The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-11

through my frame, or the leaden weight
which fell upon my spirit.
NV mother came in at last and sat down,
with some trifiing remark on the beauty OF
the evening. When she looked up she
crossed over to me in alarm, and taking
my hand cried out: "My child, what is the
matter? You look as if you had seen
ghost?"
AZ think I have, mother" said, trying
to smile, but bursting into tears, and then
/ told her all.
"Now, my darling Laura" said she, Ego
to bed and take a good nights rest, and
my word for it you will be troubled with
no more alarming glimpses of Horace ex-
cept in dreams, when his presence Is agree
able rather than otherwise"
/ took my mothers advice.
The next day | was ready to look at the
whole occurrence ia the same light.
But when it came near the time when
expected letter from him l began to be
very impatient about him. The letter, of
course, would settle my mind effectually.
But it did not come. In fact it never came;
and that was the last, last sight l ever saw
of Horace Travers
All, those years-those weary, weary
years. How each day dragged its slow
length alongl How the weeks and months
crept away-how the years tortured me!
Each day l said, 'Surely, l shall hear
from him at last"
Each night l went to bed saying, 81 am
one day nearer to the tidings which must
come at lastl'
But never heard from him and waited
for the tidings vainly.
But though | thought time moved so
slowly, still it moved on and brought me
to my twenty-fifth year Then began TO
40 back to the friends I had so long neg
lected Society received me with open
arms. had outgrown old or faded mem
cries; my thoughts of Horace Travers were
growing bitter, and / longed for some di-
version to take me from them.
My engagement had never been made
public; it was my wish that our marriage
should be the first announcement of it, so
was spared the questioning of friends.
The life l took up now was busy one.
Our family was so small, there was so lit
tie home work to do, and | had grown SO
tired of solitary reading and music that
took to the change kindly.
At all festivities | noticed the presence
of tall, distinguished looking gentleman
who had settled in our town nearly a year
before. His name, 1 knew, was Edward
Hatch, and his business was that which
Horace Travers had followed. This is W hat
had interested me at first; and afterward,
when | came to understand that he noticed
me closely, yet persistently avoided an in
PRODUCTION, my curiosity was piqued, and
watched him still more closely. He was
past his first youth, was unusually re-
nj Inn yxha he
off the depression of spirits which troubled
him he could make himself the life and
soul of our company.
The only thing did not like was the at.
mosphere of reserve which seemed to close
around him now and then. l had out
grown that romantic age when a mystery
is charming had suffered bitterly enough
from Que mystery.
1t came to pass in the course of e year
that married Edward Hatch.
The gloom and reserve of Edward Hatch's
character took a tangible shape at last.
Night after night he paced the floor stead
lily, untiringly. Day after day he went to
his business, his food untasted and the
darkness of night on his face.
Edward" said /, one night, care you
angry with me? | cannot bear this cold
ness and separation. 1 am your wife for
better or worse, and ! would try TO make
you happy if I only knew how"
He came and sat down by me. lie took
my hand and said: Laura, dearest, hare
no fault to find with you. But l wronged
you terribly by marrying you, as you viii
know some day. Oh, heaven" he cried
wildly. Il wish it We're all over! What
pangs have ! ncs suffered"
Then ne flung my hand away, and began
the old mOnOtonouS pacing.
made no further attempt TO break down
the barrier between us after that, but
drifted slowly into separate life, with its
own pursuits and pleasures.
One day my husband came in with a
hurried. determined air. He threw him
self into chair and said: Business calls
me 70 c. Immediately. l may make a
lengthy stay, and as have house there,
you may as well come with NE, Laura
a house in c.! You never told me
you had lived there"
He looked at me with q strange, burning
look in his eye, then bit MS lips and said
carelessly:
What do you know of CO might
have mentioned 1t had known the name
had any special interest Cor YOU"
IL has, ! SAID DdU q -44r-40 there
years ago. His business was the same as
yours 1t was more than eight years ago
that he took leave of Us, and we never saw
or heard from him since. II you could
throw light or his fate 1t would be some
thing OF q relief after all these years"
THAT l can hardly do. LEFT c. nearly
ten years ago. aud have only been there
since on fying business visits Ike this one.
However, if you are going, You had better
lose no time in your preparations After
you set there you may meet some one who
knew Your friend. By the way, - he added.
''you have not mentioned his name yet"
His back was toward ne now. he was
Ferripg ont his writing desk from the sec
rotary, and l looked up as / said, Horace
Iravers"
He did not move. BE was silent long
time. and when be turned 70 ne MS face
was no paler than usual His tone, too,
was delibe-a- ely careless when he az length
said: Horace Travers' ! do not know
hims"
That same evening we spent with ny
father and mother. We had arranged %
start the next day. At the last Mr.. HStch
tried 20 persuade ne 20 remain a. home,
but told him frankly that / would not
toreso tie onDortunitY Of MAKING inquiries