The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-15
instance. He was funny enough to tell

took to staring at me fxedly. Then he
began doing things for me-rusbed for
my mail, fought for my bag, huttoned nv
overshoes, took me to the theatre and
back till protested thatI did not want
to bother him. He-beganto cry-he was
very young-and said nothing done for
me was Another. thought him home
sick, and-I patted his shoulder and said
it would be all right. Then and there he
grabbed my hand, shouting, oh! would
it? 'Ohl would wiSst?' said I. At that
he talked hundred words minute. Ny
hair stood straight-no one had ever been
in love with me before, and l thought ii
awful. l tried to talk as fast as he-l
kept saying that. desr'ne; didn't1ove,
and couldn't, and never would. and that
he must get of the flcer. Then he got
up, slapped his hat on the back of his
head, and started for the door, saying he
would drown himself. l chung to his
coat tails, weeping and saying, No, no.
When he broke away Isflew to Mrs. Bar
ker, our old lady. She laughed till she
cried. l thought her unfeeling. Sure
enough, however, Bonnie turned up safe
at supper. He told me in an awful whis-
per, while l was eating my cakes, that
he could not find the river"
Mr.. Ned laughed so that l went on:
81 had an awful time with him. He
wasn't naturally truthful and honest,
and since ne was ready to die for me
if he could find the river-I felt ought
to reform him. exerted all my influ-
ence, and went through a great deal.
He used to-sit glaring at metill my blood
ran backwards. He let his hair grow
long, that he might pull it in his eyes
and hook worse"
did he reform?" asked Ned, cyni-
cally.
Not much" 1 confessed; "but he
tried. When Icaught him IN stories he
would threaten to cut his throat Nat
urally it kept me nervous. Besides,
was always afraid we would get into a
town with a river He left the COM
pany before the season closed. He went
down on his knees and called me his
good angel, adding that he was going to
be an honorable man, and that the day
would comeswhen, with a spotless career
to point to, he would return and claim
me for his bride. | explained that l
wouldn't have it, bat at the last moment
he waved lock of my hair out of the
car window, and said, The day will
come Won't it be awful if it ever
does?"
Didn't you encourage him. Katie?7
asked Mr.. Ned, in his usual mentor
fashion.
what for?" I inquired; "was it any
fun for me? l tried to be'kind to him,
and pull him through. For myself it
only kept me in state of jumpitiveness
and scare"
We were at the hotel After waiting
at the ladies entrance for the sleepy
porter to unlock the door, gave up and
went with Mr. Ned through the Office,
to be stared at, OF course, like a wild
animal"
Good night" said Mr. Ned at my
door; Ego in and eat your cheese and
he made a grinace and went up the hall
to his room.
closed the door after me and looked
at my place. 1t was not cheerful. Square,
low-ceiled room, worn carpet, oilcloth in
front of the bed and bare boards under,
and one piece of furniture to do duty as
bureau and washstand, yellow shades,
one hanging Imply, half torn from the
rod, and toe other twisted,aud stuffed in
above the lower sash, a long legged bed
topped with so thin layer of mattress
that felt l was going to sleep on a cold
wafIae, one gas getaway in corner and
high, the fame shooting up a long blue
finger and whissiiHg dismaIly. On a
small uncertain table some odd ends of
bread and BITS of scaly cheese and n
glass of pale milk. l hanged my Tam
o'Shanter to the floor, and said aloud,
with gusty sign, Jolly fun being a
promising young actress, isn't it,
A thump at the door behind me nearly
fractured my shoulder. Touchy was
there. He beamed upon me genially
and said; Supper in Neds room. You
may come if you viii toast the bread"
"Oh! Touchy, may T. cried.
Don't gush - come along" said
Touchy.
l whimpered that if he knew how
lonely l was he world not, call it gush,
and linking my arm in his we cantered
down the hallway to the end room.
Touchy kicked against the door and in
we fell.
The room was thick with smoke, but
it looked beautifully cheerful. a bright,
open fire burned at one end, a table stood
in the center. chairs were crowded about
in sociabie fashion, the bed was strewn
with knives, forks, brown paper and
crackers.
How lovely" said L
Mr.. Ned. ina smoking jacket, stood
fusSing over an alcohol lamp. Harry
Diggers, our stage manager, a stumpy
little man with CHEEKY blue eyes and a
dry manner, was unwinding packages
and spreading string and paper about.
Both nodded as We came ia, and Harry
passed me slice of cheese.
sit down, Miss Katie, and cut that
NJ. Remember we want TO hear very
little Of you tai after the cooking. Eh,
Touchy?"
And very little then" Touchy added,
rubbing nay bang in nv eyes.
Il thought / WIS 20 toast bread, /
protested, weak nlindediy taking the
,heese.
Don't findfaaIt, 4" said Touchy; "can't
ToG see Diggers Is bunting everywhere
or the loaf. Right IL the wash bowl,
ia man. he went or to Disgers.
Wet" shouted Mr. Ned
Don't do that" Diggers objected,
starting violently: Fl wouldn't put leaf