to
go through it again, you knowI"
The speakers were the sole occupants Of a
first class carriage, In which they were rap
idly whirling along towards London from the
north One was decidedly pretty girl Of
some 10 or 90 years Not even the fatigue Of
which she complained could deprive her face
of its piquant vivacity, and the very protest
Of WEAKNESS was uttered with a vigor, telling
of considerable force still in reserve in the
slender frame.
Her companion was man on the borders
of middle age There was a certain out Of
door expression on his bronzed and bearded
couutenance and general suggestion Of field
sports in his largely built figure which
stamped him at once as country gentleman.
Perhaps kindness and honesty were more
legibly written on his countenance than any
great amount of intellectual power. One
could not picture him bordering very deeply,
for instance, over the mystery Of hfe,n or
becoming the shining light Of Browning So
cietY. Yet his was face which few women
could have been trusted TO criticise impair
italy. At all times it was good and pleas
ant countenance, and now that it was radi-
ant with the Light of love, the brown eyes
fairly trimming over with tenderness as
they followed every movement Of the dain-
lily arrayed figure by his side. no woman, at
any rate, would have hesitated TO pronounce
Mr.. Couingwood handsome man.
4 mischievous smile broke over his COM
panion's face at his emphatic assertion Of the
final nature Of the ceremony that day accom-
pished.
Indeed, jack So you have quite made
up your mind that in the event OF your quit
ting this mortal scene before me am to play
the part Of Hindoo widow for the rest Of
my days' What pity you did not insert
clause IN those tremendously long, dry settle
ments, arranging a suffice in all due forTnm
The shadow Of shade passed over her nus
bands face at her light rejoinder. She saw
It at once, and placed her hand on his in
haste 10 heal the little wound
You didn't think meant it, Jack, dearl
You know that if you were to be taken from
me-
The eager protest got no further; it was
cut short in a sudden but not alarming man
ner.
The two had been married that morning in
the village church, where whole generations
OF Mr. CoIlingwoods forefathers lay sleep
ing. In one respect it had been singular
wedding; the bride had neither parent nor
relation 70 give her into her husbands care,
nor even the poorest apology for a home
from which to make her debut in her new
life She was just solitary waif cast upon
the worlds wide shore aad gathered up by
Jack Colingwood into his big, simple heart,
there to be guarded thenceforth with the
tender reverence many princess Of the
blood longs for In vain.
Kathleen Raymond had been the bosom
friend Of Mr.. Colnngwood's young step sis
ter in Hnnoverian ''pensionnat de deuoi-
selles-" The motherless daughter Of an i'm
pecunious Irish officer, her fathers sudden
death had left the young girl singularly
alone in the world, and when she Quilted
the ''pensionnat,n where she had known
Mabel Collingwood, no other prospect lay
before her but TO join the great crowd Of
lonely women who are fighting for their
own living.
But before beginning the much dreaded
search for employment she had been per-
suaded by her more fortunate friend to take
a long holiday among the hills and dales OF
Westshire The orphan girl received a warm
welcome to the hospitable old Dover house,
where Mabel lived with her widowed mother,
and there the bright weeks Of that summer
slipped gently by in happy idleness.
And then Q most wonderful, and yet e1-
ceedingly natural and simple thing, hap
pened- MabeI's half brother, the squire Of
Anneysley, the eligible bachelor Of the coun-
try5ide, the cynosure Of every match maker
In the neighborhood, fell swiftly, irretriev-
ably, head over ears in love with the little
psnnilesS waif whom abe fates had cast up at
bis threshold
There was no one living who had the right
to say him nay in the matter when once
kathleen's shy consent had been won, and
the preparations for the marriage were hast
ened on as rapidly as possible.
To Mr.. Collingwood himself it was a never
ending source Of wonder that this consent
should have been so easily ard quickly
gained In his honest eyes Kathleen stood so
far exalted above all ordinary human girls,
so far removed from the crowd Of young
ladies whose attentions had often over
whelrled him with terror, 1t almost seemed
to him that he was taxing an undue advan-
tage OF her inexperience in linking her bright
girlhocd 70 his own more mature existence.
It is needless 70 say this was not the view
Of the situation taken by the world IN gen
eral, and in particular by the squires elder
sister, whof Tor years had been at the head %
80 S~SSAGAOE AON.cLS14 W l-1 CScA, D4lSl-
ing and staurnering like lad Of %, carried
the news Of his success TO Miss Collingwood,
he was received with an air OF lofty consider
alton, and 70 the long story Of hopes, doubts
and delights she replied only with cool
''Of course, Jack
why, of coursef" asked her brother,
sharply.
Miss Raymond is clever girl, Jack, and
when tie ball was actually laid at her feet,
1t was not likely she would fail 70 secure her
advantase"
''She IS not whit more clever than goods
answered the squire She would ret have
accepted 81 emperor unless-unlsss she loved
him as she loves ne"
The squire said 1t bravely, bu. rs blushsd
again hse boy.
There are few girls in Miss RavmorS,s
position. Jack, who would fsu to love the
posseSSor of $500 year
Mr. Couingwood left the room in speech
less Indignation
The wedding WAS celebrated with all the
eclas which would have befrted tie nupeials
Of an heires, for thus the squire wiied it.
So bonfires blazed, bells ciashed, banners
6ecked the village street, villagers feassed.
tenants danced, evergreens adorned the
church, children strewed the brides path
with flowers And al In honor Of the girl
who, only three short months before, had
Glrai sN{ror{ye- eHa ixIJ ~ Ia-~i