The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-11
EL0ISE.
narfed coldlY.

Richard Holmes had walked rapidly I'D
the street to his boarding place with white
face, sternly set lips, his hands clasped
tightly behind him, and his whole frame
nuivering with wounded pride and keen
disappointment.
EIoise Ellison had turned her pretty face
homeyard with proud little toss, and a
look Of something like triumph in coquet-
fish dark eyes.
That she was aspoiled and Petted beauty
every one in the village knew; and that she
was as wiilful and capricious and exacting
us she was bright and pretty and bewitch-
ing every one knew as we'll. The only child
Of the wealthy mill owner, from her very
infancy INDUCED in her every wish and
fawned upon by admiring friends, it was
no wonder that she was, when she chose to
be, a most tyrannical specimen of young
womanhOOd.
She had chosen to be such the afternoon
she met Richard Holmes, herfather'S book
keeper, on the street, and allowed him to
turn and walk beside her. It was raining,
and she graciousIy closed her own elegant
little umbrella to share the larger one he
carried.
They had gone on together enjoying the
IdIAl- anu O41ttOl4i-5 kay S@J1oI
ing in their light way about this and that
happening in the social life Of the village.
Perhaps he had chosen an inauspiciOus
moment to declare his love and offer her
his hand, but, inauspiCious or not, he had
spoken and received his answer.
They had exchanged a few hot words
and then parted in a sudden frigidity which
seized them both She had added such
scorn and disdain TO her refusal that it
was more than he could bear in silence
She had even insinuGted to him Jhut it
was not herself he loved, but her fathers
wealth. She mad wounded him cruelty and
intentiOnaily, and he had left her suddenly
with a cold adieu.
Eloise raised her own umbrella with a
defiant little laugh, and a glance at the re
treating figure. and then turned homeward
cumming Il fragment of the latest opera.
Her fathers bookleeper! Presume to Of
fer her his hand! 1t was absurd!
Thus she communed with herself rs she
went up the street to her home. She tried
to be angry at the presumption of the man,
but in spite Of herself she could not. She
had always admired him-yes, in a way she
had quite Liked him. and it was pleasing to
her vanity to know he loved her-but mar
riaCe-that was another thing indeed, and
Mute out of the question!
For days and days it raiJIedl 1t grew
monotonOus and wearisOme.
Eloise, wandering aimleSsly about the
drawing room. looking over a book alb
Etractedly: striking few chords on the
piano; going from window to window to
look out at the falling rain and the dismal
landscape, was wretchediy lonesome and i'll
at ease.
Why did not some one come? Even Rich
nd Holmes would be 4 welcome caller, If
only to quarrel with him. He used to drop
In so often to play game Of chess or listen
10 her music. She wished she had not
treated him quite so badly the other day.
Why could she not have SAID, as other girls
would have said, chat she would be d sister
to him? 1t had never occurred to her to
say chat She wished she had keen less
unkind that day-wished that she had held
him off a little longer at least; it used to be
so pleasant to have him Gropin for an hour
or two.
The DAY was closing IN dark and stormy.
Eloise from tue window looked at the swol-
len river and the pools that stood here and
there on the lawn.
Suddenly she stood erect and looked
eagerly at a well known figure coming to-
Niifu Int uOISt. II " 49, mr. lleitN L1OlLIltS.
The girl stood watching his progress
eagerly, rs he picked his sray among the
pools Of water, her lips parted, her pretty
head thrown back, her DARK eyes glad and
bright.
i am glad he Is coming" she said, softly
TO herself, as she stood, surrounded by the
creamy draperies Of the window, waiting
Tor him.
She heard his firm step on the piazza
She heard him ring the 95ll, and then speak
a few norus TO the maid who opened the
door.
Suddenly 4 great roar filed all the air,
drowning the voices il the hall, drowning
the silvery chime of the little French clock,
drowning everything, swallowing up every
thing in its awful volume of sound. There
was q terror in it unlike the heaviest crash
Of thunder strange and terrible menace
in the sound, swelling and gathering and
growing louder every moment.
EIoise stood paralyzed with fear She
was poweVless To cry out, TO move herself;
she could only stand and listen to that
awful, all poryadiuS roar
She did not think what it might mean.
She had heard vague r0mors Of fears for
the great dam above, but had not needed
In a moment it was all over; the sound
had come upon her in all its awfulneSs.
She fell back overpowered with terror, and
became unconscious.
4 violent blow on her head reused her 10
herself She found herself floating on the
strong current. borne along at a sickeniDg
speed. upheld 10y the strength and fury of
the roaring waters.
Near her she saw the great elm tree that
had stood before the house ever since she
was qRild. 1t must have been a branch
of that which struck her and brought her
back TO life.
With great. dark eyes dilated with hor-
ror, and a face white and ghastly As the
faces Of the dead. the girl few along. She
had caught hold of the branches Of the
great tree, and was Clinging with grasp
hke.death itself. Life was Sweet-too sweet
To lose. In her first moment of conscious
ness she had thought of Richard Holmes.
Where could he be' Drowned? y. God
forhid-not drowned-the thought was
dreadful 10 her. In flash she was revealed
- herself. She loved hi1l-loved him with
Eer whole heart-had loved hin all the
tina without knowing it, What had he
come 10 the door for that night Ii seemed
ages ago TO her uow-to bring message II
Tyarning2 Her father-Tss he safe; Q
keaYen.. that spraIlinE darkness-thst