Wichita eagle., 1888-06-21
A CASE OF COMPOSITION.

It was one Of those summer mornings
which make man bless God for having Gre
ated the earth so fair and beautiful WIS
waiting In the vestry room Of one Of the
quaintest old churches In the world-the
Church of the Revelation, in the village of
Honedale, Pa It was my wedding day, and
was one of the most happy, yet one OF the
most nervous men In few moments Dora
Golding would arrive. Her doting father
would give her away. Her gentle, loving
mother Dora was their only child would
stand by, tears struggling with satisfied
smiles. The clergyman would pronounce
the irrevocabls words, and another husband
and wife would be added to the number of
mated and minated pairs already IN exist
ence
Suddenly my blissful agitation WIS given
new disturbance by my best man, Harry
Arden, who bad been looking through one Of
the windows, coming to me with an exceed
ingiy tremulous look upon his usually serene
features He handed me note which had
Just been given to him through the window
By one of Mr. Golding's servants. recog-
nized the address at once. 1t was in Dora's
hand. No suspicion of what was coming
opened the missive and read as follows:
DEAREST ARTHUR:
You viii not understand me when say there
can be no wedding today. You viii understand
when you see me, however. Twill be time enough
TO say then, or not whether you Sill care to have
me s.gn myself your loving DoRA-
| sat down, stupefed Tie little church
was filled with friends of both families. My
parents and others of my kinsfolk had came
from Philadelphia The Goldings had re-
sided nearly all their lives at Homedale.
They were people Of wealth and influence.
The betrothal had lasted two years The
wedding was regarded with good deal Of
social interest AS / hated scenes / deter
mined that the wedding should not be post
poned if could help it. Dora was q strange
mixture of romance and practically. She
was punctual almost to fault, so that I
knew some great motive had actuated her.
Selling the horn of the dilemma, / told my
wondering best man to detain the clergyman
and guests until he heard from me. and slip
ping out by the vestry door, in ten minutes
found myself at the Golding's house.
Iwill ask the reader to remain at the thresh-
old for little while, in order that l may
explain to him some OF the circumstances
that had characterized my courtship of Dora.
About a year ago, after our betrothal had
lasted a twelvemonth, / spent week Of my
summer holidays which my legal duties
permitted me at the Golding residence
Upon the first day of my arrival, dark
man Of about IS, with deep red scar across
his left cheek, made his appearance at dusk,
and was cordially received by my future
father-in-law and mother-in-law. He was a
handsome man, plainly, almost poorly,
dressed; slow Of speech, hesitating in man.
ner. He was apparently a well to do me-
chanic, on excellent terms with his host and
hostess, albeit a certain reserve and espion-
age, so to speak, marked their treatment OF
him. It was as though they were always on
their guard, not so much with respect to
what they might say or do, as to what he
might say or do. This man bore the singular
name of Glasgow Thirkle, though / was
never able to find out whether he was bap-
tized in memory Of the dismal Scotch town
Or not. At dinner he did not speak much,
but noticed that from time to time he cast
furtive and adnliring looks toward Dora.
Two or three times Dora caught him at this
surreptitious scrutiny, and saw that it dis
composed her. Wien spoke TO her about it
afterward she told me that about once year
the man made bis appearance, stayed there
manner, and departed the next morning. She
added that once q year his wife also paid
them visit, timing it six months after that
of her husband
This of course aroused my curiosity. The
next Christmas season made me again visi-
tor for a few days at the Golding mansion.
Two days after Christmas the stage which
ran from tho station deposited at the door q
eli yvl,n f11r
put to be Mrs. Thirl1le She was of medium
height and slim, 40 years OF age, good
looking, with blue eyes and thin, light hair.
Her singularity consisted in the fact that her
hair was parted ON the left hand side, In con-
sequence of the existence Of what is COM
monty called "cowlick" At dinner she
herself referred to this popularity, explain
ing that she had tried to educate her locks
into parting in the normal manner, but that
all she had ever been able to effect was q
temporary arrangement Of the hair in thar
manner by the use of pomades. Tomorrow
morning." she added, ~ must try, before
go, to part my hair in the middle, because,
as you suggestedn- Here she stopped
short, and ! observed that she had received
from both Mr.. and Mrs Golding one of those
brief looks of warning of which had noticed,
six months ago, that her husband was the
recipient
This whetted my curiosity anew, particu-
lsrly when detected her bestowing upon
Dora the same sly, insidious glances las il
fearful to be caught at theu) that Glasgow
Thlrkle had so freely INDUCED in Again
perceived this same discomposure upon Doras
part Again, when We were alone, did Dora
confide TO me how these chances annoyed her,
and how she was gradually arriving at tho
conclusion that some mystery of fearful
Character bound these plain and somewhat
rough, but by no means vulgar couple, with
The Lives Of her father and mother.
But what" / asked, Ibid Mrs. Tbirkle
mean by referring to the parting in her HART
Why should she part It differently tomorrow
morning, and, above al, why should your
father have suggeste6-as SIZE said lie did
that she should do sos"
Dora unused for a moment and then re-
piled:
You know papa, not being in any busi-
ness, has good many idle hours During
the last year be has taken up with photogra-
ply, rs an amusement, and he has s little
private gallery of his own which he has fitted
with tie pboGogTE phS-t&kea by himself-of
NEST of his friends"
Here Dora paused. until ventured to ask
s-5at possiale connection this cou.d have 10
the proper parting ct Mrs Thirkle's hair.
Dora continued:
.When Mr. Thirkie was here-he had dis
covered by some means papas hobSy-ha
asked TO have his photograph taken. Papa
consented The poor man was delighted
hear, with the likeness, which was after
ward forwarded TO him Now, it seems,
Mrs Thirkle wants hers taken, and papa