The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-26
V-oNEPURPosE AND TWO ENDS
By ALAN DALE Illustrated by WAL
TER q. M'D0UGALL.
Copyright. An rights reserved

Copyright An rights reserved1
Lena Hartman, the bankers daughter
was one Of those matter of fact maidens
who seem to have been created as use
full foil to the sentimental guskfulness
of the romantic damsel.
Miss Hartman was more than deli
cately plump. Her appearance suggest
ed an intense regard for meals. Like
the German fraulein, who is not at all
disinclined to talk love over a steaming
dish of Frankfurter sausages, supple
mented by sauerkraut, Miss Hartman
was eminently healthy.
As for her amiability, it was simply
without limit. Miss Hartman was i'm
pervious to the petty worries Of life.
One of her friends always declared that
nothing less than an earthquake would
ever cause her the least agitation.
Henry Henshall called upon this portly
maiden in due time, and her appearance
filled him with a vague alright.
His artistic instincts told him at once
that he need never expect from her either
sympathy or even interest in his plans
and his aspirations.
But his promise to his father welt in
his mind sacredly intact. He wonld be a
martyr and he must feel some consolation
in that Most men do.
1t is well to reflect that one is a martyr,
even though too late to be included in
Fox's book.
The face of his unknown ideal blotted
from his mind the large, immobile feat
ures Of Miss Hartman the instant he left
her, and he felt that as reward for his
sacrihce he could at least indulge in the
luxury of thinking of this strangely met,
strangely lost woman.
Lena Hartman was motherless, and had
recently engaged as companion a woman
whom Henshal regarded with underlined
mistrust. She was light haired, blue
eyed woman, who years ago must have
been extremely handsome, but her feat
ures were now lvid with care. Her
movements were furtive and catlike, and
she seemed to regard the life she was
living as unreal.
what induced you TO engage her,
Lena?' asked Henshau one day, with the
privilege of a newly made fiancee. He
mad glided into this position in such an
unutterably commonplace manner that
the chains so easily forged were hardly
CALLING.
Because she interests me-" declared
Miss Hartman. Il feel that she has
history. You always tell me, Harry,
that am the most unromantic being on
earth. know it. / can, however, APP
preciate romance in others, though am
aware that you think even that impossi-
BILE"
Mr. HenshaT sighed. He wondered
stupidity if Lena would feel interested in
his own brief, pointless romance.
He dimly saw the jealous demon rap
ping for admittance at the smooth doors
of Miss Hartman's placiditv. He saw
the bafled retreat of this demon. He
declined to admit even the possibility of
Miss Hartmsn's jealousy.
His acquaintance with women was
very slight. He imagined that the pas
siOnless affection evinced for him by his
promised wife was one of those airy
trifies, the presence or absence of which
was but of slight significance to the wei
fare of the woman.
One morning Mr.. Henshall called at
Mr. Hartman's house, more with the OBJ
ject of reporting for duty, as he styled
it in mental irony, than with any well
defined OBJECT in view.
NJ cd NJ, MANA H.
was informed Mrs. Smith, the chaperon,
was at present the only member of the
family now at home. She was in the
drawxA room, ventured the domestic,
dlscrC"Iy.
Eenshan never knew sfterward what
it was that prompted him TO enter in
stead of leaving the conventional card
TO indicate his unsatisied visit.
He told the servant he would stay for
a time and wait the arrival of the father
and daughter. Then leaving his hat and
cane in the hall he walked 10 the door
of the drawing room, and with a slight.
premonitory knock entered.
The room was unlighted save by
full, red shaded lamp that cast 4 pink
effulgence on objects in its immediate |
The young man saw seated on q low /
chair close to the lamp the apathetic |
form of Mrs. Smith. the chaperon. She |
had not heard his knock and remained |
seated, her hands folded hstlessly in |
front of her, her head bent slightly for /
ward, until the sound of his light foot |
fall reached her ear. Then with a start |
she rose and placed her hand upon the |
region of her heart.
You alarmed me, Mr.. Henshall, she
declared, with sn attempt at smile
that was a signal failure. Il did not
expect anybody, because Mr.. Hartman
and Lena have gone out. Let me see"
hesitatingly. Il think they went to a
reception at Mrs. Van Auken's house on
the avenue. Dd-you-wish"-
Nothing, interrupted the young man
with resssuring smile. Il Thought
would come IN for few minutes and
rest myself"
The absence OF Miss Hartman was bv
no means reSrettabie. in fact Mr.. Hen.
shall felt distinct relief at the respite
from bald platitules that her visit Oh
the avenue afforded him.
He looked at Mrs. Smiths face. Sh.
had evidently been weeping. He had
Undoubtedly interrupted painful medi-
,ation.
Well. he reflected, she ought to thank