Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-19

Drsnp- was-toru' by--mHny cOudiuting
emotlohs. The did biSrgy pnhl9 manner
was so kind that. Drane ponld have
kissed Dffts venerable hand, and his
error was so annoying that Drane
longcdtobreak his venerableAeok.
my dear - he was going q Ryl
''my dear SIR" but Mr.. Kh6kles let him
get no further than tho adjective. He
spread his hands over the pair, In tho
familiar attitude, and Nellie, taking
the hint. fell upon Drane's mock. His
utter inability to struggle against cir
cumstances led him absolutely to tears;
and the Rev, Mr.. Knowles, taking out .
large handkerchief, cried softly in
unison.
They were all so much occupied that
they did not hear the door-bell, nor had
their attitudes Changed by hairs
breadth when tho door opened and Mrs.
Bessie Harland, Of Buffalo, N. Y,
walked in. Drane saw her out Of the
corners of his eyes, and he tried hastily
to shake Nelhe's arms from around his
neck, but they were clasped hard and
fast, and nothing could loosen them.
Bessie gave . little sigh which was al
most sob, and sank upon the sofa.
There were first-rste prospects Of sgen-
uine faint now, and Drane's agony was
proportionstely increased.
At the sound Of her late mistress
sob, Nellie turned her head, and when
she saw who had entered her dismay
was so plainly written on her face that
even the faint-sighted old pastor saw It
He misinterpreted 1t, Of course, and cast
q look Of disapprOval upon Bessie.
"Young woman" said he, fare you
the unhappy cause Of difference between
these two?"
But Bessie paid little attention to his
words. She rose unsteadily from the
sofa, threw up her head with . pitiful
little attempts at dignity and said:
''Mr. Drane, came to this city bo-
cause I believed that you were Ill andin
trouble, and hoped to help you as yon
once helped me. A young man, whom I
believe to be q representative Of the
press, directed me to this house. That
explains my presence; but, Of course, !
can stay no longer. must say good
bye"
There, sirs didn't I ten Jon your
name was Drane!" exclaimed Rev. Mr..
Knowles, who had been fairly bursting
with o desire to say 1t since Bessie's
first word had been uttered.
'.Bessie-Mrs. Harlandw cried Drane,
choking with love, rage and other emo
tions which aflict the young, ~ swear
to you that this is all q hideous mistake.
have never seen this woman before to-
day, and don't care to see her again
till the day of Judgment, on which oc-
casion may she escape her deserts! She
was hanging round my neck for some
insane purpose Of her own; aud this
gentleman"-and Drane softened his
voice and bowed to Mr.. Knowles-spcrs
sists that he'married u.s."
'.AIarriedi' cried Bessie, and shesank
back again upon the sofa.
"But no didn't, you know" cried
Drane, fastening toward her. Hes
near-sighted or something, and she real
" married my necktie-oh, give my
word, I don't know what I'm saying,
but IL Bessie, / love yOu, God
knows, and every beat Of my heart has
been faithful to you since my eyes first
rested on your face. May"
''Sirr' cried Rev. Mr.. Knowles, in
voice Of thunder. ''This Is moro than I
can permit. win you make love to an
other woman before your wife's eyes,
you young villain?"
But this rebuke fell UNDECIDED, for
Drane's unexpected declaration had
proven too much for Bessies nerves al
ready deeply shaken, and she bad fallen
into faintnoss, as deep, to all appear
ances, as death itself. Drane sprana
forward to her side, and Rev. Mr..
Knowles puttered along after him.
Nellie, too, was moved by the sight Of
her former mistress pallid face, and she
bid fair to DO of more real use than
either Of the men. But they were all
in earnest, and so intent upon their task
that they did not see the door open, nor
did they know that any one had entered
till a harsh voice said: Lawrence
Drane, We bloomin' lunatic, I've got to
take yer in!'
. Drane turned to confront Jimmy and
the two policemen.