The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-01

the yard, under the leadess China trees,
and an impulse fer which he did not seeI
80 account urged him to follow. Where
fore should he, because of war that was
over, be forever an alien? She had sent
him the invitation to dinner; rather would
he have tasted; but because she had
asked it he did violence to his feelings
1t was too much to expect him to do VIC
lence to his feelings a second time in Ode
day, and he followed her. With swift
strides he overlook her just as she reached
the gate that led into the lane.
'EAllow me-" he said, as ne stepped
forward to open it.
She turned and looked at him: a sud
den blush swept over his face as she
thanked him.
"May I go with your he asked, bold
~. 'It is too late for you to be out
alone" he urged, seeing her hesitate;
sit is growing dark, and"-
81 am rot afraid" she said. 'I am
going no farther than Daddy Gilbert
old cabin. Itis not place that can in
terest you
But 1 may go with your" he reiter-
ated.
Winifred smiled, and they walked on
in silence. He had never yet been able
to conquer the constraint that oppressed
him in her presence, and she had never
learned the art Of making talk" She
did not speak until they reached the
fence inclosing old Gilbert's deserted
dwelling.
This is the place." she said, and
pushed open the sagging gate before the
captain could offer to assist her. ''You
viii never see all that [ see in this Door
spot" she added; but she held the gate
open, and the captain smiled and stepped
inside.
A dense thicket Of plum bushes had
grown up at the back Of the house, and
| the dry stalks of the self sown Palma
| Christi bean occupied all the little space
| in front; the path to the broken door
! stepwas overgrown with rank knot grass
that had lost its greenness, and all about
the half fallen and abandoned little
dwelling there brooded a melancholy
calm, intensified by the fast gathering
shadows.
'"The negroes say this place is haunt
ed, )" Missy said, ''but I am the only ghost
that fits this way. like to come here
when l am sad"
And are you sad now?" John Fletcher
asked, impulsively, with deeper sympa-
thy than he dared to show.
a moments pause followed; then
Missy said, in light tone, as if she
would dismiss the subject:
''There is no reason why 1 should be
very gay-just now"
Her brave endurance, her proud re-
serve, touched John Fletcher more deeply
than any complaining. An infinite ten
dernesS took possession of him, as he
contemplated this chiId-he was more
than ten years her senior-so ethereal, so
young to be thus overshadowed by sor-
row and infirmity.
Just now?" he repeated, with pas
sionate wish to comfort her. 'But this
will not Last You are so young; life is
only beginning. There is happiness in
store for you; I am sure Of it,
Even while he spoke he perceived,
with thrill of glad wonder, that Wini-
fred made a slight involuntary move
ment, as if she would draw nearer to
hmm, and on the instant he was by her
side.
But she had not heard word he said.
She was gazing intently into the depths
of the plum thicSet, with painting breath
and quick beating heart. what is
that? she gasped, in a terrified whisper,
and clutched the captains arm.
''Do not be frightened" he said, as he
laid his hand on hers, which was cold
and trembling. There is nothing here
to harm YOU
''There! Do you not see?' she whis-
pered fearfully, ''or am 1 going mad?"
And with a stifed scream Winifred
Thorne hid her eyes against the Yankee |
captains arm.
at is only an old negro, he answered, |
as what had seemed a shadow emerged /.
from the thicket and assumed definite
form.
AN old negro" Missy repeated, and /
shivered from head to foot. Are there,
indeed, such things as gho8ts?" But sha /
did not look up until she heard the old, /
familiar greeting:
"Why, Missy! Missy! huh you do?'
The voice, the words, electrified her. |
She abandoned fear; she sprang forward; !
she seemed to fly to meet the apparition
coming along the grass grown path, and,
stretching out her hands, she clasped !
them over old Gilbert TOT! hardened fin
gers, while her crutch fell forgotten on
the ground.
cat last! Oh, at Last" Her voice
rang out upon the twilight stiffness, full
of an infinite pathos of thanksgiving.
Somehow, John Fletcher was not az
pleased as he should have been; he felt
himself deserted. He picked up the
crutch and stood irresolute, 10th 10 leave,
vet uncertain whether it became him to
stay.
''Tubbe sho!" old Gilbert responded,
with chuckle OF supreme satisfaction.
Hits me! En- you is dat growed, Missy,
en- prutty ez pinki Lawd love de chiler'
'Brer Nicholas Where is BreT Mich
olas?"
Missy. amt Navse Nicholas here at
homer asked old Gilbert, anuousiy.
no" cried Missy, sharply. ''Oh, why
do you ask thatg
F'Den, Messy, chile, I dunno whey is
Mawse Nicholas" said the old man, slow
y and soTrowfully.
Aissy's head dropped: her slight form
swayed like reed. Capt. Fletcher
,praHg forward and saved her from fall
ing.
WHY lowed Won WIZ rnaJzstslr-.'