The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-27
A HANDSOME BLONDE.


red cheeks. Her raven locks fell in
pretty clusters over her noble forehead.
and were gathered into a massive coil,
artistically braided, in her neck. Her
deep, glorious eyes We're Respondent
with q warm light, and had in their half
shy expression a charm which fascinated
for veal or woe. She WAS endeayoring
to enjoy her dinner. but was nervous
and restless.
He was blonde, with a quantity OF
mustache and whiskers close cut. He
sat at a table opposite the charming
brunette, and. do what he might, he
could not avoid gazing at her. Every
two minutes their eyes met. at which
she regularly biushed. fidgeted and
frowned. and he inwardly blessed the
good fortune which had placed HIM OPP
posite such revelation of loneliness.
They were. ere loLg, introduced. but
their acquafntance seemed not 10 pros
per. One thing and another occurred to
separate them. She had other friends
and needed him not; he was busy and
cared not for her.
Gossips will circulate in boarding
house-mvsteriously. to be sure. but still
it goes And one day while she was in
her little room-his room was ar the OPP
posite end of the ball-she overheard
two of the servants discussing certain
photographs. She learned they were In
his roo.I, She also learned that they
were photographs of ladies.
Can he have another girl:' she asked
herself, and then quickly answered it:
''Of course he has. But perhaps he is
engaged, Think of i'll Is such thing
possiblef'
And, fully impressed with the horror
of the thought, she flung her door open,
There was no one in the hall; the door
of his room was open, for it was the day
after Christmas and he was out of town
gone to see that other, perhaps. Her
mother was out-no chance for detection
from that quarter. She remembered
that the occupants of the other room
were also away for Christmas-no one TO
discover her there. Surely the coast
was clear.
Yes, she saw it, and with rapid step
walked boldly into his room. All. how
she flushed at her own pretty face in the
mirror-a dainty, hand painted thing
doubtless the gift of that other But
what other? She looked around and
saw, not one feminine face, az she ex-
pected, but many. But there was one
which seemed to have the most promi-
hence This stood on the bureau, and
she bent over TO examine IL closely.
The upper drawer of the bureau was
open a little way--all else was in good
order She had been studying the photo
graph, perhaps a minute, rapidly and
critically, when she was Mortified by
bearing the front door in the hall below
open and shut heavily and rapid step
come hurrying up the stairs.
She turned pale with fright, for she
recognized his quick step, and never had
It seemed so dangerously quick-neyer
had she experienced such a sensation OF
perfect dismay. Not pausing longer she
turned abruptly to hazard a run into her
own room, for he had climbed but one
flight of stairs-there was yet time.
At her bosom she wore dainty glove
buttoner of oxidized silver--a pretty
thing, the gift of dear friend. 1t had
become dislodged from its resting place
as she sat reading in her own room, and
when the thought Of those photographs
came TO her she rose so suddenly that
she still further looseued il. While bend
ing over his picture on the bureau it
hung by just the slightest thread. and.
when she turned quickly TO fly, 1t fell
into the partly open drawer. She heard
the noise as it fell, but could not pause
TO find 1t at so critical a moment.
When she entered the roon-his room
she easily lodged around chair
which was placed little awkwardly in
the center of the room, but in her eager
ness to escape she thought not OF that
obstruction, but rushed into it. over
turned the chair, which fell with
crash. and, humbled most piteouSly, chs
sprawled full length upon the floor,
dozen hairpins flying in al directions
Alas! for her lordly dignity.
Just AT this juncture he, little wear
led with the climb, reached the upper
hall aud swiftly approached his roorn.
1t would be utterly false 70 say that he
was not surprised. II would Dc equally
false 70 say thai be was literally thun-
derstruck.
He paused abruptly upon the thres-
hold as If speIIboa1d. His vaiiss and
umbrella fell to the floor. and be svayed
back and forth until he was forced 20
grasp the casing Of the doorway lest ne,
TOO, nigh. fall.
This weakness Of course lasted bot
moment, and as re realized the situation.
az be sAw the chair upon ia hack. the
proud giri rnc<soa.ess upon the foor. her
aid for hair dressing scattered ABOUT n
profusi0n, faint SMILE Il. his fare
surely this was pardocaole.
The merit moment. however. nis e1prss-
ssou changed. for she remains. 80 qrlet
tina. he feared siaa might tss Dangerously
hurt 80 he oen. ovs- be-. lifted her
gently 70 her feet, and sc7gh; 20 assure
her that no harm VIA aons.
Her hands were eruiss1, likewise her
sace. arms and many psrts & her bos.y.
for sEse fell heavily; but. s.s-e. Ter blood
came ard w-ns ss usual. AMI Ter aInd
was ssrssctly clear. Hss arms were
aooat ner: ais szn<ls E<rn vzpsng Tia
blood f-o-a h@x fsce-a little scratch re-
esirei sroln tns corD~- II the >-1z;r-a.s
voice WA speaking. polite AID comfort
Ing. ard J. xven se<ra>sl asextscnsse.
wc-as. bu. E4i s.ss Ksph<d. h@r sesrs
nearly b-ok-r-
He savzxdly thanked God fcr ira %
portunsry. to: waz = KID hearted z.Aa
after az, and a. be appreciated hes