The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-06

rising. Iney walked nall dCTOSS tho
bridge. He stopped in the sunshine and
leaned on the railing.
Much warmer here, isn't it? Now
are you going to be honest with me?"
WELL" she said, "this is how it is.
l don't know really whether l love
you or not. l have never been in love
before"
Il am glad to hear it." he said,t
gravely.
why" she said. startled, ''have
you?"
Not since I was boy" he answered.
But go on" You don't know how you
regard me-"
There are some reasons why / could
think either way. If did care, should
I know it, think. Girls who care say
they could not be happy doing any
thing but marrying, while I could go
on and do any number of things-be
just as am for long time. and then
study, oh, all sorts of things! 1 might
even, after 1 got past-after people
stopped saying l was at tractive-like
to study medicine. You do have some
girls like me in your class, ont you?"
''We have some pretty girls" he said,
''who apparently have no real love for
the work.
''There!" she cried. Don't you sec
how just the way you say that makes
reason for me to be afraid to marry you?
Now, your queerness, and abruptness,
and the not being sure whether you are
making fun of me, are half fascinating,
but perhaps if / were married to you
they would irritate me and we should
be dreadfully unhappy.
Gould you ever believe that I made
fun of you?' he asked. She did not
answer, but gazed down into the water
with unseeing eyes.
''This getting married is great prob
lem," she said, with sigh.
yes" he answered, heartily, lone
of the most urgent and important ques-
tions of the day." She looked up at
him uneasily; he looked down tender
ly and continued: $50 urgent that I
long to have it settled in the little time
left before the train goes
"Oh!" she said. you don't realize
how seriously and earnestly one should
think it over
Eyes, do" he answered. IT myself
have pondered on it long and care
fully"
49," she said, 'tyou had to argue
yourself into it. to work yourself up to
believing you cared for me! This wind
really is as keen as in Boston. Come,
let's go and get warm
~.
hotel. As they crossed the platform
and picked their way among the boxes
and bundles a man who was busted
with a paste pot looked up with an
amused smile at their solemn progress.
She caught it.
Everything is being labeled" she
said, namely.
Yes" he answered, Except me.
Am | to be tagged, rejected or 'ac-
cepted?"
She stood still and looked at him with
indignant contempt.
''Your train leaves so soon perhaps I
had better say good-by here; you must
have some final arrangements to make.
l hope it will not be too windy for a
pleasant trip back to New York. Good
by"
He took her extended hand. '"As you
say" he answered, I'VE must make
some final arrangements. You know
love you? Will you marry me?"
Cant you see how incompatible our
natures are?" she cried. 81 so earnest
and warm-hearted, and you SO Hippant
and cold"
The man among the boxes grew in
terested. He chose box nearer them
for his next label
She lowered her voice. "Do you
know" she asked. that you are still
holding my hand?"
Yes" he said, 81 know it, though I
am so cold and Indifferent VIII you
marry me?"
The train bell rang. ''They must
have changed the time" she said.
Ran or you will be left!'
As the forlorn little train pulled out
they walked down to the beach.
You will have to wait for to-nieht's
train, and won't that make you miss
your boat How about those poor girls
and eczema?"
They will have to get on without
ME, poor things he said. "But it is
the patients who have eczema, you
know. Perhaps l shall stay over Sun
day now"
She looked at him with delighted
eyes. "Whatr she said, two whole
days for us to be happy in!"-Katherine
Bates, in Kate Fields Washington.