The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-23

( iSoIucO 1IOm the COuVSISdtiOA "ussa
had happened, and in order to reassure
everybody opened my eyes once more
and spoke. The girls tears had all
gone. She was full of pitying interest
in my case. As soon as could com
mand my memory of events sufficiently.
l bade her leave me and return to her
brothers side. She stayed till I rose
voluntarily and proved that, though
| bewiidered, was out of danger. Then
| she exchanged few words to the
| physician in low tone and disap-
peared.
'sThe next morning l received by
mail check for one hundred dollars
| from gentleman bearing the same
| surname as herself, who said that
had shown a degree of heroism, in be
frierding his daughter in her necessity,
which was out of the common; he
hoped would allow him to pay the fee
for the telegraph message, which he
begged to inclose, as his daughter, in
her anxiety, had omitted to settle the
bill This made me pretty indignant,
and / wrote him somewhat curt let
ter. deducting the amount which was
the regular charge for the message and
inclosing him receipt for that and
bank notes and silver for the balance
of the amount covered by the check. I
carried the letter around in nay pocket
for two days and then decided to mail
it just as 1t was l heard nothing from
the affair again for nearly week.
Meanwhile, there was funeral in the
village, which I ascertained to be that
of the young man who had been so des-
perately i'll Then l felt sorry that I
had been so severe with the father,
who probably had meant well, and who
must have been SO overwhelmed with
sorrow at the time he received my note
that its toue would seem doubly harsh.
So down sat again and jotted Off an
other note, in which expressed regret
for the style of my first, saying that
had written it in forgetfulness of the
sorrow overhanging the family. and
explaining that I could not accept a
gift for voluntary act of duty.
1.-Two days later 1 received q call
from my divinity. She seemed just a
little embarrassed at first. but after a
few minutes converse ton drew from
her pocket my two notes. The seal of
neither had been broken. Father has
funeral said she, and these letters
have lain unopened, awaiting his re-
turn. This morning it occurred to me
that they might be about some matter
of pressing Importance, and that had
better see if you wanted US to forward
them
81 am much obliged for your
thoughtfulness,' I answered, but how
did you know they were from me?' The
next moment 1 would have given the
world to recall that question. The
quick rush of blood to her face was
painful to witness.
"'I had seen scrap of your hand
writing she replied. simply. and
thought recognized it on the envel-
opes.'
"'You were right said I, I wrote
both letters. As the second was writ
ten to make amends for the first, there
is no need of sending either of them to
your father, if you are willing that l
should open them / tore away the
envelope of my first letter, and the
money dropped into my lap. Your
father, explained, was kind enough
to send me a check for one hundred
dollars, to compensate me for the
trihing assistance I was able to render
you few days ago. Acting on my first
impulse, deducted the cost of your
message and wrote him rather snap
pish note inclosing the balance
''She had listened with evident in
terest. There was a strange express
sion in her face as she inquired, after
brief pause: And your second letter
was to say that you had reconsidered-%
"'Oh. heavens! Nor cried, perceiv-
ing for the first time what an interpre-
tation my words might fairly be. given.
4 simply could not bear to pain your
father by the sharpness of my words
when l came to realize fully that he
had acted from kindly motives, and to
remember the load of sorrow he was
laboring UNDER l tore off the second
envelope and handed her the note. She
took it and ran her eyes over the few
lines it contained. She did not hand it
back, but retained it as if unconscious
ly in her hand.
"'You are very considerate, said she,
and thank you. My father meant
well. He did not understand, as I did,
that the debt we owed you was one
which no gift could repay. 1 will re-
turn the money, if you wish, or per-
haps it would be better for you to keep
it till you can give it to him in person.
will pave the way for your interview
by telling him how you feel about it
Another fortnight elapsed without
event Then one day the door of my
Office was opened by tall, fine-looking