The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-19

| WY ~ GALLUP 10 AtipC0-
"Of course 1 shall not, and of course she
will detest me-" answered. But intro
duce me-"
He did three days afterward and fell in
love at first sight
Agnes was the loveliest creature ever
saw. / think so still, and my father was
as pleased as man could be to hear me
! say so.
Ny father was an amiable as we'll as a
sensible man, an& we all adored him.
Van G., on the contrary, was per-
feet demon in temper, though a very brill
liant man in his own line, the money mag
| ing one.
His children trembled when they heard
him coming; folk said that he had killed
his wife with unkindness, and every one
in his employ hated him.
But Agnes smiled and spoke like an
angel She seemed to have the disposition
of one, and being golden haired girl who
dressed in white whenever it was admissi-
bic, her whole appearance carried out the
| idea
As for me, have photograph taken at
that date, which represents a very good
looking young man. had perfect health,
| good spirits. nothing to worry about and a
| fortune ready made for me. was a gen.
eral favOrite in society, and felt, when I
| thought the matter over, that was not an
Objectionable parti. Shortly proposed to
| Agnes and she replied: ASK papa"
l asked him; be accepted me.
''In fact" he said, grasping me by the
| hand, Il am delighted to think of you as a
| future son-in-law. I've always dreaded nv
| girls throwing herself away on some no.
| body of a drummer or something. Now
| you are your fathers son, of course. and
all that, you know, and the sooner it comes
off the better"
had expected to be~ell received, but it
was delightful all the same. The wedding
day was set, everybody on both sides was
delighted, and 1 the happiest fellow in the
world. My betrothed, it is true, was very
coy, and would scarcely permit kiss;
still, when she was my wife l felt that
should be all the happier
l cannot tell you how fond was of her
or how proud was of her. thought my
self the happiest creature alive that even
ing aswe turned into the paths of the park
and took our way to the ramble. Then, as
today, it was patronized by lovers of the
humber classes, but Agnes was very fond
of walking there. Indeed it was she who
had proposed going there that evening.
remember just where we sat down on one
of the benches near the lake. A little way
from us sat another couple who were affec-
tionate enough to excite my envy, though
the girl wore long shapeless linen ulster
and hat with blue veil tied about it.
There was no one else in sight, and the
moonlight was so bright that we could see
a long distance.
A certain chill had come into the air.
which had driven most of the happy couples
home, and had asked Agnes if it was un-
pleasant, and she had replied that it was
delicious, and / was not yet old enough to
feel anxious about the changes of the
weather. Usually we went home earlier,
but it was so delightful to me to sit there
alone with her that l was careful to make
no remark about the time Suddenly Ag-
mes said to me:
Arthur, l suppose You will think me
very silly, but can't help fancying that
some one is hiding beyond that large oak
tree yonder. / feel nervous about it. Every
now and then face peeps from behind the
bushes
"a facet" said 1.
Eyes" said she, clinging to my arm;
"and it frightens me"
"There is no one there" said l. at is
all imagination"
II can't help feeling as if it was some
one who interGed us HARM" Agnes said
TREMENDOUSLY
Il see what you mean," said l. at is
bunch Of yellow leaves on bush beyond
the oak, which the wind now and then
blows into sight"
ba r,o,-a n c,,r;o,,s I;ttla
'You may be right" Agnes said. "It is,
perhaps, all my own nervousness, but there
it is again. A mans head, am sure"
"Oh, III convince you that it is not"
said. ''I'll pick the bunch of leaves"
do" pleaded Agnes. II shall have no
peace until see them"
Come" said, offering her my arm.
ooh, no, Arthur" she answered, 'rlet
me stay here. l would no more dare to
walk up to that oak tree than to face a
loaded cannon"
This was so unlike her that 1 felt sur
prised but of course her word was law to
me. kissed her hand and hurried away
toward the old oak. The presence of the
man and woman on the next seat was
protection enough for the very few min
utes necessary for my task, and as l went
l took my knife from my pocket.
At the oak turned my head and waved
my hand, and then went on toward the
bush. At this moment l lost sight Of Ag-
pes. stood with my back toward the
bench for a time, SUFFICIENT to cut away
bunch of the yellow leaves, and to close my
knife and put it in my pocket.
The bench on which Agnes had been
seated was not fully in sight until had
passed the old oak then l saw it plainly.
The moon had just risen A flood Of sill
yer light swept across the spot. The bench
was empty
Ny first idea was that Agnes had hidden
herself behind some bushes, but when
looked about me and still saw NJ sign of
her fancied that she intended a PRACTICAL
joke, and seated myself on the bench.
"Ahr' cried, ''that was your plan, was
it' I know exactly where YOU are. Come
mere and see the mans head"
There was no answer. / began to search
about, first playfully and then anxiously.
1t was not long before the matter ceased
to be Joke The loving couple were still
seated on the neighboring bench absorbed
in each other
Il beg pardon, sir" said, addressing
the man. THE young lady who was with
me-have you seen herr LETT her alone
for a moment while l examined something
that alarmed her, and find her gone"
NO one has passed Us here" said the
young man rising. Jane, did you notice
any one'"
The girl in the ulster and blue veil shook
her head.
NO" said the young man; permit me
TO help you look for the lady"
We searched the spot anxiously for half