Wichita eagle., 1888-12-26

brown over striped underskirtl Well. it
wih be this dress and thick brown veil
And you must be standing exactly by that
poplar tree l showed you Good-by! You
had better leave by the garden gate instead
Of going into the house"
Then the doctor regained sufficient pres
ence Of mind to move away and seat him
self as far as possible from the open window.
Josie came In flushed, excited, and, despite
her evident effort to appear as usual, shy and
constrained.
The doctor did not remain long. He felt
too shocked and wounded to know what
course to pursue In this sudden and unex-
pected state of things.
He would go home and think 1t over. And
the result Of his thinking was that he con-
cluded to say nothing to Josephine just now,
but to watch her movements the next even
ing and find out something more definite by
which to shape his course.
1t was little past o'clock the next even
ing when, watching from his Office window,
he saw Josephine trip lightly down the steps
Of her fathers house, attired in the brown
and striped dress, and little hat, around
which was tied brown veil
He saw her face before she pulled the folds
Of the veil close, and even caught her glance
as she looked shyly over towards his office,
as if fearful of being seen by him. Then she
walked on very fast, while be followed at a
safe distance.
She went first to house in which he knew
a sister Of her father resided-Miss Almeria
Chase-a well to do maiden lady whose prink
and severe aspect he had never liked.
Here she remained about half an hour, then
i
taking her way, not homeward, but towards
the suburbs of the town.
Entering sort of lane or narrow road
with a thick hedge on one side, she came in
sight Of a poplar tree at a turn of the lane
Here man was standing-a tall, handsome
young fellow-who, on seeing her, came has
tily forward and received her, apparently
half fainting, in his arms.
at the same moment he made signal, and
carriage, until now hidden by the turn of
the lane, came UP.
The two hurriedIy entered it, and they
drove away at rapid pace. They were
clearly going to catch the north bound train
at the nearest station.
The doctor, although he now understood
the plan, made no motion or attempt to OPP
pose it.
'If she prefers him to me let her CO." be
said, and in forlorn Indebtedness and bitter
ness of soul returned TO his office.
The Chase house opposite was shut up and
the windows closed, as though its life and
light had forever departed.
Did the parents know as yet what had hap
peneds Should he break it to them-more
gently, perhaps, than others would do, and
in their woe find some soothing for his owng
He walked slowly up the front steps to the
porch, and there fingered. He could not find
it in his heart to enter the house where her
presence was no longer, and it was with an
effort that he gave the bell knob a pull
which seemed like the wrenchings of his own
heart strings.
The door was instantly opened, and, turn
ing, he beheld Josie standing sulenly before
him.
Il have been expecting you for more than
an hour" she said. but" catching a sight
of his pale and startled face, what is the
mattera Are you i'll"
mo; but IL don't understand. | did not
expect to see you. l thought you had gone
away.n
"Gone awayG'
"Yes-with Jack Ripley" he said sternly.
And Josie, to his surprise, broke into
laugh.
Then, changing she suddenly became very
grave and digni6ed.
How could you have had such thought
ofSme, CharlieG"
Josie, was it you whom I saw leave the
house about O'Clock this evening, wearing
brown dress and veill''
YES, certainlyI'
'And you met gentleman in the poplar
lane"-
mo, nor she interrupted, again laughing.
THAT was my cousin, May Harding-Aunt
Almeria'S neice. We are of the same size and
exchanged dresses in order to deceive aunt's
watchful eyes But come in and let me tell
you all about it. l could not before, beng
bound to secrecy"
And then she told him how Jack and May
had for years loved each other and been
kept apart by Miss Chase, who had taken
charge OF May when a child, and been TO her
a sort Of domestic tyrant.
Whenever Jack was in town, Miss Chase
kept double watch upon tho poor girl, and
and it was only by the scheme which had
been SO successful that May was enabled to
elude her argus eye and get safely away with
her lover.
Papa had always been in favor of the
match, but for peace's sake did not like to in
terfere with his sister Almeria.
''He viii scold little when he finds out my
part in it" she said, 'but viii be delighted all
the same that May is happy at last. No one
could ever say word against Jack except that
be was s. little wild and nischievous at college;
but he has sobered now, and just settled down
to the practice of law. And as TO whether
DR.. Newberry will blame
She paused, and looked up half archly, half
inquiringly into his face.
mo, darltng-not now he answered; al
though you have caused me the most miser-
able hours of my life"
Charlie" she said softly, as she allowed
him to draw her gently towards him, ''if you
had practlced your Own theory and sought an
explanation Of what appeared to you so sus-
picious, you would have been spared those
miserable hours"
Eyes, darling, It was my fault. But this
may serve us both for a lesson to begin
with. "-Saturday Night