The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-04
THE BLACK RIBBON.

The gentlemen Of Core hsuss sat upon
the ,Iiazza, smoking and lBoElz@ Gt tn
sea as il tunbled IN, when the evening
coach. laden with piled Up baggage and
passengers, came rafting down the turn
pike AMI made the sweep which led u
to the hotel This in itself was MATER
enough for attention, but when, IN TIRE
wake Of the yellow old coach, Just BE-
yond its clouds Of dust glittering little
pony carriage rolled swiftly or, dozen
pair Of lazy eyes grew interested and eZ-
pectant
The coach drew UP with Z scientific
flourish, and the sweatE1g horses stood
painting with the tug through the heavy
ssnG, while the driver leaped down, and
with much tumbling and crashing 81
trunks the old stage was anlsdened-
Meanwhile the pony earrings, hol4in5
two girls rolled smoothly up to SIDE
door, and thrcs walters were instantly
IN attendance upon them
The ladies alighted, and the two dis
appeared at the private door OF the Cove
house.
VINO ara thew" asked Paul Hanover,
Withdrawing his cigar from his mouth
and turning his handsome blue eyes on
the friend at his elbow
Fans King, who was looking though
fully out at sea, replied quietly that he
did not know
Its Miss Payson, Of New York," said
Will Mckenzie, who knew everybody
AT any rate, that's her turnout"
Which one?'
1.-The blonde, 1 suppose. I never net
her, but she was at newport with my
sister last season Nice. amt she%
''Who is the other one:7
II don't know Poor cousin, pre-
sumo"
Hanover and King relapse to their
cigars but everybody was thinking
more or less of Miss Payson.
The ladies appeared at supper. There
were only five of their party-the old
gentleman, the two young ladies and an
invalid child Of Is with her nurse. 1t
WIS Soon remarked that they appeared
suhaeaE for themselves, and neither
sought nr received acquaintance. The
face Of the blonde girl was as jolie with
out the jockey hat as with it, but the
profile Of her companion only was to be
seen 4 broad black ribbon bound
around the chin and nearly concealing
wealth Of rich brown hair revealed
only the side view of q SET OF regular
features and ono smooth, fresh cheek
What can be the natter" questioned
the ladies one OF the other.
So, without the least possible iufor1na-
ton on the subject, Alice Payscn was
decided TO be sn object of misfortune
and compassion, while unconcealed ad-
niration and adulation were offered the
other one
l cannot say that either appeared much
affected by the regard OF those around
them Certainly they spoke to no one
for at least three weeks. People became
discouraged about making their ac-
Quaintance, and few more attempts were
tried
But things inevitably changed One
evening when al Cove house WAS in the
surf a scream arose The scream was
followed by frantic cry:
"Alicei Oh, Alice! she is drowningl
Save her! save heri save herr
Who can SWIM" was the cry.
Long before it was answered Fame
King was seen striking out boldly foE
the spot
But he had some forty rods to swim.
and it was probable that Alice Payson
ba5 e--r- g. -, esoC,, I +;,.,o ,-l-Io ~,
strong tide swelled against the rocks.
Swim, man, swiIn!7 shouted the old
uncle upon the beach
Save her, oh, for Gods sake." cried
Maud, wringins her hands.
But within few strokes OF Fame
Kings outsretched arms Alice disap-
peared
There was already death upon her
closed eyes and paIid forehead. He
thought it was a corpse hs clasped as he
dropped beneath the surface and caught
her sinking figure.
1t was with difficulty he arose 10 the
surface. Thrice the great pillows rolled
over his head before he appeared. He
could only hold himself and his burden
off the cruel rocks. Already his arm
was lacerated with their sharp teeth.
They had put ont a boat, and it at
last came TO his relief As they lifted
the senseleSs girl into the wherrv thew
saw that the black ribbon had been torn
from her face, and large, duh red, dis
colored mark appeared Il showed more
plainly in the otherwise deadly pallor Of
her sweet face, for sweet il was, and
pure as 4 cllild's They covered face ana
figure reverentiy, thinking her quite
dead. and rowed back. while Fame found
MS way up the rocks TO have his hand
wrUng speechleasly by the agon4zed old
man.
Il don't think she is dead. III Pay
SON said Fans, remem be-ing with a
thrill ths silken hair which had washed
against his lips. she cannot be deadr''
She was not dead. In three days she
appeared among them again, tairer,
gentler, sweete- than ever, and frankly
grateful for the interest everybody be-
t1syed n her. And then II came out
that there lid 3eea ! mistake. II was
Alice who was the Leiress aal Maud the
T eor cousi1, though as beautiful. as "a
1iLat AMI perfe,g'as Heb.
Miss Alice Payson, with the black no
bon replaced, tired to thank Fame GIrg
on the first day Of her reappearaace. but
her brown eyes filed and she only said:
You a-e young; life is sweet 10 you;
it was noble in you 10 risk yours Tor ne,
Mr.. King"
Fane's heart swellei 50 that he hardly
knew what was the matter with him
But, somehow, the friendly clasp of