The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-12

themselves in the pleasant rarlor Dinner
was soon announced, and then Col. Fifer
met Mrs. Decker for the first time. She
proved to be a very agreeable woman, and
was not less anxious than her husband to
make their guest feel at home. It seemed
to the colonel that he had never met with
| family that interested him more. They
1 were so kind to each other, SO desirous to
please their guest, that be felt his heart
warm toward them as if they were old
/ friends After dinner they insisted that
he should take a ride with them. Mr..
| Decker attached his horse to two seated
| covered wagon, and the three members Of
the family and their guest started on q
/ ride that included a view of the most in
teresting portions of the city. When it
was time for Col Fifer to take the train,
| Mr.. Decker drove to the station, and the
colonel parted with the friendly family
with much regret, after having extended
] a hearty invitation to them to visit his
| home.
about year passed away, during which
| the colonel did not hear anything concern
| ing the family that had interested him SO
much, although pleasant recollections of
them often came to his mind One day he
picked up daily paper, and began to read
an account of cyclone that had done much
havoc in the west Much to his alarm he
noticed that the city where Mr.. Decker
lived had been partially destroyed by the
tornado and among the list of killed he
found the names of his friend and his ami
able wife The picture of the happy fami-
ly returned to him, and his soul was filed
with sadness. 1t seemed cruel and wrong
La -. -
people so worthy. He looked for the name
Of the daughter in the list of dead, but
could not find it. Probably she had es-
capped, and he Immediately formed gen.
erous resolution He packed his valise and
made a journey to the unfortunate city.
When he arrived he went Immediately to
the locality where his friends house had
stood
"a sad sight greeted his eyes. All Of the
houses in the vicinity had either been
blown down or had been partially torn to
pieces In place of pleasant homes were
heaps of unsightly ruins Mr.. Decker's
house had been laid fat, and he and his
wife, who were supposed to be in an upper
room at the time, had fallen into the cellar
and had been killed instantly. Their daugh-
ter was visiting a schoolmate in another
part Of the city, outside of the cyclones
track, and, frantic with apprehension, ran
home only to find her worst fears realized
The terrible shock overpowered her, and it
was at first feared that she would have
brain fever; but youth and a good consti-
tuition were in her favor, and at the time of
Col. Filters arrival she was considered to
be out Of danger. She had gone to live
with a married sister Of her mother until
she could find something to do for hveli-
hood. 1t was necessary that she should
support herself, for her fathers store had
been destroyed by the cyclone as well as
the house; she would inherit only little
property, and her relatives in the city were
in moderate circumstances.
"All of the foregoing facts were learned
W Col Fifer as he talked with citizens Of
the place. and served to strengthen his res
olution to carry out the plan that he had
formed. He sought out the girl She re-
membered his visit well, and was very glad
TO see him. She told him that her parents
had often spoken of the great pleasure
that his visit had afforded them, and had
hoped that they should see him some time
again. Overcome by recollections of the
happy days that she had spent with her be-
loved parents, and by the consciousness of
her own loneliness, the beautiful and ami
al irl burst into tears. Col. Fifer hast
enel 10 comfort her, and then unfolded his
plan for her welfare. He told her that he
had no family, that he was rich, and that
he wished to adopt her as his daughter and
heir. She listened, astonished, and at first
refused, saying that she could not take
so great favor. But he persisted,
told her that he was glad to return the
kindness that had been shown him by her
parents and that, now that he was alone
in the world, he greatly desired to adopt |
one that could be as "a daughter to him. ]
He argued so well that she finally consent !
ed to do as he wished. She soon had good |
reasons for being glGd that she had given |
her consent, for a kinder man than Col. |
Eifer is does not exist. He Immediately |
placed her in one of the best boarding |
schools in the country, being resolved that |
she should have the finest education obtain
able, and he frequently visited the school |
and manifested the greatest interest in her |
progress. Miss Decker was as bright intel
lectually as she was amiable in disposition,
and made excellent use of her opportuni-
ties.
And now comes the conclusion Of my /
story, that part which to me is the most
of all. AID part which am
certain will surprise you. Not long ago a
young man, in whose welfare am greatly |
Interested, and in whose abilities / take
much pride, became acquainted with the
charming Miss Decker, and, as was ex-
tremely excusable, and even commendable,
all things being considered, fell desperate
ly in love with her. He proposed, and to
bis vast astonishment he was accepted, for
be was a very modest young man. Col
Eifer inquired as to the character and abil-
Ity OF the young man, and was so well
satisfied that he readily gave his consent
to the marriage, first STIMULATING that the
young couple should make his house their
some, and cheer him and take care Of him
during his declining years When he is
gone they will inherit his property, amount
ng to q million or more dollars Next fall
The wedding will occur; and now who do
you suppose the bridegroom is? He is my
SON."
The gallant captain sat down amid the
hearty applause of his comrades, and they
Ill declared that it was the best campfire
story they had heard for long tine.-J.
A. Bolles in Boston Budget.
The Name Against Him.