Wichita eagle., 1888-03-08

|
that if he did not get strong soon be would
be invalided, and then that he need never
leave her again.
"tor we viii buy him out, she promised.
By degrees Mary was comforted and com
posed, and then Miss Denzl questioned her
more about the officer, whose courage and
humanity had charmed her. Mary had seen
him at Woolwich when his regiment had beer
Quartered there, and she had first known
Jack and she said that he was grand look
ing" and that his name was Owen All hi1
men loved him, he was SO good And
Miss Denzil conjured up in her minds
eye q stately middle aged gentleman,
born ruler and great soldier: and it
must be confessed that she very often
thought Of Capt Owen from that time, and
was not little reioiced when Jacks friend
Tom informed them that Jack was well and
''the cap'en" out Of danger.
By and by, whom all WAS over and some Of
the troops had returned to Enzland-amongs.
them was Jacks reSiment-Miss Denzl was
gratified by seeing th.t'the queen had con-
ferred the Victoria cross on Capt. Richard
Owen for his valor and humanity in return
ing alone to rescue fallen comrade
Mary Denil at once employed young
]
Jack Parker's discharge. and likewise charged
her kinsman to give him some money from
her and to send him down to the home fsrm
at once, where she mesnt to see il she could
give him employment and to marry him to
| Mary Yet as she sent the letter she thought
| with regret that henceforward she should
hear no more from OF Of Capt. Owen.
One morning, about month after writ
t.1rr fah he- l~i~ x,ol
| letter from him, telling her that Parker was
discharged, but had begged him to tell her
that he could not yet visit the home farm, as
his captain was still i'll from his wound and
he did not like to leave him in lodgings al
alone.
We need scarcely say that the soldiers af
fectfonate fidelity greatly recommended hin
to the young heiress, and Mary was delighted
at the praise she bestowed upon him
| The days went on. The harvest was golden
in the land that second summer since Ms.
Denzil commenced her duties as amanuensis
and she was on her way to the home farm TO
ask Nary if she had heard yet from Parker
| The farm house door WAS open. She
walked in and went to the little parlor where
! Mary was often to be found at this hour the
afternoon) ot work.
/
held tall, pale young man-cvidently a
gentleman-lying on the couch smoking a
cigarette.
He sprang up when he saw her, and re-
moved the cigarette from his lips
Il came to fnd Mary Price," said Mis-
Denzil> little embarrassed Could he Be
| Capt. Owen, she wondered; if so, he was not
at all like her ideal
"Mary Price" he replied gravely, "is gone
| out with her young man, John Parker, and
will not be back just yet, l am afraid
''Oh said Miss Denzil ''then am speak
ing to Capt. Owenf'
| He bowed
| If l have the honor of addressing Miss Lo-
maxw
"No,". she said s'Miss Lomax is Marie
and has left the place"
/ Married he exclaimed, in a tone Of in
tense disappointment. I'm awfully sorry
for that"
Indeed! Was she friend Of yoursr'-
| demurely.
She was and she wasn't. I never saw her
| in my life, but fell in love with her through
| tho post, and 1 came here fully resolved to
! marry her myself"
InaTF DenZli lauSueC kiceIully.
II am sorry that you should have arrived
| too late" she said, ''for falling in love
| through the post is rather a novel idea
Why didn't you propose by means of the
telephoner'
II wish 1 had by electric telegraph" he
| said echoing her laugh: "but kept hoping
to get down here, and was never well enough
till now. The fact is, Miss Lomax wrote such
| charming letters to my soldier servant
don't look so shocked, pray, she was only
! deputy and amanuensis for his sweetheart
that lost my heart to her at once, and really
did hope
He paused.
THAT the lady had returned the cornpli.
mentT she asked. coloring. He was too alb.
surd for anything, she thought
well, you know, they were very pretty
love letters, and sometimes one was apt to
forget Jack" he said, comcally. Parker
told me that it was Miss Lomax wrote the
letters and that she was the rector's daugh-
ter here so when the doctor ordered country
air I came to her village-alas! too latem-
signing.
Il feel for your disappointed hopes" said
his laughing auditor; ''but as they were so
very dream like dare say you will recover
from the shock"
"But," he said, with sudden earnestnss,
81 am really sorry l read tho heart and the
mind Of that girl in manner one seldom
can, and l honestly and truly admired her"
Miss Denzil biushed crimson the situation
was growing embarrassing.
"Wel,n she said, still speaking lightly,
''the lady ought to be fattered. Are you
going to mako any stay here?"
Yes; I have taken rooms at the little
village inn. and shall stay week or SO,
think. in spite of my disappointment
II hope the air may do you good and re-
store your strength said Miss Denzil, cour.
teousiy. Good morning, Capt, Owen"
And she hurried away, thankful that she
had told Mary not to let any one know mot
even jack that she had written her letters
for her.
On her arrival at home she made her
rather grim aunt laugh by her story of the
eccentric Capt. Owens matrimonial inten-
tons toward Miss Loma1, and Mrs Bell de-
cided that, as hero, V. c., and "a eharac-
ter she would write to Capt Owen to in
vite him TO dinner.
The invitation was accepted. and Capt
owen, frank and light hearted hero as he
WAS. e1livencd the old hall considerably,
-nd proving 70 be the son Of an old friend Of
Mrs Bells, won at once her liking and favor
His weeks stay in the village WAS pro
iensed considerably, but he soon exchanged
ais roo rs at the inn for one At the rectory.
Mr.. LomaH having taken great fancy TO
him: and then his funny love story anus
ing the rector greatly his suspicious were
directed by him rightly toward his unknown
v@ 81
morning he had been so enlightened he met