Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-30

always,
OF course went, for would have gone
anywhere and left anything at the bid
ding of the dearest woman friend l ever
had 1t was unusually hot weather for
May, and whether il was the change from
country to town or what il was that in
duced one of my violent attacks | never
knew, but III l was and alarningly so for
q few hours; the doctor gave me a hypO-
derrnic Of morphine.
slept for hours, a quiet peaceful sleep
that was partly induced by the morphine
and partly By the exhaustion of physical
suffering.
When I awoke, gradually coming to a
realization of what had happened and
where l was, l felt too happy to want
anything beyond the enjoyment Of my
present state Of bien-etre; before going
further | must explain my whereabouts.
Ny friend, in renting her fine old man
sion for fashionable boarding house,
had reserved for her own use the several
rooms Immediately behind the large
drawing room; the first Of these, cut OF
from the drawing room by wide folding
doors and heavy curtains, she used as d
library, work room, etc, and here | was
installed, upon a sofa bed; back Of this
again was her own bedroom. with dress
ing closet, etc, attached, thus making Gn
extremely comfortable apartment.
With my waking came a sort Of half
dreamy remembrance of a patient, loving
watcher near my bedside; | turned my
eyes-I was far too comfortable to move
any part Of me-toward the armchair IN
which she had been sitting it was
vacant, and l understood at once that
she had gone to bed satisfied about me,
and | could also see that she had left
open the double door into her own room,
SO that my slightest call would rouse her.
must have slept again after that, for |
seemed to waken, ali at once, TO the con-
sciousness of some one near me, and |
knew also that il was near morning. l
looked toward che arnchair, and seeing
some one sitting there ! called, Mamie"
She made no reply. | spoke again little
louder "Nanniel" No reply. no move
ment to show that she had heard re. l
looked with closer attention in the dim
light, and then | saw that it was not Nan
ME, but n stranger, a person whom had
never seen, and yet there was something
IN the look Of her that was not wholly
unfamiliar, thought She sat with her
"
looking straight before her with sad,
earnest gaze that called for my sympathy
for her trouble, whatever it might be; in
deed, the whole expression of her lovely
face was extremely sad. almost thought
she had been weeping. Her hands were
folded on her lap. and her attitude as she
lay back in the old fashioned chair spoke
of the deepest dependency. There was
light enough for me TO see that she was
very beautiful and although | wondered
greatly who she might be yet did no.
at all wonder that she should be there.
Presently the light seemed to, or rather
it did, grow brighter, and involuntarily
turned my eyes toward the large folding
doors, shaded by heavy curtains. They
were gonel and looked away through the
length Of the drawing room to the front
windows, heavily hung with lace and
damask of old time; the light had become
sufficiently distinct for me TO see clearly
10 the farshest corner. Now, too, could
note every particular of the appearance OF
nv lovely visitor. saw that she was Of
medium height and exquisitely formed;
that she was fair. with yellow gold hair,
which WAS worn in light coils over her
broad, rather low forehead, ard gathered
up and tied with ribbon 1t the back Of
her proudly set head; delicate, flmy lace
yelled the white, full throat, and fell over
the round fairness of her arms, bare from
the elbows, and the pale green of her rich
silk gown showed the pure paleness Of
her lovely skin. gazed at her with de-
light, she was so fair.
Suddenly saw new look come in her
sea blue eyes, as of greeting, perhaps OF
welcome. and | followed the look and
saw. entering the drawing room, young
man IN naval undreSs; Us the door was
closed behind him she rose and approached
him quickly. Laying her hands in his,
held out 10 take them, s look of such
love was in his dark, proud eyes as he
bent over the pretty hands and kissed
them Engeringly; then, still standing be-
fore her, with her hands held close in his,
he talked very earnestly to her, and /
knew from his manner that the young
sailor waS begging for something in her
power TO grant. some gracious thing that
was 10 be as the gift of life TO hin. some
tender word or promise that might keep
his heart warm and light with hope dur
ing weary months Of absence. She wept
and smiled on him through her tears and
left her hands in his, while love r2ined on
her from his dark eyes that sbo-e above
her, but l could see that she would not
give him what he sought. Then ny
heart grew very tender over the mans
great sorrow. and then. although / heard
no word Tor sound Of voice, yet in some
strange way knew what he was saying 10
her. when ct last he cried psssionstely:
And this Is allf You VIII give ne
only thisT Naught but words like these
TO keep ny heart Il storm and darkness,
and m-Perhaps the fight unto death
that gre al u Ey wayT Oh. nv love, my
Lowell Only thisl Wei. all the saints
keep thee. my one love. and when, if
CONE baok. them Al, them"
The grand, procd LOOK came back and
shone In his dark fSce. ard with q sudden
movement he snatchei her to him. laid
one kiss on her sweet trembling lips aud
hurried from the room.
as the heavy door c,osed upon him the
fair girl, weeping BIT Fly, stretched out
her pretty bands after in and seemed TO
call TO him TO come back 70 her. She
could net LET hin So. Shs wouN ---.,-
him what he had asked Too late! Es
vas gonel
She sank almost fainting upon sofa,
and after a little while the door opened
again and saw enter young man-not
the same but another. This one also was
in a dress of some military fashion, with
his sword girded round about hin, and he
was as fair as she other had been GarA