The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-11
CAUGHT.

head, idly watching his companion.
mot bit Of it" responded that gentle
man promptly. He was busy unpacking th,
contents OF a huge valise, and, as he spoke
tossed into the cir roll Of cuffs and collars
that scattered over the floor Ike so many
huge snowflakes. Il tell you it's ali right
shall be back long before dinner and explain
things to tho cid lady. All you've got to dc
TIL then is to stay just where you are.
'But, hang it! I've never seen your aunt
'Wh hat of thatl You're going to be intro
duced, aren't You, as soon as she gets homei
It's all right. She'll be pleased enough
well shouldn't be, responded 1Ir. Eli:
cardidiy. Fancy being swooped down upon
unexpectedly by two fellows, one Of whom
she hes ncyer even heard of She'll get into q
fearful rage; you see if she doesn't"
The valise was empty. Herbert Rigby
flung it into a corner and surveyed the scene
with twinkle in his bright blue eyes. He
was a good looking young fellow OF two and
| twenty, il the senior class at Harvard. Els
parents were in Europe, and the only aces
! sible relative he had was this aunt VINO lived
| in a great old fashioned mansion on Beacon
| hill childless widow for many years, she
| had ali the prim set ways Of an old maid, and
| to lively college boy the stiffness aud still
! ness of her house were SO depressing that he
went there very seldom.
/ Tho aunt felt hurt. 81 want you to feel
that this is home she wrote in u0wonted
warmth and cordiaIty. "Cou1o when you
like, stay as long as you like, do what you
like when you are here Tho latch string is
always out, and 1 wish you would take me at
my word"
So he had, and now that he had not only
como himself, but brought that high spirited
youth, Tom ELS, along with him to stop
over Sunday, he was surprised at his own
temerity and more dubious as to their recep-
ton than he would own.
mot at 'Ome, sin" said Jarvis, the funereal
butler. when the two young men arrived
with two portrnanteaus in a cab. He was far
too well trained to show the establishment he
felt at the unexpected visitors.
1--WE are going tostay till Monday, Jarvis, :"
Herbert explained with dignity. Il suppose
we can have the room On the floor over my
aunt's VIII you speak to one of the maids,
please, and let me know as soon as the car
riage retCrnsp
They waited few moments in the hand
some, cherries drawing room. Then maid
appeared to say that the room was ready.
To Herbarts surprise, they followed her up
two flights of stairs and by the apartment of
which he had spoken to another as large, but
not as sunny and pleasant, at the rear of the
house.
Il hope you'll find everything comfortable,
sir" said pretty Mary, throwing the door
open. = fire burned in the CRATE and gave
coy air to the scene. eff there's anything
wanted you'll ring, please, sir. I'm sorry
about the other room, sir, but Miss Willard
has that now" and she had vanished from
their gaze before Herbert had time to put his
wonder into words and say:
"Wel, now, who under the canopy is Miss
Wlard!"
Ping and ask, >" suggested Tom.
80, pshaw! can wait and find out Prob
ably some old trump staying with my aunt.
This isn't half bad, after all; hey, Tome"
And it was about an hour afterward that
the conversation above recorded took place.
Poor Herbert had discovered that he had left
his white neckties out IN Cambridge, and
Mrs. Ashurst was such stickler for etiquette
that to have dined without one would have
forfeited her esteem, and even tolerance, fer
ever. There was nothing to do but tear
madly across the Common to buy new ones
The unPacking finished he babe his friend
a hasty farewell, and set out Tom, left to
the devices and desires of his own heart,
dozed for while on the sofa, woke suddenly,
Jumped up, and, wandering restlessly ebout
from window TO window, regarded the pros
pect until he had become perfectly familiar
with the backs of the houses on Pinckney
street, Of which the view principally con-
sisted
He looked at his watch. Only ) o'clocki
It was already growing dark, for the winter
afternoons were at their shortest, and light
ing the lamp, with sigh at the hours that
must elaps, before dinner at S, he began 20
search for & book to while away the time.
a Bible, prayer book and Thomas
Kempis' on the table; How to Crochet"
and The Young Housokeeper's Friend'' ON
the chiG 9nor; Iluripides and Greek lexicon
among Herbert's boots in chair. That was
the extent of the literature the room at
forded.
why, saw library on the floor below
as we came up thought Mr.. Ellis to himself,
brilliantly Whats to hinder my slipping
down 10 get a bookl The aunts out, and
none of the servants will be round those re-
gions. NUNS the world"
There was something about the idea Of this
stolen expedition wonderfully taking to a
youth CT adventurous tastes, and his spirits
rose al once. Cautiously putting his head
out Of the door, he saw no sign Of life, heard
no sound, but from far below ttIIse came Just
the faintest suspicion of a suggestion that a
well cooked dinner was il progress. The
halls were very dinlly lighted. and Tom,
Issuing forth in the excitement Of the mo
ment, quite forgot what a ridiculous figure
he was IN HerOerC'5 bath wrap of gray flannel,
which tr2ilal after bjll on the foor.
The library was uRoccu2icd. OF course. 4
lamp burning family enabled him To see the
titles Of the many books that filed the
shelves, and, selecting one of COopsrs novels
and Daniel Dsronla" he started back, well
pleased with the success Of bis quest. But
hardly had he crossed the threshold when he
fairly jumped with surprise. At the oppo-
site end Of the long, narrow corridor there
appeared the appsrition of beautiful young
girl-tall, slight, very blonde, dressed in
white gown. One hand was pressed % her
side, as if in fright. and the other WAS upon
the handle Of the door.
The gray flannel bath wrap burst upon
Toms recollection With hide0us disJinctDeSz
Eis one thought was to escape. But 10 get
up stairs again was cut OF the question, for
10 was close beside the charming vision
a door half way down the corridor caught
his eve. closet probably; and without a
1ng,e moments HESITATION crushed for the
that 1t promised.
Shrek after shrek rent the air. and as he
gained his refuge ne heard a swift rush OF
'kirts coming toward him. while IN a second
he key turned sharply in the lock. and poor
Thomas, in 4 cold PRECIPITATION, realized the I
horrible truth tAat Re was a prisoner II \
strange hOuSe, ana IN bath wrap
l. =