The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-04

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for all the young people in McAllistcr
place were deservedly popular. But
even the boys themselves all praised
Frank, and as for Emma, the only point
of difference among the girls was as to
whether she was more lovely in DISPOSE
ton or, in person.
Of course Frank and Emma fell in
love. Everybody agreed that they
couldn't have helped it if they had
wished to ever SO much, and pretty
nearly everybody agreed that they
ought not have helped it even if they
had been able. Emma must tell NAM
ma all about it first. Even before
you ask her. Frank; it will be SO sweet
to confde in her."
said mo-" and said it in such a very de-
cided manner that there was no ques.
tioning her meaning.
And Emma cried her blue eyes dim,
of course; and when she met Frank at
the gate that evening cried again, and
said, between sobs: ''And just think,
Frank. she refused to give any reason
at all, but just said you mustn't come
to see me any more. And SO now you
can't take me TO any more parties and
the winter not half overr'
Frank hid his chagrip and promised
to find some way out of the difficulty"
and after making an engagement to
meet him at Anna Lewis next after
noon at four o'clock, he went home to
study over the matter. He finally de-
cided to go straight to Emma's mann
ma. Next day when he called upon
Mrs. Cornell. however, he obtained very
little satisfaction from her She ap-
peared embarrassed and said as little
as possible; said, however, that she
must decline to receive him; that she
felt compelled to refuse her consent;
that she dare NOT consent to the mar
riage; she spoke of duty" several
times; and once. she made use of the
word warning" At last they both
became somewhat irritated, and she
CURLY informed Frank that she knew
of no reason why she should be
called upon to explain her prefer
ences or antipathies; and that
the more fact that she did not
wish to exte nd to him q welcome into
the family ought to be sufficient,
whether her reasons therefor were
good ones or not And so Mr.. Frank
Lawrence found himself walking out
the gate, biting his lip in vexation.
He was puzzled. What could be the
grounds Of her objection to him? She
had always seemed to cordially well
come him to the house, and, while he
was not specially egotistical, he was
aware that he was considered pretty
good fellow, had no bad habits and
was able to support q wife. And" he
added to himself as he swallowed
lump in his throat, II know l would
make my sweet Emma as loving a hus-
band as a wife ever had"
The more he studied over the matter
the more perplexed he was What did
she mean by the word "warning?" He
knew her almost childish weakness for
all kinds of superstitiops, from the par
ticular way pin should be picked up
to her horror of Friday and the num-
Der Is. Was it possible that he was
IA ScElS 10 oC the
altar of her superstitions? He had
seen her postpone important visits be-
cause of some childish superstition.
and he knew with what religious awe
she obeyed the feelings received
through her old negro nurse, and
which came with her from her child
hoods home on a southern plantation.
Was this the basis of her iuexplicable
treatment of him? Was the reason that
she dare not welcome him to be found
in some superstitious fancy?
-Four o'clock found him ut Mrs. Lew
is where Emma met him in the hall,
while Anna and Tom considerably re-
manned away.
Dearest" he whispered as he took |
both her hands in his, and held them |
tightly. Il am able to support wife |
in comfort, have excellent prospects as |
an electrician. and love you to distrac- |
ton. Are YOU willing to be mine even |
II your mamma persists in her opposi- |
tion?"
She tried to pull her hands away. but |
could nct, and looked up al him through /
her tears IS she said Dear Frank. /
please DO not ask me 70 answer till we /
have at least tried every means TO gain /
her consent She is not herself now: |