Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-11-26

tin me OF, Miss Faith.
do you mean to tell me that you
have the heart to leave BERTHE and me
all alone tonight? would never have
believed it of you, Mike Donald"
@Shure it's not for yeez to shtop alone
I'd be afther axin'-but lettin' me sind
up me friend, Tim Murphy, to bide in
the house all night.
There, that will do, with an angry
stamp of her foot-"go home, go any
where you like, but don't be sending
Tim, or any other, to take your place;
If you do will lock the door in his face;
do you hear? BERTHE and l can stay
alone, we are not afraid to; we are not
cowardly like YOU"
The old man sEeaked off down the
road rather sheepishly, not to go home,
she well knew, but down to the village
tavern for drop Of liquor and nights
carousal.
Well, there was no help for it, though
in spite of her brave words she was at
heart bit of coward and watched the
dark creeping in at the windows rather
ruefully.
But BERTHE of course must not mag
inc his big sister was afraid OF the
dark, so she laughed and frolicked with
him. Bertie's gay prattle became silent.
How lonesome it was now. She sewed
awhile, then tried reading, and at last,
perceiving it was already II O'Clock,
she laid aside her book, put out the
light and curled herself up on the
hearth-rug near Bertie's couch with her
head on chair. Gazing dreamily into
the bright fire, with sigh, she quite
forgot for the time that she and BERTHE
were all alone in the house and only re-
membered how gay and festive and
bright it was at grandpa's fifteen miles
away; the rooms aglow with fire and
lamp-light, the dancers whirling
on the floor. And she caught,
now and then, in the sobbing mi
nor of the violins, the sound of
Cousin Lute's gay laughter and the
CLEAN Of his handsome white teeth.
What delicious laugh he had, and such
beautiful teeth and kind, gray eyes.
She know just how much he would be
petted and made much Of down there;
he always was. Everybody, young and
old, thought him perfection. And he
would talk and laugh and dance with all
the girls, and quite forget her troubled,
yellow head lying drowsily on a chair at
home and thinking all manner of non
sense about him. And with hot flush
and a quick catch of her breath, she
remembered she had not been SO low
able and kind to him that he would be
likely to think of her very tenderly.
How angry and proud he had looked
that day in the garden when he told her
he loved her; but he had hurled the
words at her as if they had been boom
erang or some other missile, and al
h~o ~ III
with bitter laugh and a sarcastic
the trouble to tell me I am a fool for
the fact already, knowing to my sorrow
what devil of life you would lead q
man..
She scarcely knew what reply she had
m ade to 1t all, only it was something
hooking and saucy and sarcastic, she
remembered. He had never been quite
the same to her since, she thought,
with little sob. If only he were only
sitting in the chair over yonder, just
this moment, she felt sure she could go
right up to him and whipser softly:
Il am wretched, Cousin Lutte; want
you to forgive me. I am tired Of being
naughty and self-willed and rebellious;
l.
Of your love. and"
Hark! what was that? Just tiny,
tiny noise in the kitchen; only q rat
maybe; but all the blood seemed settling
about her heart. Bolt upright now she
sat and listened breathlessly. Hush!
there it was again, like some one trying
to open a window. Her eyes seemed
starting from their sockets, her heart
beat SO she could scarcely breathe. She
dared not go out and investigate. The
only door leading into the sitting-room
from the kitchen was locked. but she
glided noiselessly over to the big book
case in the corner, and heavy as it was
wheeled it somehow against the locked
door; piled chairs on the table against
that, then crept back to BERTHE. Pres
entity there came faint chink as of
breaking glass, and the sound of feetstep-
ping softly about, and the glimmer of a
light under the shut door. Half dead
with terror, she stood with her arms
around BERTHE, who still slumbered
peacefully. Presently q hand softly
turned the knob of the sitting-room
door, and, with one terrified shrek, she
fell fainting across Bertie's couch
When she opened her eyes again the
room was cold as q barn, there was q
window wide open. and her clothes were
wet with the water that had been
dashed in her face. Bert was wide
awake and chattering like magpie to-
whom do you think?-why, nobody in
this world but dear cousin Lutte, who
was bending over her with face nearly
as white as her own.
He had taken her mother and sisters
to their destin alton, then driven directly
back home, as he had intended to do
from the first. Finding the lights out
and everything quiet and fearing to dis
turb her, he had entered by the kitchen
window.
The sun Thanksgiving morning rose
gloriously beautiful over all the land.
And for once, at least, Faith Darrows
did not forget to be thankful for Gods
blessed goodness. But for once she did
forget to quarrel with Lutte Dinsmore
and was sweet and tender and woman
ly, letting her heart speak to him
through her eyes.
At noon the long table, spread in the
sitting-room in Bertie's honor, fairly
groaned with the load of good things
che had nronarod There was n p1umn