Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-07-26

Q.% IT,
"COME, LYMAN, ARE YOU READY"
company, presumably to dine with his be-
trothed and spend the evening in the light
of her smiles.
Norris felt. unreasonably enough, that
the groom-elect only came to fiaunt his tn,
umph before him, the discounted rival. As
Mr.. Ingot never gave him the slightest
personal notice, 1t was not so hard to keep
back the signs of his own pain and despair
as it otherwise would have been, yet he
could not repress little start when the
latter appeared on the evening Of the fourth
of January rather later than usual.
Come, Lyman, are you ready? he.
member that this is the last time ! vii
bore you with my company. Shant have
to rely on you to make my welcome afeer
this. Got your matters all arranged Tor to
morrow so business can run half daJ
without you' Judging by your devotion to
the business of late, is a wonder you Did
not cut down the time to an hour"
81 am not quite through, but can fnish
up every thing tonight" answered Lyman
abstractedly, as the two went out 10
gether, leaving Norris, with heart beating
in wild. rebellious throbs which would not
be quelled.
Then the morrow was the wedding-day
The thought of all he was losing came over
him anew. If he could only do something
if he could see her once again!
Once. in his doubt and misery, he had
written to her, but his letter had been re-
turned unopened, directed Ia Lyman's 6rr
hard. but the inclosure bore the words b
". IN, hat ho 1xnn h
Carols own writing
The rebuff was complete. Yet a. that
last evening wore on, his restlessness CAP
ried him to the vicinity Of the Childer resi-
dence. He did not expect to speak to her
the most he hoped was to catch possible
glimpse OF her before she gave herself ir
retrievably to another.
Even that much did not seem likely to bt
granted him. The shutters were closed
and scarcely CLEAN of light stole out along
the entire front
He walked past for some distance, Their
turned and repassed, trying to imagine
what they were doing within, how She wa
enduring Ingot's fulsome attentions. Coult
it be that she was finding pleasure in hil
admiration, that she was passing counter
felt of love on herself!-for that she hat
taught herself any real regard for the man
he did not believe
He had passed and repassed thus twice
and was approaching the house for thu
third time, when the door opened and thu
two men came out Not wishing to b
seen, Norris paused in the shadow of tn.
next house while they stood chatting for {
moment together.
"She has no doubt of you!" Ingot asked
"Not doubt. Why should shea I have
never failed her yet She relies on m!
word, and have passed it more solemnl.
than she has ever heard me declare an.
thing before. Rest easy; there will be nj
withdrawal on her part before the time"
SWELL, you are cool one" said lngot, IL
almost Gisgusted tones. "rve q streak O
the rascal n me, but can't match you. II
have to look out for yQu as bgpther-in:lav
or you'll be getting the best OF me. Well
goodnight; see you tomorrow, OF course.'
"You will see me tomorrow, "assentet
Lyman, and the two parted, going their sep
arate ways.
Norris was still lingering there when tn
door again turned on its hinges. A Sigh
form stood on the threshold, with a whit.
shawl over its head, looking into the din
obscurity Of the street. He stirred, and
low voice called timidly: "Lyman!'
ut is /, Miss Childer!'' he replied, ad
vancing. "You would not receive my let
ter, will you give me word now for tn
last time!'
"I-I had something to say to Lyman,
she taltered.
''He is gone beyond recall. Pray, do no
deny me this chance. 1t is only to tell yo1
what you must know, that love you, low
you, and would give my life to serve you i
1 could. Oh, why were you in such haste +
bind yourself-why would you not give m
time to try!''
"Hush!'' she said. scarcely above whis
per- "Oh, hush! must not listen"
"Why not! Because your heart play
the traitor! Because, oh, Carol, you Nigh
have been taught to love me! Is it too lat
too late forever, my love, my darling-o
will you break from those hateful bond
yet and come to met Do not 60. Let m
persuade you by all the might and powe
Of my love to be true to yourself, eyel
though you may not be kind to me. Do no
marry that man. Do what you will TO
your brother except that. He is urginl
you to 1t, Is he mott But he has no right I,
ask 80 much as that"
The little, futtering hand he had caugh
and was holding closely In his grew coll
and slipped out of his clasp.
"You are wrong. Lyman would no NOR
urge me toto that, against my will, thai
you would. He wants me to be happy in m
own way. Indeed, It Is true.''
"WIl it make you happy to marry Ingoi
thena" asked Norris, incredulously.
Faint as the light was, he could see tn
rich color which dyed her cheek, the shy
wistful look in the eyes that met his.
81 expect to be happy-after tomorrow,
she whispered, and so saying was gons
The door closed, leaving hum standing alon
on the steps.
How foolish he had been! How needless
ly he had worried himself in his fears to
her, and yet, poor child was she not Dc
ceiving herself! He could not be angr.
with her, though he tried, but in his disaT
pointment he went straight through tn
streets home and to bed, to the infinite eaa
isfaction of Mrs. Bates, who knew nothinl
of the storm of grief and desOlation wh3e
kept him wakeful far mt the noynA|
hourR