The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-11

| her dolls and auntie's work box and taught
them all how to make toffee. Could she
ever forget the boy for whom she cried 50
bitterly when he had to go away from
England in search of livelihood, his pa
rents being very poor in those 3aysi
THAT is a turn of fortunes wheel"
says Nora
A week latIr tennis net is stretched
across the lawn and Tom is disporting
himself in comical fashion in opposition
to Fred and Nora, when suddenly the
rackets are thrown aside and the boys rush
down the path to the green gate, on which
is leaning a young man whom they have
been expecting ever since they heard of
his arrival at Tower Court. II is Jack
| Charters, looking bigger and stronger
than ever, with the honest gray eyes and
square brow and merry expression so well
remembered by the Stamers.
1.-THE rector told me where should find
my old friends" he says.
As he chances at Nora, surprise, wonder
and admiration are visible in his eyes, and
he utters her name in tone expressive of
all three emotions.
Mrs. Stamer rises from her garden chair
and joins the group. Jack has not changed
with the change of fortune, she observes;
he is the same blithe, happy hearted fellow
she used to like so well.
eve expected you to come in a carriage
and six" says Tom.
Time flies too quickly for all of them as
Jack relates some of his experiences
abroad, recalls many incidents which hap
| pened in his boyhood, and concludes by
| planning pleasant days in the future a
| Tower Court.
He is a brick" the boys decide-"just
what he use to bel"
The sun has sunk behind the purple hills,
a saffron glow is in the west, the fair moon
looks down serenely on the shorn mead
ows. 1t is beautiful, tranquil September
night. Along the narrow fieldpath Nora
and Jack stroll slowly houseward arm in
arm.
MY darling" said Jack-and at the
words a crimson rose color overSpreads the
girls cheeks-"I have loved you all my
life, even when we were little things TO-
getherl All the time was away working
and Shaving the one hope l had was to win
you, to make home for you"
But you never wrote to me-" she OBJ
serves.
''Was it not better to come myself, Nora.
And until lately could not have written
as / wished"
They are near the green gate now, where
q tai thin man is waiting. Nora drops
Jacks arm and the color in her cheeks
deepens. Il
''Mr. Scropel How you startled meP'
81 have returned" the poet says.
Nora confusedly performs the ceremony
of introduction. Then all three go into
the house, and Mr.. Scrope passes the even
ing in a detected attitude, his pale cheek
resting on his hand in manner meant to
suggest heartbreak-
The next morning Jack is smoking in .
quaint brown room at Tower Court,
bachelorlike den with one great window
looking out onto the woods, which Just
now are lovely with autumn foliage. He
is dreaming of Nora, as he has done for
many day, when a visitor in Tennyson-
ian cloak and hat and with waving faxen
locks is shown in.
''Oh, Mr.. Scrope. how are you?" says Sir
John, after a rather bewildered glance at
the aesthetic young man.
You are surprised to see me-" observes
the poet, whose face is paler than ever, his
lips looking like thin faint line.
"Well, little. Won't you sit down!
WnaG q jolly evening we nau!'
'Sir John, a most painful duty has
brought me here, and before l sit down |
must tell you what have to TELL" Mr.. |
Scrope says mysteriously.
DUTY first by all means. What is the |
natter"
II understand that you are engaged to
Miss Nora Prescotty"
THAT is So" admits Jack, looking more |
interested. What about it?"
Are you fully aware of her antece-
dentsY'
Jack lays down his cigar and looks
steadily at his visitor. His eyes sparkle |
and he frowns, but he says nothing, and .
the poet resumes:
do you know that her father was
charged with forgery, and though he was
acquitted on account of insufficient evil
dence most people believed him guilty?"
II know that he died protesting his in |
nocence," replies Jack, "and have always
given him the benefit of the doubt May .
ask how you became acquainted with that
wretched old story? Miss Prescott herself
has never heard of it, and, please Heaven,
never willV'
Il am only an obscure individual of
lowly birth and limited means" saws
L
When 1 obtained Mrs. Stamer's permission
TO seek her niece for my wife she, as in
duty bound, told me the story"
"Why do you think she would treat me
less honorably2 Why should she place
less confidence in me than you" Jack asks
coOlly and calmly.
Il could not believe" Scrope declares,
that a man of your wealth and position,
bearer Of an old name and the last Of an
old race, would choose for his wife one on
whom the slightest shadow Of disgrace
rested"
There is silence for a few moments,
during which the poet, with arms folded,
views his rival. who turns to him at last,
and without the slightest appearance Of
anger says:
Il have heard you; now hear me Eyou
speak of this to any living soul again
VIII make you wish you had been born
dumb. No one can breathe a word against
Nora, my beloved and honored wife that is
TO be, and that's all / care for; but | will
not have her panied and wounded and
grleved 10 CRAFTY your spite. You poor,
pltlIul creature, l have known about her
father since | was a boyl The door and
the window are both open. and you can
choose by which to 20 out"
The poet vRnishes and the season Of
mlstS and mellow fruitfulness sees Jacks
fidelity rewarded, and Nora entering on a
new and happy life with the best OF her
!overs.-Boston Herald. Il
BE Sure Your Chicken Is Dead.
Housekeepers - not always understand
that chicken, after the animal heat leaves
the body. is not fit for food in less than