People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-12-09
CHAPTER XIV.
l MEET MY LOVER, BUT ALAS, ALAS,

MEET MY LOVER, But ALAS, ALAS
| was upstairs the day Mrs. Law
toms guest arrived and | did not know
anyone was in the house until walked
into the parlOr and suddenly found my
self in the presence of the gentleman.
The room was rather dark and the Wis
itor's face was turned from me, else |
should certainly have recognized him at
once. AS it was how great was the
shock sustained when Mrs. Lawton
arose and introduced her nephew, say
ing:
miss Owens, this is my nephew, Mr..
Hanley."
| came near sinking to the floor, and
4 am sure my heart came into my throat
at bound. To have met win Hanley
at all, in any place and under any cir
cumstances, would have overpowered
me, but to meet him there so unexpect-
eddy shocked me beyond description.
suppose acknowledged the introduce
ton in some way, though | am not GER
tain of it, by any means, and in fact |
am not sure of anything that trans
jDired at that time.
! dropped into seat that was near
and for time my brain seemed to be in
whirl. For a moment was uncOn.
scious, | think. Fortunately neither
Mr.. Hanley nor Mrs Lawton took any
notice of me and my discomposure es-
capped detection. When regained per-
feet consciousness Mr.. Hanley and Mrs.
Lawton were talking quietly, she ask
ing questions regarding himself and he
answering them. listened, and dis
covered after awhile that letter or
two had passed between them of late.
Then" | thought, 'he knew was
here, and perhaps he came to see me-"
had very little to base such thought
or hope on, | confess, for he had not ap-
peared any more pleased to meet me
than he had when | saw him last,
but loved him yet, and | was anxious
TO believe he loved me. was fondling
the hope that it was for my sake he had
come, and had almost deceived myself
into believing it, when he gave me an
other shock that thought must surely
kill me.
"And now, Aunt Lawton," he said.
u have little surprise for you. am
almost afraid to tell you what it is, for
fear you will never forgive me for not
informing you through my letter"
What is it, WHIP" Mrs. Lawton
asked.
Will blushed and for an instant was
silent. | flushed burning hot from
head to foot and trembled like leaf.
"Am | right?' | thought, "and is it
true that he has come on my ACCOUNT
What else can he have in mind, except
to inform his aunt that he knows me
and that it is he has come to see?"
wait breathlessly for him to an
swer, and do not wait long
Aunt" he said. 81 did not like to
write to you Of certain little matter,
because never told you that was in
love, and that l had some thought of
getting married"
was rigid with expectancy. Mrs,
Lawton looked over her spectacles at
Mr.. Hanley but said nothing.
YES" he continued directly, "such is
the case, and realize now that ought
to have told you. But better late than
never, so will tell you now. 1t was
out at Aunt Browns that met the dear
girl love. Her parents live there and
we were children together. Her father
is Daniel Owens, Aunt Browns nearest
neighbor."
Igasped for breath. My heart was
in my throat, choking me till | could
not breathe. 1t was me he had come
TO scene he loved He had said as
much. He and | were children together
and Daniel Owens was my father.
"He loved me-" cried in thought
after all. He will be mine and shall
be his"
The happiness OF that moment is be
vond the bounds of language. There
are no words that will portray it. II
was heavenly. listened with rapture
my leart all in a tumult, for his EEK