The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-10

was aV6rSe 20 I1aLT1InOny.
That an individuality heaven born in
its excellence should be seized on, taught
trained from earliest consciousness to a
condition in which that individuality
should be merged in another no wise
superior, shocked both her sense and he1
sensibility. Il choose" she said, etc
own myself. can see clearly what a
holy state would be that of matrimony
were it made a sacrament based on
equality" This was simply the protest
Of girl to what she considered wrong,
and who had not yet experienced that
feeling that makes the sense Of depen-
dence the sweetest and dearest part OF
the married state to the wife. To tell
her of this was like talking of light to
one born blind.
Our promenade was interrupted one
evening by an arrival that fairly took
my breath. 1t was so sudden, unex-
pected and yet so utterly appropriate,
being no less than our young immortal.
/ "Here am" he said, under the bald
| headed eagle in the land of freedom.
You see, it struck me one day that life
would be altogether more pleasant in a
nation of cranks than in dull, stupid
old England, rut worn and rotten with
age. l want to be more comfortable if
am to live forever. Do you know 1
was not seasick at all. went aboard
with an empty stomach, and, although
hungry enough to eat the cook, alb
stained from all food but few oranges.
You see, my theory sustains itself at all
points.
And SO the dear fellow ratified on. He
had sought me out for an introduction to
our new life, and l introduced him to
Bella G.. He Immediately proceeded
to convert her to his theory Of life, and
she, with an amused look in her eyes,
combatel his arguments while giving
him the results OF her own thoughts and
studies. / had no more promenades
with Miss Bella, nor did any one else
save our immortal. There were not only
walks, but rides on horseback. The
young immortal, having the means, had
procured a superb mount both for him
self and the girl. AL the time she could
spare from her invalid father seemed
given to my friend.
Glow are you getting on, Charles, my
immortal?" asked him one day.
Capital" he cried. ''She is a won
derful girl. Such brain, such original
thought! And, by Jove, she has read
everybody"
''And you hope to convert her to your
belief
Yes, indeed. Imake progress. 1 tell
you"
1t was very evident to the observers at
the hotel interested in this affair that
whatever might be the progress of the
conversion these two young people were
deeply in love with each other. / saw,
however, that change had come upon
my immortal. He lost his happy, care
less way and became moody and silent.
He lost color and appetite, and although
as devoted as ever to the fair Bella, /
could hear him pacing the floor far into
the night instead of the health giving
sleep he so strongly advocated. met
him one day pacing along lovers walk
with head bowed and arms folded.
81 say" cried, facing him, ''you are
in trouble, my boy come, confide it
to me-"
Il am, old fellow" he replied; 81 am
in an ugly fix"
"Have you converted herr"
THAT is my misery"
"What. Why, l thought that was what
you wanted"
ut was till got it, and them
"What them"
"Well, you see, while 1 was converting
her she was capturing me-"
81 don't comprehend"
"Confound it! l discovered when too
late that was head over heels in love
with her"
"Well, is she not in the same condi-
tion-that is, in love with you?"
Not much; she is in love with my
theory, and my theory shuts out love and
me with it.
"Isee. That is awkward but, my dear
boy, it is not beyond remedy. Tell her /
the truth-that you prefer death with |
her to immortality without her"
Il have" he replied wofully.
''And the result"
ooh, Lord! She said she loved me
too well to doom me to death"
Charles Augustus Algernon Spray, /
you are fool
THANKS, awfully; but why?'
THAT was the moment to seize her in /
your arms and CRY, Bella C., we will |
die together"
THAT would do with most girls, but
not with Miss Bella. She is all brain. |
am done for"
You remind me of the showman's
yiaskutis that couldn't live on land and
died in the water"
The ludicrous affair would have con-
tinued a source of much amusement but
for an event that came near ending in a
tragedy. There were at the Green Brier
White Sulphur q number Of young men
who called themselves Enthusiastically
The Bella Knights of the Round Ia
be" Bella G. was their toast and
fair lady, and one of their duties, faith
fully performed, was to ride over to the
sweet chalyboate and devote a day to
her. II was a harmless eccentricity of
young soldiers, at which the renowned
officer smiled good naturally and at
which Bella was vastly amused. Our
immortal did not so regard the affair;
ne considered it indicate, and with his
usual frank way so expressed himself.
Had he confined himself TO a general
tsapprovd he mignI have escaped, but
W fnrtrna fely ha harl-nened in the saloon !