Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-03-11

| million JeWeled pOlnUS III Gne eVnnlHg
sunshine. The great white lake
flashed toe. the sleighbells clashed
with merry peal of marriage bells,
and Jack found himself in the Cedar
cliff parlor before he had at all de-
cided what he was to say.
Was Miss Elliot at home? and
which Miss Elliot? Miss Verena was
at home; would she do, sir, for the
others were all out this afternoon.
The small maid who let him in
went away with the reluctant assur-
ance from Jack that Miss Verena
would do And then Jack reflected
that Verena was the second letter in
the magic mirro: The first might
stand for Amy. But, then, just as
well it might stand for Annie and
Abigail. Jack had heard that one
might find Abby IN abundance among
these Yankee girls Well, Platts-
burgh was not quite in Vermont, so
perhaps it was not Abby.
1t certainly was not Abby! When
this dainty little creature. in some
pale-gray fieecy draperY, like soft
evening cloud, came lightly in, Jack
stood up with his lowest bow.
"Miss Amy Elliot believer"
Eyes"
land I am John Smith"
"Ohw Her hand went out to him
in eager greeting. Johnny! 1t isn't
possible" And then more slowly
"No-it is not possible"
Jack was bowling over her hand.
81 don't think I'm Johnny. l
might be, of course; only l never was;
but - pardon me, but a letter I had
no right to has fallen into my hands
and l didn't know what to do with it
IL thought ought to find you
and return it,"
Without a word she took the I'M
sealed envelope he put into her hand.
The room was dim in the declining
afternoon; she went away to the win
dow with the letter.
Standing there, where the sunset
streamed in upon her, she was revealed
more fully to him. How wonderfully
pretty she was! Andi was it only the
sunset that made her cheeks glow
and her eyes to shine so, as she turned
to him?
"You have read this letter, Mr..
Smith?"
He bent his head. He was be-
ginning to think this quest of his a
mere impertinence.
ut ~ ~
for me until l had read it," he said
meeklY. "But perhaps, Miss Elliott,
as your name is Verena-"
He was holding out his hand for
the letter, as if it could not be hers.
'My name is Amy Verena," she
said, with an embarrassed little laugh.
Mamma was hoping I might turn
out an 'Heir-of- Radcliffe sort of girl,
but / haven't" she said defiantly;
land Johnny knows l haven't and I
am only sorry the letter failed to
reach him in time to prevent"
AS she paused abruptly, - Jack
poured out torrent of apologies. He
would have gone to the ends of the
earth to find her out before; he had
the greatest desire to go to the ends
of the earth, as has been said, to
punch the true false Johnnys head
for him. And, though Jack does not
exactly say as much, he somehow be-
trays it all to Miss Amy Verena.
She stares at him, fairly puzzled for
a moment. Then she breaks into
laugh, so merry that he has to join
in it.
ooh! so you have been sorry for the
maiden all forlorn? But you needn't
have been, for Johnny wrote, and
begged-Oh, but I didn't mean to
tell you thatw she cried, catching
herself up quickly. ''Only, you
know, we were almost children when
Johnny went away to Germany to
college, and"
"And his steamer was due in New
York and he was to register at the
New York Hotel? But this other
John Smith arrived tirst-not from
Europe but across the continent from
California, on a first visit East. And
Il beg your pardon, but you are not
going to put on that ring, are your"
The first part of that sentence of
his was very positive, as he observed
her turning the ring over on her
open palm. The two last words were
added hastily, upon tile startled
glance she gave him.
81? No; certainly not" she an
swered, blushing.
She laid it down upon the mantel-
piece as she came forward to the fire
and she did not observe that as he
leaned on the mantel and talked to
her he slipped the bauble into his
breast-pocket, whence he had taken
it with the letter awhile ago
AS this was not Jacks last visit
however, she had many an oppor
nifty to make inquiries for the
ing ring, if she would.
But there was always so much else
to talk about California, the far
east, China, Japan, even Australia,
all of which this California Jack
knew, if he were rather ignorant of
Europe.
But one daY-and January was
barely out before that ay came,
everything of California being natur-