Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-24

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I1- y
WE sHovELED AWAY THE MOUND.
of Prof Arthur Denver. To the last-men-
toned place they drove. The professor
paid the men, dismissed Morton with the
horses, took the sack in his arms and noise
lessly entered the house He laid his bur-
den on a sofa, and retiring into the next
room went to bed
George Dascar was handsome, clever,
passionate, weak; and, because he was
weak, cruel He loved Annie Morse blind
ly, madly. She well, she was young, and
if she felt reciprocal sentiment for a
young man who besieged her at every
available opportunity with fierce love, who
could blame her! She knew not her own
heart, to tell the truth, and vascillated be-
tween the taciturn professor at the medi-
cal college and the handsome grain buyer.
Sometimes she thought for long days how
happy she would be If Arthur Denver
would smile and cast his brown eyes on
her Away. And then Dascar would come
into her mind and all his windy signs and
protestations of how he certainly should
die unless she would love him in return
At this stage in her reflections she would
look at herself in the glass and wonder
what any one could see in her to love SO
desperately-all of which showed that Das-
cars 1attery had not fallen on stony
ground
That same gray morning, after the
stormy night, Dascar came down to his
office with unusually light step. The office
boy was surprised at not being kicked.
The dog caught his masters good humor.
as dogs will, and tied himself into beau
knots on the floor as an evidence thereof
Poor Alice!" muttered Dascar to him
self, as he picked up his morning paper and
djusted himself to scrutiniZe its contents
poor Alice. She wasn't bad girl 1
should have wanted her to live, had it not
been for that miserable secret On the
whole, she acted very well about it Though
she always opposed my paying attention to
Annie, yet she never did any thing to in
jure my prospects. Now she is dead, and
the last mouth is closed that could blab
any thing OF that cursed business. wish
the memory OF it had died with Alice
Well, bars and bolts OF certain institutions
are as strong as the grave and keep secrets
rs we'll"
He read his paper. He threw it down and
sauntered out along the street to see il he
could get sight of Annie. He had often
passed her house before ut even more I'M
reasonable hours than this to catch a
glimpse of her. This time he was success
full She was on the porch just starting to
town.
Mr.. Dascar of all men,
And why not Mr.. Dascar?" Offering his
arm and closing the gate for her.
"Who would have thought OF seeing you
at this time of day? l should have i'm
agined you immersed in business and to-
bacco smoke by this time. Papa always is
And here you are, without the scent of a
cigar, actually! What will happen next
when"
She would have chartered on, for she was
in a happy, talkative mood, but he inter-
rupted
Il told you would not smoke if you dis
liked it. l would do any thing for you 1
came by on purpose to see-if not you, at
least the house that sheltered you last
night in the dreadful storm. envy it."
He spoke softly, yet with a peculiar
abandon and incoherence that was pretty
simulat on of emotion.
20 dear!" said Annie, innocently enough
George Dascar's brain worked fast Out
of the many thoughts that rushed through
u
fore that other fool does. You're all safe
The only witness is dead"
Miss Morse-Annie, l will say it. Have
you not seen it? must marry you You
know love you to my death Do not tell
me nay know this is queer time and
place for proposal l can not help it My
feelings overpower me. l dare not look
you in the face. I shall call this evening
and learn my fate. l leave you and turn
here. No, do not answer" And he was
gone.
Annie stopped a moment gazing at his
receding form. Her heart fluttered; she
was dizzy. 1t was only for moment, how
ever, for she hurried on her errand, q
bright fame burning in each cheek.
That forenoon there was a terrific battle.
The arena was Annie Morse's heart; the
combatants George Dascar and Arthur
Denver Not a literal hand to- hand COM
bat, as in the days of chivalry but Annie
would now think of one and then of the
other in dazed way that bespoke her the
subject of cross mesmeric influences
Arthur Denver was to come that after
noon and take her TO see the new city
library. He would have a chance to i'm
prove his prospect Would he do it: If he
dian't-well, she didn't know what, if he
didn't
The afternoon passed, but no Arthur
Denver came. Notwithstanding he had
pleaded with her to make the engagement,
and to do so she had broken several others
She was piqued
When George Dascar came he had that
much in his favor that he knew not of. He
improved his chances well, and when he
left her house that evening It was with the
promise of her hand.
Things went on smoothly. The wedding
was at hand Arthur Denver did not show
(. hiMseH
Ill
When Arthur Denver awoke from his