The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-15

tickets ana art jackets, ana tnere was nC
moment of my day for which he haC
not some plan. Then Harry Blake owned
big store, and so on, and so on. Nj
head kept buzzing all the time.
Bright saw the most of me. He had {
breezy way of monopolizing one, and be
side he was just starting on a bushes,
trip to California. The last Friday of my
stay he went away. He shook hands
kissed my cheek, airily reminded me thai
was his best girl forever, and that
might use his carriage as often as ]
wished.
Sunday Ernest called. brushed down
to the parlor complaining that thought
myself forgotten.
mo, couldn't forget you, even a
minute" Ernest said somberIy. A queer
little chill went down my back, but
dismissed it. 81 thought" he went on,
harshly, "you would be in mourning for
Bright"
'He is not dead, returned, stupidity,
"Iwin see him again"
81 suppose SO, Ernest answered, and
fell into heavy silence, which he pres
entity broke by flow of light talk, quite
unlike his usual way. l complained of
it, and since he did not mend, cried:
IF you can't talk like yourself, you
shan't talk at ALL" and forthwith be-
gan playing jigs and breakdowns on the
piano, till he stopped his walk up and
down, saying hoarsely:
''For heavens sake, DON'T"
aren't you rather imperative and
emphatic2" questioned I.
He seemed sorry and asked meekly:
"When do you go:'
''When you ike-this minute, for in
stance"
He seemed hurt and explained gravely
that he meant to ask when did leave
the city.
Tomorrow morning, 9 o'clock, J." an
swered.
He resumed his walk. I moved rest
lessly and sighed heavily, and made my
discomfort as o5tentatious as possible,
till he said: Il know, Katie, but l have
so much TO tell you and the time is short.
am afraid to say it at all, but cannot
You're going! 1t tears my heart out and
can think only of the pain"
l got a dreadfully solemn feeling.
From some inspiration right from my
heart | walked oyer to him, and laying
my hand as near his shoulder as I could
reach, / said, in a very gentle voice for
me: please, dear Ernest, we have
known each other ull our hves-ever
since 1 was little girl have been fond
of YOU, and we shall be sorry to say
good by, but it will not tear my heart
out, nor yours either" He moved as if
to speak, but l hurried on: "You must
not think me changed because for few
years you have not seen me. You and
are friends, just as we were at school.
We can never be any more or any less,
1t is a lovely thing to be friends so, and
1t would be cruel if 1 should or you
should do anything to spoil or change it,
would it not, Ernest? No, don't an
swer. No one should think twice of me,
Ernest. I am Just as [ used to be-self-
ish and thoughtless and frivolous. [
haven't bit of heart, dear Ernest-in-
deed l haven't, except SO much as can
ache with regret if any one for whom
care comes to pain through me. Please
understand, Ernest, and don't let's talk
of this any mOre-please, please, for my
sa1er'
had been hurried on by some fright
ened impulse. 1t seemed to me that it
would be the saddest thing in the world
If Ernest should change. The tears were
in my eyes at the thought. His face
softened and cleaned as if from all in
ward light. He clasped his hands over
mine that was pushed against him, and,
bending, kissed my fingers. Then he
81 know, Katie, you are warning me.
Out of your gentle heart you are trying
TO save me the pain of the mistake
which, for all that, L must make. 1t is
too late, and Unjust go through with it,
mistake or not. Do you think l could
see you as have and my heart not grow
about you dill only you are there, and
viii you tell me there is.no hope for me?
am a big fellow, and l don't know
much about how one should ask such
things, but it is humble enough. is it not,
it put my knee to the ground-so-and
lifting my arms only TO touch your
hands, tell you that l love you'll love
you-I love you"
He turned his face with sort of sob
against my dress. l slid. limp, misera-
bic wreck, into the chair behind me, and
began stupidity rubbing his head, while 1
said, more or less, that l was so sorry,
that for TIE world / would not give him
pain, but that I knew l should be a
wicked girl if did not honestly tell him
the truth. He stood unsteadily asking:
And that Isl"
''Fhat L do not love you the least in the
world more than l always have" made
answer, crying softly; ''that-oh forgive
me, Ernest know never shall feel for
you as some day l expect TO feel for the
man shall marry"
He took me close in his arms. kissing
my forehead and cheek and eyelids. His
lips were cold. Then he put me from
him, saying vaguely. Good by!"
No, no, Ernest, l cried: You must
not go that way. You must care for me
Us you always have-as l care for you,
and always viii. Our dear friendship
must not be broken up. cannot spare
it: l will not. You viii forget that you
ever felt like thisl'
DO you think so?" he asked-and his
eyes had such look of somber pain in
them that felt as if l were numbering
linn. All l could do was to turn angry.
Have l no rights l cried; chow can