Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-26


thought came to his mind, still he was
not so conceited as to believe It at first.
He collected the hairpins and dainty,
lace-trimmed handkerchief and placed
them carefully in one corner of the
bureau drawer before mentioned. As he
was about to turn away his eye fell
upon the giove-buttoner, and with an
inward laugh and sentimental twinge
at his heart he gazed raptly at 1t, and
then, with a sigh which may have
meant very much, put it with the other
spoils and dropped into his great chair
to think.
Several days few swiftly by to the
busy workers of this bustling city, but
they hung very heavily upon the hands
of two fated mortals. He resumed his
seat as usual at the table, but she came
not. Day after day went by and she
was not seen; and his heart beat more
wildly as he surveyed her vacant chair,
knowing so we'll the cause of its aban-
Comment. Her mother seemed in no
way changed towards him. and her
friends seemed not to be aware of the
remarkable coincidence.
Sunday came. and he felt sure that
she would then show herself, but he was
disappointed. Sunday evening after
church he was SO much worried and
troubled that he summoned the neces-
sary courage and asked her mother if
Miss - was seriously i'll. And this
was her answer:
s'Yes; we are greatly worried about
her. She sleeps not at all-or only in
fitful maps. She eats almost nothing.
She has high fever, and really we are
much alarmed. The strangest part is
that we can not account for it in any
way"
Hearing this, it is not strange that he
found little sleep Sunday night. He saw
that her pride and shame were killing
her. He knew not why, but his own
heart was filled with very peculiar sem
sations, and do what he might he could
not think consecutively of any thing or
anyone but her.
This state of affairs continued until
New Years morning at about half-past
eleven o'clock. She, for the first time, left
her little room and quickly entered her
mothers. His door was open little
way, and he caught a glimpse of her
dreSs-the same she had worn a week
ago when he so surprisingly found her.
He was at that moment examining for
the hundredth time her belongings he
had carefully put away. And as he saw
her enter her mothers room a thought
came to him-Or, rather, courage came
to him-sufficient to carry out the bid
ding of thought he had cherished for
many days.
He stopped not to consider for fear his
heart might grow faint, but quickly
wrote few words on his card and tied
the hairpins, glove buttoner and hand
kerchief with it into neat package.
Then tremblingly he sought the mothers
bedroom door. The honored lady re-
spOnded to his knock, and with a very
flushed face he stammered:
"Pardon-I think-I should say this
or these belong to your daughter"
After which he made very shame
faced retreat. A few moments the good
woman stared in blank amazement at
the package she held, but she had not
long to mediate thus. The daughter,
who was reclining on sofa in most
exhausted manner, suddenly received
new strength as she heard his voice, and
springing to her feet, she pulled her
mother into the room, tore the package
from her and burst its cord in almost
breathless haste. The mother was by
this time thoroughly amazed, and sank
into a chair, not really knowing what
next to expect.
The daughter read the few words upon
the card at least dozen times. Tears
came to her eyes; her bosom heaved
with mighty sobs, and she buried her
face in tho cushions of the sofa.
Alarmed at this tho mother went to
6rr rl nd oh
calm She laid her beautiful head upon
her mothers lap and told her every
thing. Then she seized piece of paper,
wrote also few words, tied it in with
the relics-if they may be SO called
and induced her mother to return it to
the room at the end of the hall.
This done, the mother entered the
daughters room, and the heart stricken
young man almost few into the larger
room, where he again met that most be-
witching brunette.
And now my tale is done. It were not
proper or fair to tell what words, what
signs, what promises were exchanged
that New Year morning. Suffice it to
say that with tho old year died all their
differences, all their causes for sorrow,
and with the New Year came love, peace
and joy. This is but silly love story,
hear the reader remark, and yet are
there not many groundlcss or foolish
Misunderstanding between those who
should be friends Or lovers which by a
slight effort can be put away in the
grave of the old year? Let this New
Year smile on all and frown on nome
f. w. Pearson.
Wen-Begun Years.