The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-20

The November chill was in the air. A
cold rain was falling quietly, except
when irritated by restless wind which
listed to blow occasionally on Southwick
and anon at North End with perfect i'm
| partiality.
DR.. Van Duyn, wrapped in his heavy
mink coat as in midwinter. came hur-
riedly down his Office steps for ten
mile drive. A man of powerful ply
sique, sturdy health and corespondingly
sturdy spirits, he yet contemplated this
long wet journey with positive dread.
/ Life had become drear and uninterest-
| ing to this man-himself so gloriously,
| endowed with all that makes life in
! teresting to others. His ambition
seemed paraiyzed, hope benumbed. BE
! looked forward TO the future as some
thing perhaps endurable because per
| force inCurable.
AS he stood at his horses head on this
wet night drawing on his gloves John
Pidgin appeared suddenly around the
corner, driving IN haste. He crossed
over to the doctor.
Juicy evening. sir" said John, touch
ing his hat, and without another word
he laid a little white note into the doc
tors ungloved hand and was gone.
Van Duyn did not go into the
country that night. Twas only
a case of chronic rheumatism ag-
gravated by the weather. The wealth
er and the rheumatism would be better
tomorrow. He went back into the Office,
Katherine's little missive next his heart.
He lighted the room deliberately, re-
moved his heavy coat and sat down by
the fire.
''This Is al happy delusion," he said;
''let it last awhile" But after a little
he took out Kadherines note. Could it
be true, actually a word from her who
had been so long dead 10 him. He read
it at last:
DR. VAN DUN: Ibelieye am III. Z know an
very lonely and deso.ats- Is there no Tanacea for
such disOrdar, or IN ii peEh&ys fatal; VIII you
come 70 FeTEI0od kATHEzISE WEATHERLY.
Later, as he GANG IN out Of the black,
unfriendly night, out Of the chill and slset
into the glow and warmth and bright
ness Of the little library at Fernwood. he
seemed 70 leave behind him all the old
cherries life, With lis burden Of longing
and hope deferred Katherine IL her
soft gray gown, with a mass Of deep red
chrysantheInums in her belt, was more
beautiful than ever. As John Van Dzyn
hooked into that lovely face, 50 pure and
pale, there WIS an expression there that
be had never marked before. In the
droop Ct the eyei1s and the sweep Of the
lashes there was suggestion Of melsn-
choly which moved him deeply. Had be
been unkEs- had be added aught 20 her
burden cf hfe2 be uied TO review the
past yezE Had he been nnforgivIng
where he shCuh have BEEN friendly: al
most vindictfve al times when be should
always have trusted her? Occupied thus
IN retrospection and self accusation he
had no word 10 say. Long he stood gzZ-
ing into the OPEN FIRE, sesf rsproacbful 20
be sure. but, al. 50 happy and content 20
be with her again
"Ah." thought Katherine, why can
he not epeak to me, Why can he not
say something beyond a nere Good
evening" There Is tbe weather AZ least
L. he So sstran5ed tia: be cannot even
inquire fer my health, as any aoquAint-
ance would aor
Her pride rose within her. Why had
she sent for him? Why did he not Sse
The delicacy Of her position ard oozne to
her rescae by ysoCd oElook even Al az
ance II became extremely difcult. even
absurd. for kR to tel him that he had