Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-06-29
CAROLS CONVERSION.

and a beauty; that was enough to send a
thrill Of excitement and unholy curiosity
through the dull veins OF the little seaside
village. There was not in the limits OF the
State a duller spot than Holmesville; that
was the reason that it petted and made
much even of such a weak little mystery as
this
Holiness place" had stood empty for
years = all the Holmeses were abroad
and rack and ruin had taken possession OF
the fine old-fashioned manor-house. with
its green. shady grounds and its glorious
sea-view.
Now it was put into thorough repair. and
swept and garnished for the reception of q
tenant; for Miss Berkeley. the mystery. of
whom nobody knew anything whatever ex-
cept that she was young and pretty. and
had a mother, an invalid lady who seemed
nonentity in the household. and who was
wheeled up and down the beach twice day
in Bath chair.
Miss Berkeley kept a man and three
maids. and was free of her money and
ce-spoken," SO the natives said; she was
quiet and stately. and rather shy; enter
tanned no company. stunned all friendly
advances. and avoided. as much as pos
sible. even casual contact with the boarders
at the Winnepurket House. who had caught
the contagion Of village curiosity, and
gossiped in their own way about the fair
tenant Of Holiness Place.
The only person who had caught at
Page Carroll a summer lounger at the afore-
said hotel sudden and violent thunder
storm was the conductor that brought them
together.
Page. driving along the unfrequentcd part
of the beach where Mrs. Berkeley took
her constitutional. had met the maid and
the young mistress struggling with the
Bath-chair against gale of wind, and the
poor invalid covering in the rain under q
fiimsy parasol
Only too happy to be of service. Mr..
Carol had sprung down from the buggy.
and with about half a dozen words ex-
changed on either side, installed the
mother and daughter in his place.
He lifted the sick woman safely and
strongly into her seat. put the ribbons into
the girls little drenched gray kid hands.
and saw herstart his fast mare off at a
dashing pace, while he took the Bath
chair and the maid under his protection,
and trudged off through the rain--wet, but
warmed straight through to the heart by
those half-doZen grateful words, and the
frank. grateful look of those lovely gray
eyes.
So by laying Miss Berkeley under a
debt of gratitude. Page Carroll won his
way to her friendship. He was thoroughly
Observation-Disclosures was no disputing that
and Mr.. Carol was not a man easily
charmed, nor by any means an impulSive
one.
The most intolerant and fastidious of
men-a born autocrat. and an aristocrat in
every fiber. The idea of his falling in love
with woman of unknown antecedents and
underlined social position would have
seemed, a month ago, the widest tmpos-
sibility. Now. looking into Alice Berke-
ley's violet-gray eyes. and tender. perfect
face, he forgot that she had ever had an
ancestor to question. and lost sight alto
gether of his own indisputable family tree.
She was a woman, simply-the ideal WON.
nm lnno tnnkal for and QYnaofad and
Page Carols INN ost soul did her homage.
He might have wondered or doubted a
little over her calm, courteous refusal to
receive any calls from the ladies at the
hotel-Carrol's friends, many OF them-or
to grant introductions to any OF the men.
but her one simple excuse satisfied him.
She particularly wished to avoid society
this summer; her mothers health demand
ed all her time and attention. and she had
come to bonneville expressly to devote
Page Carol just as well that he alone had
the entree of the old Holmes Manor.
He had kept the fact of his acquaintance
with its mistress most religiously to him
self for time, but it came out at last. and
in this way:
Between Holiness Place q find myself
clinging to the rural nomenclature and for
getting its more dignified title of The
Oaks0 and the main road there was a
stretch Of dark. shady wood. and here one
8lC6InOOn rage anu Ills IIlouU SOlOu0l J6u.
nings were lettering with their cigars.
Going to town, next week. Carols? the
Colonel had Just demanded. and Carol re-
turned dry No.
NO! The deuce you're notl Why, you've
been negotiating here four weeks already,
my dear fellow; what's the attraction? Not
the society, I'll swear. for you've with
drawn yourself from that like an anchorite,
and / don't believe you've looked In the
face of a woman since you came here.
MIR. Carol smiled sedately behind his
7 didn't come here for society"
only to indulge your taste for simple
country pleasures. I suppose; since when
have you developed passion for the pas
toral? I remember the time when you
couldn't exist two weeks away from the
Bah! don't talk to me Of theaters. II I
had hand in the government I'd burn
every one Of them!
Glad you're not an alderman laughed
the Colonel. I hope you'd spare a pretty
panies. Page.
-Womani- echoes Carol. with a sneer.
and his voice rises little. Don't my dear
boy; for your mothers sake. don't put q
woman and an actress in the same breath.
Any woman who exhibits herself at so
much per head to gaping. promiscuous
public loses her right to the name.
Page Carols voice was singularly clear
and distinct. but even were it less 50 he
must have HAD q second auditor just then.
There is a light rustic among the briers
and underbrush. and from q cross-path
through the wood Miss Berkeley steps out
facing them; her large eyes meet Carols
for second. and with the color trembling
in her face. but without smile. she bows
grayely to him and passes straight on.
Hall q dozen yards lie between them be.
fore either says word.
BY Jove!" pronounces the Colonel with
q long whistle. like a note Of admiration.
Pages face is crimson with ANNOYANCE
Solution of the conundrum. you con-
founded sly dog! Carol. how long have
you known-how the deuce did you happen
to know Miss Berkeley?'
In the ordinary course OF events says
Page. CURLY. I've known her for some
time; the precise date can't be of any mo.
ment to you. Colonel"
That night the cool and. collected Page,
absenting himself from the weekly hop in
the great. hot. glaring parlors. walks out
With his cigar into the moonlight what?
Not to call at The Oaks-he was there last
evening. mol like any distraught school,
bow or college Romeo, he goes to stare at
q light in the window.
Leaning on the stone fence that bounds