Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-10-06
CHAPTER Tv.-CorrrruEp.

NY Oldnu- he 0V6ut Oh tQ6 afternoon
had put. as it were, final figree on
the structure Of her attainments Her
future spread deliciously halcyon. Still,
. during dinner, and throughout the re-
mainder Of the evening, she had much
to say concerning the Chichester suicide,
and her words were blended with hints
of worriment that came and fed along
the current of her speech like lights and
shades along lapse of meadow.
eve might have gone to the Ogstons,
after all" she said to Kathleen at des-
sert. tits only small affair, and the
patriarch's ball may quite spoil it; but
then the Ogstons are SO select. They
have no real right to their extremely
lofty position, it's true, but"
Don't you recollect, mamma" Kath-
1een broke in, 1--WE thought it best not
to go everywhere nowadays, on account
of runping good gowns for larger en-
tertainments. Now don't; change your
mind at the last moment, please don't.
I've an interesting book. and ia in
tended to pass quiet evening with it."
''Then Alonzo isn't coming at all to-
night?''
ST think he will not GOMEZ replied
Kathleen, who at the same time hoped
that he would come, yet did not presume
to prophesy.
Alonzo, as it turned out remained
absent. Kathleen forgave him, know
ing what an excuse he had for staying
away. Yet she passed an evening of
suspense that was ended by disappoint-
ment.
She slept i'll that night, and rose so
late that when she appeared at break
fast her mother had completed the meal
and met her with a half-crumpled morn
ing paper in one hand, while the other
employed itself in little agitated waves.
''There are dreadful things printed
about the suicide of Mr.. Chichester
Mrs. Kennaird announced. sob, per
fectly dreadful things. 1t can't be true,
though, that he has ruined the firm be-
fore blowing his brains out"
'No, no." faltered Kathleen, as she
seated herself at the breakfast table.
"Alonzo will be here this morning, I'm
sure, and tell us the real facts
He came, but not till late that after
noon. He had been with his uncle I'M
til quite late on the previous evening,
and he had spent all the earlier part of
his day at the bank.
ruin, ruin, or something almost as
horrible" rang through his brain as he
stood at Kathleen's doorstep. He was
silently quoting the words of his uncle,
uttered just before they parted.
Kathleen received him alone s'I'm |
so glad your mother isn't here" he be-
gan, as they sank beside each other
on a sofa. I've a great deal to tell
you"
And he made clear what he had to
tell. It was terrible tidings. The Lisp
enard wealth had been wildly squan-
"dered. ''I'm a poor man." Alonzo at |
length finished. AS he thus spoke he |
caught Kathleen's hand, but instead of |
pressing it waited for her to do so. The |
clasp came, but more family than he
had expected.
Kathleen he exclaimed, and with |
drew his hand entirely from hers
~'Lonz-Lonz," she said, and looked at
him with wistful eyes that a threat of
fearful storm seemed darkening.
just then Mrs. Kennaird entered.
She had been listening, but by no means
had caught all that Alonzo had spoken.
His voice had been too low, in the first
place, and in the second she had used
an overplus of caution.
Alonzo gave her somewhat Hurried
greeting and slipped from the apart
ment within the next few minutes,
promising Kathleen that he would come
back that evening.
But it was five good days before he
came back. During this time he
wrote his sweetheart several eager and
soulful letters, in more than one of
which he offered to release her from all
bonds of betrothaL Repeatedly Kath-
1oa-, v-oy,liod f1,ot oh ~
to be released. During those days the
very worst became patent to Alonzo.
A mere wreck was left to his sister and
himself. of their former splendid patri-
mony. The young man was surprised
by his own calmness. He arranged in
the most quiet way for a sale of all his
possessions; he held more than one very
painful interview with his sister at his
own residence; he discharged his serv-
ants and engaged small suite of
rooms, placing bill upon his house in
Gramercy park. His costly art treasures
he offered to an auctioneer on condition
of their immediate sale. He amazed
everybody who observed him by his
GOODNESS and serenity. And all the
while his heart was strained by
wretched suspicion of Kathleen. Not
that he thoroughly doubted her, but
there had been a nameless dread born
of that last meeting-a dread which her
letters did not dissipate, for he seemed
to read between their lines, and as he
thus read, voice vaguely cried to him:
@'It is not shei It is not the woman You
so trusted. Something that you be-
Geved would leap from her and breathe
itself to you. burning, living, unmis-
takably, has not shown ITSELF
And yet he might be wronging her so
sternly! What if his dear and faithful
friend Philip Lexington would 60 to
her and hold little talk with her. and
tell him afterward whether he was a
madly self-conscious fool or whether
there had really been good cause for his
doubts?
Alonzo felt his heart warm toward
Philip Lexington as he thought these
thoughts. Dear Phillip ran his
musings. HE will come to me on the
Instant and seek to aid me all he can"
Lexington obeyed the summons. He
looked as handsome as ever and listened
with his usual gracious calm to all that
Alonzo said.
When his turn came to reply, how
eva, Lexington shifted his legs un-
eaaly and posed little sideways his
dark, shapely head.