Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-28

As we were all young men, none OF
whom had felt the effect of that mys-
FERROUS power called love, we fell to
ridiculing the idea that a man might
become so completely subservient to its
power as to lose all hope of earthly
happiness by the loss of that:one particu'
lar being on whom his affections had
been placed.
"I'll tell you, boys" said Joe Max.
well, laughing, IF any little maiden
should cast me aside, 1 should mourn
her loss until could reach the nearest
neighbor and then 1 should transfer my
affections to that neighbors pretty
daughter-if he should happen to have
one"
We all laughed at Joe's speech, but
our mirth had scarcely ceased, when a
man of about thirty-ive years of age,
and who, but for the expression of ex-
treme melancholy upon his face, would
have been strikingly handsome, came
from the rear of the car and addressed
as.
Young gentlemen" he began, Il could
not but hear your remarks, and to relieve
your minds of a grave error 1 should
lik to relate to you q story which is
sadly connected with my own life"
"Ten years ago, he began. Il was a
young man doing the European coun-
tries for health and pleasure. Like you,
did not believe in the ire
sistible charms of women; I had
gazed upon some of the fairest forms of
female loneliness with a heart I'M
touched by tender feelings, and at last,
tired of fashion, and the hollow, glitter
ing mockery of society, I extended
my travels into Circassia, that land
famed for female beauty and loneliness.
"For some weeks wandered aimlesslv
about with no especial object in view,
and at length found myself in the quiet
little village of Stai, footsore, weary, and
weak.
Feeling that absolute rest and quiet
was necessary to my healthfulness, 1
sought and obtained lodging with an
old man whose name l ascertained was
Arnec. But my long journey and ex-
posture had proven too much for me,
and the next morning 1 lay parched
with burning and Unsuitable thirst,
and tossing in delirium. OF the next
two weeks know nothing save at their
expiration l became conscious only to
find myself bound hand and foot
and lying in a bed which was by
no means uncomfortable, even though 1
was forced to lie in an uncomfortable
position. For some minutes I lay won
dering at my strange condition and
racking my brain for an explanation.
In vain did I seek an answer to the
many questions which flooded through
my clouded memory. When at length
I had given up in despair and having
laid my aching head upon my pillow
and was about to seek an answer in my
dreams, slight, rustling sound came
from an adjoining room. was about
TO turn my eyes in that direction when
the door opened and female form came
noiselessly to my bedside. caught
but momentary glance, but they suf-
iced to reveal form of rare loneliness
then closed my eyes in sleep.
with scarcely a sound she drew
near, and felt, though l did not see,
that she was bending over me. Then a
hand, cool, soft and lovely, was laid
uDO0 NY ISN6I0u -
shot through my veins and 1 felt my
blood course faster and faster. Was
there magic in that touch? My heart
beat faster, faster, then a pair OF lips
met mine; it was an angels kiss. Even
while my eyes were closed I felt that
could not but love the being at my
side.
@An involuntary motion caused her
TO start, for she still believed me sleep
ing, then opening my eyes l gazed
about with an appearance OF surprise
which, but \ few moments before, might
have been seen without discrimination.
sob! you are conscious at last, she
cried; and I could not but detect 9
thrill of Joy in her delicately toned
voice.
Fl could not for a moment reply for
I was verify enraptured with the
vision before me. For an instant
vas half inclined to believe that the
change of death had taken place and
that en- angel stood before me.