The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-25

PLAYING over at her fathers quarters, anu /
her voice rang out with new strength.
She sang the English translation made |
by Helden, and the words which reached /
him distinctly impressed Fairfax for tie
first time:
What do see, oh! what do seer
Lilies white,
In the morning light,
Telling the story of love to me.
What do see, oh! what do l sect
Lilies red,
Now my heart is dead,
Telling the story of pain to me.
80 What do I see, oh! what do I see7
Alack, alack!
A grave that is black,
Telling the story of death to me.
"I wish she would choose something
livelier," he said to Holden. Love songs
are so idiotic."
such things as that happen, though,
now and then. Girls have died for love-
Poor little Recital she sings as if she felt
it,"
.sBv the way" was Compton's reply, "can
you tell me anything of Mrs. Gorgane?
She and 1 were rather good friends once
upon time"
So the fioodgates were opened, and Hell
zen COlu dII ue KNEW u ILIO "AN'N'
md her sweet cousin.
"Of course you're in love with Marie
khat goes without saying" Compton an
rounced. Suppose we see the affair to
termination together"
Through it all Rocita sang, while the
red lilies of pain were gathered into har-
vest for her.
Next morning the mail came and Comp
ton, although booted and spurred, sat
long time over the letters. AT last he
| looked up and called his friend.
"See here, Jack, that investment /
! thought eternally bursted has come up. 1t
gives me a few spare thousands. l shall go
| back with you"
You won't give the ranch up?" said
! Holden.
ooh, moi not by any means; but shall
| bring Elizabeth back with me-"
Then he went out upon the range.
"Tll be darned if | don't break the news
to the poor thing myself" groaned Helden;
she shan't see her agOnies and sneer-nol
| and he shan't bestow his patrOnlzing pity
on her, either"
Rocita had put on her communion dress
to pose in. With a mans idea of break
ing things gently, he soon bluntly told her
that Mr.. Compton was going away IN
about a week and that he was to marry
"a beautiful lady" adding as last dose
of hearJache that she was very tall and
! blond.
Rocita drew in her breath sharply, but
said nothing Presently he observed that
she herself looked like bride in her pres
ent garb. Then her unframed heart over
flowed.
"This is the only bridal robe that l shall
ever wear" she cried, and threw herself
down upon the long grass in passion Of
weeping.
Holden walked away and left her. At
shutdown Compton returned. When the
moon was up ROcita passed by their We
randa on the way to her fathers quar-
tiers. Compton saw at once that she
walked slowly, like person in sickness or
trouble He went up and spoke TO her IN
his pleasantesU manner.
But in those hours of anguish she had
perhaps learned something OF the Anglo
Saxon self restraint, and she only said:
Let me by, senior. am not well"
Mrs. Gorgane's engagement to Mr.. Fair
fax Compton was a nine days wonder. Il
am disgraced in my own eyes," she said,
with one of her old laughs, for did not
take dare"
Jack and Marie, lacking the qualities Of
deadly directness which characterized their
elders, still walked in the pleasant mead
ows OF unavowed love Holden always
said the wrong thing in the wrong place
1t has been his habit from boyhOod.
Two weeks befor Compton's marriage
he brought up his T gh sketches to show
the ladies' The ting Of Rocita was
among them
How beautiful cried Marie. II Won
der you weren't in love with her or she
with you"
"Oh, it wasn't me-" cried Holden i'm
pressively; lit VAS
There was an awkward pause.
Helden had only thought Of saving him
self
Mrs. Gorraue finished the sentence in her
clear soprano.
1T was only Fairfax Compton. you
mean"
He drew her into the emorasure Of a
, window
.Elizabe,h." he said, you mustn't pay
any attention to what He.icn iEsiuuaseL
| / YOU
NO, am not jealous" she replied Il
shall never have cause 70 oe. Did l not
say the s0u1rette role vas the sacdest
thing IN nAtures Poor jack He always
says the wrong thing il tae wrong place y
She withdrew that accusation the next
day, when Marie told q nis proposal AID
her acceptance. He must have broken his
rule for once, SIZE informed Compton, aud
said the right thing in the rigat place.
=
Eight months st-erward Nj and Mrs
Compton aud M and Mrs Heldea came
. TO the ranch Everything was IN excellent
order, and the ladies were charmed. Hell
den asked the sheep foreman about Rocs;A
she has been sick De sa'a- she las
been away IN tle town Two months"
, Their first expedition was 10 tue spring.
The trees shaded Il A. OF ga, add tbe grass
, grew about It soft and green another
/ well known association was nct absent, Iol
a mandolin with broken strings lay On TIE
: grc12d, sud near Or ROcIta 1eTseli, asleep
Elizabeth reached Der nrst.
, This must pe or lizzie dancer ." she