Wichita eagle., 1888-09-16

|
its mouth to disenchant me. / settled
back in my chair and prepared to hear
white Wings" or 1.-The Lost Chord, -
with what fortitude might. Miss Win
dom took the banjo, struck few soft
notes. and then in low, sweet voice, full
of expression, sang the verses which fol-
low. l got copy Of them afterward
from Raeburne. It seems he wrote them
one moonlight night during an especially
desperate crisis Of the tender passion.
Miss Window composed the air. was
surprised on reading them to find SO little
Of the dreamy pathos that seemed to per-
wade them, when Miss Window sang
them.
Sweetheart Of mine, Tapped in the gloom lie
| Mid bitter thoughts. Yet, dear, Will rejoice,
| If it be so, that must make the choice,
| To take my love and let the world go By,
Sweetheart of mine.
Sweetheart Of mine, far through the silent night
MY heart turns toward my darling where size
| lies,
To breathe kiss upon her fast shut eyes.
And fill her sleep with happy dreams and
bright,
Sweetheart Of mine.
| Sweetheart of mine, whatever may befan;
pain:
Sorrows shall beat upon my heart in vain;
! Your perfect love is recompense for all
Sweetheart of mine.
| When the last notes had died away
there was an eloquent silence l mentally
! followed Goldsmith's example and handed
the young lady my hat. But the ire
pressible Raeburne could rot long be
muZZled.
Thanks awfully. Laura, he said. Il
could sit here forever to listen to you
Could not you, Miss Clyde?'
Hardly forever, unless l was 'deuced-
ly fond of her" replied Kitty, merrily
l joined kitty's laugh this time, though
in truth the joke was getting shop worn.
But it's just as well to have Fred squelch-
ed once in while. If not he's apt to be-
come SO dreadfully universal.
Miss Windon, with little sigh, put
down the banjo, and, rising, said with en-
expressive glance at Raeburne: II really
must go. Thank you very much for my
pleasant afternoon, Miss Clyde. May L
may | say Kitty"
THAT you may" responded our little
hostess heartily. 81 shall be only too
pleased to have you"
Miss Window strolled over to the win
dow and began drawing on her gloves.
"How strangely a few simple notes can
affect one," said I, assuming my favorite
Colossus of Rhodes attitude before the
fire. 81 remember in Paris once being
awakened by hand organ playing Home,
Sweet Home beneath my window, and do
you know
There is somebody going to play
Home, Sweet Home, beneath this win
dow" cried Miss Window, starting back
from tie easement, out Of which she had
been pensively gazing as she buttoned
her glove.
whats the matterf" cried Kitty, hast
ening toward the evidently disturbed
damsel.
Mrs. Rutledges carriage is at the
door," exclaimed the latter. ''She prom
Used to call for me. Oh, dear, what shall
I do? She will be simply furious if she
finds Fred here"
ooh, never mind her." said Kitty reas-
suringly. "She won't come up. She'll
send the footman."
"Ch, yes, she WILL" said Miss Window.
''See," she exclaimed, peeping cautiously
from the window. there she is getting
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS coming right into
the house"
There was no doubt about it. In q
moment we heard the elevator boy out
side.
THAT door, ma'am, No. g."
THANK you. Yes harsh voice re-
sponded, Il see the name on the door"
And then there came loud, authorita-
tive knock. Luckily the door was not
open, as it had been when we came up.
There was a moment for deliberation. /
looked around.
The screen!" whispered to'Kitty.
''The very thing" she murmured back.
But, no. Mrs. Rutledga is regular
mouser. Whenever she comes here with
Laura she invariably prowls over the
whole place and polles into everything"
''Rat-tat-tatl' came from the door
insistently.
Il have it" came all at once from Kitty
in an exaggerated stage whisper. Here,
Laura. Take your chair at once. So.
Now, then. Mr.. Raeburne, stand here.
Hurry, Malcolm, help me to roll the screen
around him. On your knees, Mr.. Raeburne.
You can pray little in the meanwhile, If
you want to, for our escape. You might
do something to assist the general effort"
With this, and having Raeburne fairly
imprisoned. she proceeded to throw over
the screen a heavy portiere, which was
one of the properties, so to speak. of her
atelier.
Don't you dare even to BREATHE" was
her parting injunction to poor Fred.
I'm not likely to-" came in smothered
tones from under the picture. ''A-choo!
Whew! How dusty that curtain ISL
Rat-tet-tat- bang! came from the door.
And then hand ratified the knob i'm
patiently.
What shall do with you. Malcolm7'
gasped Kitty "Oh, know. Here, hurry.
Take this cloak" producing an immense,
dingy. red affair Now, the hat" cram
ming a big tapping Mexican arrangement
over both eyes and ears. Now, this
dagger There, stand in this dark corner,
with your face to the wall, and try to look
wooden-no, don't try; just look natural
and you'll do
Having got me thus thoroughly dis
guised as lay figure the little woman
turned with an elaborate courtesy in the
direction of the door.
Now. madam, she said. II am at your
service"
She stuck a paint brush across her
mouth in business like fashion, hung her
palette On her thumb and opened the
door.
"Oh, Mrs Rutledge-you-Im so sorry
to have kept you waiting. Unfeigued
surprise was in every tone OF hitty's
short speech.
Mrs. Rutledce bowed without saying
anything in reply. and walked maiesticaliy
into the room, amid prodigous rustling
of silks She surveyed the apartment for
moment q could see her in a small mirror
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