Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-10-05

OuAy Ao10 ~ sAAAo0 ex1 ana No b0Ve
never sean him since. Perhaps Il & oni,
fancy. and my poor girls ailment Gomez
from other causes. But come, I wiE
show you the water.
Leading the way the old gentleman
took me across the sloping meadova
and left me at last by as BEAUTIFUL :
trout stream as I ever saw.
ssThere," he said, 81 won't stop. bui
if there is no sign of q rise, come and
have q bit of lunch. We shall dine at D
so as to leave you free for the evening.
when the trout are sure to come on" "
Before could utter word of protest
he was gone; and then, with that deli
cious trout-stream before me, my tackle
in my hand, and the May-fiies dartina
up and down, ], an ardent fisherman.
forgot all, and sat down upon an old
stump, trying to bring up memories
half forgotten story told me by quaint
Ralph barley, my old friend and com.
this water; old Ralph, the misogynist,
the dry, grumpy old fellow, who had
told me one night in his chambers in the
Temple, in one of his rare bursts of con
fidence, as we sat at the open window
smoking, how he had once seen a girl
whom he could have loved with all his
heart, but poverty, dread of refusal and
moral cowardice had kept him back.
81 have got it u said suddenly, after
sitting there for quite an hour, and
jumping up looked at my watch and
the leaf of q timetable; Yes, l could
just do it-catch the train up. But
could get by the rectory unseen?
tried and found another way across
to the lane by which came; and max.
ing all the haste I could, I Just painted
up to the little station as the up train
crawled in.
Two hours later I was in Ralph's
room, where he was porting over dry
brief.
"Hullo" he said, looking up. 81
thought you were of fishing"
eyes," I said, putting on the gross
deceiver, 81 did run down to the place
you told me Of
"Indeedl" he said, looking interested,
but sinking back, half closing his eyes,
with sad smile upon his lip, which
seemed to say, "Ah! if that could have
BEEN"
"Yes," continued, ''the trout are on
wonderfully. May flies in abundance. I
hadn't the heart, though, to fish alone,
and SO came back to fetch You without
wetting line. Come, let's start by the
first train in the morning. You make
plenty of money now. Have day."
His eyes sparkled as he grasped my
hand.
"This is kind of you, old fellow. I
should enjoy it above all things and
yes, ! could spare day. But no, no."
he said sadly, IT won't 60"
Nonsense" cried, 'tyou shall.
"No," he said, "that place is assoc;at-
ed with something very depressing to
my mind. can't CO."
"My dear Ralph" said, II have
come back on purpose to fetch you, and
60 you must"
Ny persistence prevailed, and, tremb-
ling for the success of my plan to such
an extent I lay awake all night for fear
should miss the train. I rose and took
my bath at 4; got Ralph off; and we ran
down by the same train as had gone
by on the previous morning, my friend
growing more silent and depressed as we
reached the station and walked towards
the rectory.
''It is just three years since was
down here" he said sadly as we ap-
preached the copse. ''How sweetly the
birds sing"
Imaneuvered that he should 60 first,
having for excuse the narrowness of the
dewsprent path; and as hoped, SO it
fell about, for letting him get few yards
in advance, Il hung back as Ralph turned
the corner by the stile, when there was
a wild cry, q sharp ejaculation, and I saw
poor Laura literally leap to his breast
and nestle there, e1claiming, SAT last!
at last!"
"My poor girl he cSied in faltering
tones, astounded, delighted, and ending
by clasping her tightly to him, as she
exclaimed joyously:
ut has been SO long, but I knew you
would come at last"
.Here, quick! quick" cried Ralph,
''She has tainted"
1t was quite true; and between us we
carried the poor girl to the rectory, from
whence the gardener went galloping of
on the rector's cob for the doctor, three
miles away.
But Laura wanted no doctor; and q
short time after I left her lying on the
sofa, holding Ralph's hand tightly in
both of hers as he knelt by her side,
telling her again and again how he had
always loved her but had never dared to
hope-words that made her eyes bright
en- and her heart palpitate with 10y.
':And this is why you didn't come
back yesterday, said the old gentleman,
with his voice shaking, as he chung to
my hand.
"And we-we-we kept the ducks til
they were quite spoiled" said the old
lady. ooh, dear! oh, dear! I don't know
what I'm saying, only God bless you for |
this! God bless you for this!" and she |
threw her arms round my neck and
kissed me as if I had been her son.
ran away at last, felt so ready to
act like child; and the basket of trout !
killed that day was marvel.
1t was getting dark when strolled
back, heavily laden to the rectory, to