Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-08-25
For Her SISTERS SAKE.
BY HAROLD CNQMARS.

1OOAIS Vic pain. Chaps Adl1 al
hour had passed when the sound of a
door opening and closing caused her to
turn and face the center of the room,
and her husband came in.
He greeted his wife impatiently.
"You are not in driving costume, yet
I told you Manvers would be here at
eleven"
Il am not going to drive with Man
vers; don't like him."
"Who supposed you would like him ?
Who wants you to? 1t is all matter
of business"
at is not the kind of business I adj
mire. And 1 want you to leave me out
of it hereafter"
"Why do you talk such nonsense
You have got to drive with him."
"Oh, no; L do nothing under compul-
sion You know me better than that
Wyatt hesitated, flung himself into a
chair, drew long breath, and spoke
again in different tone:
Penelope, don't be foolish. Man
vers will ask your opinion on those
purchasing them. You Will simply ap-
prove and applaud his taste. When
YOU both come back, Hyse will be here
'Hyse will be bargaining for the collec-
ton. you viii carefully announce Man
vers' intention to buy, and Hyse will
bid against him. There is every reason
to hope for big stroke"
There is something wro-g about the
pictures" said Penelope, coldly. Il am
not going to advise Manvers-much as
I detest him-to throw away his
money"
"Do you know what you are saying,
woman? Do you want to be turned
into the street-you and your pretty
sister? Do you want to starve?"
Penelope moved little now. Hither-
to she had stood motionless.
Il don't understand you," she said,
slowly.
Il mean every word" he retorted,
with little less vehemence. ave are in
preoarious condition. Expenses have
got to be met, not only for ourselves
but for Rachel as we'll"
Penelope did not reply at once. She
turned and walked to the window
again, and stood looking out.
Rachel! Yes, to be sure; she must
think of Rachel, whose innocent young
face came up clear to her remembrance,
as beheld a short time since. Rachel
was wandering somewhere with
her lover in the park below. He
was noble fellow, and he was wealthy.
Rachel must not have her prospects
marred in any way, for Rachel loved
him.
The thought of what her husband
had said made Penelope dizzy for an
instant. She turned to him again.
Dexter" she said, with little less
strength of voice, tell me the truth
is it really as you say? Can't you man
age without thrusting me into the So
ciety of man 1 abhor? Dexter, sup
pose he should say something insult
ing?"
"He Will not" said Wyatt, Struggling
his shoulders. II am not afraid for
you. You know how to put man
down when necessary. Only be pleas
ant with him and humor his little fan
cies; he cannot harm you. Penelope,
if you'll manage this for me 1 won't
ever ask you to do anything of that sort
Remember, again. Rachel. Hush !;
there is the bell. That is Manvers.
Go and dress quickly"
But Penelope did not move.
eff go, 1 VIII go as [ am" she said,
smoothing down her plain gray gown.
She did not put out her hand to greet
the visitor She wondered if he no.
ticed that she shrank from him. She
thought she never had known him to
look coarser, more utterly soulless.
Wyatt accompanied them to the
door.
"It's confoundedly good of you to
take Mrs. Wyatt out" he said,
genially. by the way, I'm expecting
Hyse-you know Hyse-to talk about
that B collection. He's crazy to
get hold of it. But so are several
others. Well, wish YOU a pleasant
drive" And to Penelope, "Bye-bye,
my dear!"
Penelope had vague notion that
she must converse with her companion
on everyday topics, as they descended
in the elevator and went out into the
golden September haze.
ManVerS was IN eNcellenb Splr1US.
He talked ceaselessly, until, after the
horses had made one brilliant squirt or
more, he refined them up and the
wheels revolved less rapidly. He con-
tinued to drive slo"ly then for awhile.
Penelope, on the other hand, grew
silent. He had not spoken of the
pictures. He had spoken of other
things; he had even begun to speak in
. way that made the blood seem to
freeze in her veins.
Did he mean to insult her? She
scarcely knew. She had such horri-
BILE, helpless sensation. What could
she do or say? More and more slowly
he drove. She could turn her face
away, but she could not help but hear
the language of the man beside her,
speaking of Dexter Wyatt.
q. our husband does not appreciate
you. Why should a woman
waste all her youth and sweetness on a
man who does not repay? As