Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-14
he triumphantly waved Hattie's pink


whizzing engines running hither and
| thither, trains arriving and departing
in systematic confusion. Bessie Floyd
felt terribly bewiIdered, but she held
fast to her instructions.
She had scarcely stepped from the
car when a hand was extended and a
voice cried: We'll. Miss Bessie, this
surely must be you'll"
| Bessie started. almost as much as If
she had been caught up by one of those
dreadful people of her imagination.
Then she knew this must be Thomas
Howard. "Yes, think it is" she an
swered, half laughing. %How quickly
you knew meT
"Come this way" he said, as they
threaded the crowd; Il have a carriage
here. Give me your checks"
| In a few moments Bessie and her
possessions were packed on the back
seat of the carriage. The young man
spraug in. took the seat facing her, and
away they went. "And now," said he,
snow that we are comfortable, let me
have a look at you and see what man
ner of girl these long years have made
of you.
Bessie blushed.
"You are changed" he said slowly,
@very, very much changed from my re-
collection. I would not have known
you. Bess."
"You seemed to have no difficulty in
identifying me-" she replied.
"That was easy; were not all the sig
nails hung out?" he answered laugh
ingly. Unprotected and resolute
young lady, with the pink bow well In
sight!"
What Did you notice that?" Bessie
was slightly mortified. %That dread
full pink bow? It does look obsurdly
CONSPICUOUS, but it was case of necessity.
How provoking that you noticed it,"
"Provokingl Was it not according
to contract? Was it not the very thing
I was looking for?" Again he laughed
gayly. -,
"How curiously you talk!" said
, Bessie, contracting her eyebrows.
According to contract! Thevery thing
: you we're looking for! How could you
possibly know that my umbrella was
tied with pink ribbon?"
"How curiously you talk, allow me tc
say! Did you not write me that the
pink bow would be distinctly visible p
Il wrote you! And such nonsense as
. that! You must be dreamingp
"Do you mean to say that you did moi
write and agree that should know you
by the pink bow?"
"I! Of course, I did not"
: "You are jesting."
n 49, oooT7ro Won fh %
9 I did not"
4 "And l." said he, would be willing
, to swear that you did"
s "Swear! I thought that Quaker
8 could not swear to anything"
: But I'm not a Quaker, as it hap
!, pens" said the young man.
t mo Quakerl Now that I look at yoJ
: again, you don'tlook like Quaker.
n What do you mean? You know Tn
not Quaker"
"Then next, I suppose" she SAID
e scornfully, "you will say that you are
= not Mr.. Thomas Howard?"
= Certainly I'm not, said he slowly.
e There was O dead silence. The two
Y stared at each other blankly.
S "Then who are you?" came in an al
q q most inaudible voice from Bessie's lips
a my name is Lawson, and until thi
n moment I had supposed you to be m.
: cousin, Miss Bessie Lawson, who was t,
= arrive from Lincoln to-day by tn
Z o'clock train, and whom 1 went to tn
q depot to meet"
. Bessie silenced him by an imperative
= GESTURE. stop this carriage immedi
. atelyl Stop it and let me alight."
"Alight! Surely not. Since I hav
. made so culpable mistake permit M
n to do all that can to rectify it. LIE
: me take you to your destination"
= Bessie only gave a glance of superI
- disdain. will you have the kindnes
: to stop the carriage for me-" she re
!. peated haughtily.
But you cannot seriously y"
'' "Let me out!" interrupted Bessie
= impetuously.
She tried to unfasten the door. MI
Lawson laid his hand upon it.
Wont you trust me?" he said, carr
estly. surely you believe what
!, say!"
ineffable look. "Do you suppose for
moment that 1 believe such an absur
story as that? That a man could 6
: to meet his own cousin and then NJ
know her!"
"Why is it any more absurd than thu
you should take me for Mr.. Howard
Il have never seen him, at least sine
I was child"
"Nor have 1 seen my cousins, Bessi
Lawson. To insure her recognition "
hit upon the fancy of her wearing
pink bow. Your pink ribbonl tt
similarity of namesl Can you wonde
at my mistaken"
Bessie looked at him. If ever honest
On shone from mortal eyes it shone frol
IN his. He saw half belief trembling
as her blue eyes, and, like wise mai
be pushed his advantage.
at "Give me your friends address.
know you will trust me; will you not
et Bessie was wavering. She gave OF
to final. searching look into his fac
to The brown eyes were steady an
v! earnest as before. Il will" was c
Ill her lips when torrent