Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-11-29
DO LISTEN TO REASON.

from the deep and painful reverie into which
he had fallen by step in the hall and
knock on his parlOr door.
"Comel" he said, and a smile lighted up
his grave. handsome face, for both step and
knock were familiar to him, and If there
was any man on earth whom he held near
and dear, that man was he who now en-
tered.
4 was beginning to wonder what had be-
come of you, Arthur" stretching out a well
coming hand, which Arthur Hazard took in
a warm grasp
Il have been unusually busy" and Arthur
threw himself into q chair. I've been get
ting ready to leave town for a few weeks,
friends"
Then you've come to say an reUoir."
Yes; I'm of tomorrow by the early
Grain. 1 wish you were going with me,
Cyril"
Il can't leave the city now. Besides, I
shouldn't enjoy having nothing to do.
haven't taken a vacation since I left the
army. Where are you gOing?"
ITO a piece called WesthOlt, down In
Buckingham County.
The Major started. and a shadow crept
over his face-the shadow of a past sOr-
row. the memory Of which was very painful
to him.
I am gong to visit the big man of the
place-Squire DraytOn," continued Arthur,
carelessly. 4 made his acqua ntance a few
months ago by the merest accident. He
was pleased to take fancy to me, and in
vited me to his place. Some one was tell
ing me the other day that the Squire had
SO you can prepare yourself for anything
in the way Of news when I come back.
He paused, lau hing, and expecting some
facet1Ous reply; but Major HartWell was si
lent. The shadow had deepened on his face
into a look of pain.
what's the matter. HartweH? You look
as If you had seen ghost. Are you envying
me my good luck?"
NO; 1 have no desire to go to Westholt
1 shall never go there again.
Ali You have been there before me.
Yes; I was once engaged to be married
to Lois DraytOn."
You were? Excuse me, Major. if I had
known that would never have spoken as
did; but no hint Of anything Of the sort had
ever reached me. Are you willing to tell me
about it?"
yes; had I not been. I would not
have mentioned 10 at all. 1t isn't very
long story. but think it a very unusual
one. met Lois Drayton when my regi-
ment was stationed near WesthOIt, and we
were engaged for a year. know she loved
me; have never doubted that, though
what followed would have led almost any
man to believe her utterly wanting in any
thing approaching affection. We were to
be married on the 10th Of October, and the
wedding was to be grand affair. All the
DraytOn relatives far and near we're invited,
and the Squire had prepared for bOnfres,
fireworks and general enthusiasm. 1 went
down to WesthOlt on the morning of the 9Th
and had no fault to find with the welcome
received from Lois. 1 thought had never
seen her in happier mood. and we had a
sorts Of plans, which 1 little thought were
never to be realized We spent a very
happy afternoon in the great dusky parlOr,
and after supper the Squire took me out for
a long walk. wishing to show me some i'm
prOvements he had made in drainage and
parking. We left Lois in the hall, talking to
an old woman who had come to get some
medicine for a sick child. 1 remember that
1 looked back when L reached the yard and
waved my hand 10 my little girl, thinking
how sweet and fair and gentle she looked
the childs illness! All, mel I did not
dream that it was our last partinP-that I
was never to see her ain!"
Never to see her again?" echoed Arthur
Hazard, as his friend paused.
NO; I have never seen her since that
evening. When the Squire and 1 returned
to the house, couple OF hours later, we
found that she had gone to administer the
medicine herselfto the child, and on reach
ing home again had retired at once to her
room, and had sent for her aunt, Mrs. An
drews, who had taken the place Of a mother
to her for many years. Mrs. Andrews
found her prone on a rug, her left hand
grasping it in her agony.
Gently raising her, Mrs. Andrews endeav-
Ored to learn the cause Of her pale and agi-
tated condition, but she would explain moth
ing, simply stating that a great sorrow had
come over her life. She simply wished. she
said, to send message to me. 1t was that
she absolutely refused TO marry me. Yes.
on the very eve of our wedding she had
changed her mind. And she would give no
reason for the change, nor would she con-
sent to see me. Her father and aunt rea-
sOned and argued with her IN vain. She
simply Wept and maintained her mysterious
silence. And the end of it all was that left
WesthOlt the next day, together with my
best man and the haf-dOzen bridesmaids.
The affair created a great deal of gossip,
but no one has ever been able to get to the
bottom OF it..
Perhaps Miss Drayton heard something
against you" suggested Hazard.
NO; that question was asked her, and she
insisted that she had not"
Il know her too we'll to think that
And there was no other lOVerg-
NO. She had other suitOrs, of course.
but 1 was the only one for whom she had
expressed any regard.
And she has never given any explanation
OF her singular actiOn?"
Never I see her father occasionally.
and he has repeatedly assured me that she
maintains her mysterious silence. They
never mention my name to her now. She
requested them not 70 do So.
i wish for your sake. could get at the
root OF the matter, Major. suppose I try. Z
will have a good opportunity. you see"
You can try, of course. Thank you for
your interest. But there IS no reason to
think you viii succeed. No; I must bear
my sorrow as best I can. must not hope.
for hope would end only in despair.
In the train the next day, on the way to
WesthOit. Arthur Hazard remembered the
story he had heard, and he felt great
curiosity TO see the heroine OF so peculiar a
tale.
Squire Drayton was the richest landed
proprietor in the large and fertile county in
which WesthOit was situated. His house
was a handsome, rambling building. sur
rounded by trees. and overlooking beau
tiful gardens, rich pastures, and WeH-tlled
Fis family consisted Of his daugher Lois,
a widowed sister, and a nephew, the son Of
Arthur liked Lois at once. She was a
godned-l0Oklng girl OF about twenty-five