The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-22


the oyster season was over"
Miss Pankey did not deign any reply,
and Algernon Swackhazamsr, with 8 low
bow, turned upon his heel and walked out.
When the door had closed upon his re-
ously into chair.
The stupid wretch, !" she exclaimed. HE
ought 20 have had more sense than to take
me at my wordF'
Suddenly she stopped TO the floor. picked
up small ivory tablet that had dropped
from Algernon1s pocket, pressed it passion
ately TO her lips, bowed her head upon her
hands and sobbed aloud.
Years had passed The afternoon sun
was gliding the pretentioas spires and
cupolas of an ambitious western town, and
the soft, weird music of the Gsh peddler's
horn was heard in the street, when mid
die aged man with valiss in his hand
opened the gate IN froat of q modest but
neat and well bailt cottage, walked brisk
ly up the steps and knocked az the door.
A lady answered the knocks lady well
preserved but 10 longer yoaag.
The stranger barred his head. His hair
was beginning TO turn gray, bat time had
evidently dealt with him lenieltly, and
care had left no deep traces en- his brow.
He spoke:
Us the gentleman Of the hcuse-am
dreaming Isn't this Cashmere Psnkey?
Or rather'-and he smHed-''isn't this thu
lady who was once Miss Cashmere Pan
key?"
~ am Miss Pankey," she answered, "snd
you are Algernon Swsekhsmmsr. Irecog-
nized you as soon as l saw you. Won't
you come inf"
well, well" said the middle aged trav-
eler, as he sat in an easy chair in the front
parlor few moments later and looked with
interest at the face OF the lady. WHO
would have thought of meeting yen heres
And you tell me you ere still Miss P2nkeyf
Isn't this your homer"
1T is my brothers. He is a widower I
keep house for him"
And you have never married."
No"
"How have you prospeEed~
I'll have no reason for complaint.
And your"
II have had great many hard knocks,
Cassimere-Miss Pankey-since we met
last. By the way, we parted rather IN
ceremonicusly, didn't wef'
The lady sighed.
'And have always felt that I owed you
an apology" be continued, for not send
ing your photograph back after you had
returned mine; but the fact Is" he went
on, awkwardly, "I-er-couldns find it. 1t
got lost somehow"
Miss Pankey sighed again.
THAT reminds me, pursued Mr.. Swack-
hammer, that lost little book slate the
last evening was at your house. must
have dropped it out of my pocket IN some
way. It wasn't of any particular value,
and don't know when have thought OF
it before, but the recollection Of it hap
pened to occur to me jnst now. 1t was a
little black book slate, With
II think It was an ivory tablet"
"No. am quite positive it was little |
black book slate"
II am sure it was white tablet"
Going to the mantel she opened plush
lined jewel casket and took out a little
ivory tablet.
Here it is" she said.
"And you have kept it all these years.
exclaimed Mr.. Swackhammer.
yes"
81 see was mistaken. But to change |
the subject. Do you consider yourseh-aw
fixed in hfe9 Have you mono plans for |
the-for the futurey"
"Why, p
She paused, and her visitor proceeded:
In a sense, suppose, you are fixture |
here? Your brothers children are to some |
extent dependent upon YOU"
"Of course, butt
"Then permit me, Miss Pankey, for the |
sake of old times" said Mr.. Swackham-
mer, rapidly, as he opened his valise and |
took out number of documents, "to call |
your attention to the fact that life is IN
certain, disease and death stalk abroad in /
the land, fatal accidents may happen at |
any time, and it is the part of wisdom to
provide against contingencies by securing
those who are or may be dependent upon
US against want. In the policies of the |
Life Insurance company, |
which ] represent, and for which l have
travelled for the last seven years, you will
find the most perfect system, the suEest
guarantee, the most absolute security Of
fered by any company in the field, and
either on the ten year the endowment, or
the life plan, as you may prefer, you will
find the premiums smaller in proportion TO
the gilt edged character of the insurance
afforded than in any that has ever come
under your notice, while the non-fofeita-
BILE feature of the policies, peculiar TO our
company alone, together with the dividends
that accrue after the third year, thus
steadily decreasing the annual premiums,
while at the same time
Was this your object in calling, Al
Mr. Swackhammerf"
ut was, Miss Pankey. I've just begun
to work this town. J"
Opening the little ivory tablet he began
jotting figures down in it with great
rapidity.
Now, here you will see" he said, that
on the ten year plan-Iet me see, what is
your age, please?"
You viii please excuse me, sir. / have
some bread in the oven that 1 must go and
look at, and l don't need any life insur-
ance. Neither does my brother. | wish
you success, Mr.. Swsckbaunmer. Good
afternoon"
Miss Cashmere Psrkey sat IN penSive
silence q minute or two after her caller
had departed, then picked up the little
ivory Tablet, put it back into the plush
covered jewel case, took them both out to
the kitchen, tossed them into the stove,
and went about her work with a ArTa and
decided expression on her face
Three weeks afte-ward she married q
baldheaded dentist 81 years old, who had
been making love TO her unsucoessfuuy
for about eight years.-Chicsgo Tribune,
Rapid Transit
az have been on this road twenty veara