The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-04

| -ssMrs. Pcarsop-Mr. Pearson-con-
graduate me. Dollie has promised to
be my wife"
It was George who spoke, with spark
ling eyes and triumphant tone. Leopold
could scarcely believe his ears.
/ "What?'' he cried, while Dollie hung
her head and blushed bewitchinRly.
Eyes May I congratulate you on
having resumed your engagement with
Miss Gray?" answered George, seating
himself beside Dollie.
"Wha-what do you mean?" STAN.
mered Poly, hopelessly bewildered
'Oh, nothing! Only thought as you
were sending them turkey you must
have"
It was now Georges turn to look sur
prised.
Il don't understand. There's some
mistake. ordered one to be sent here,
hoping Mrs. Pearson would accept"
''The one saw was addressed to II, ="
interrupted George, thinking he began
to see light
Eyes This is II; noticed the num-
Der on the garden gate as passed this
morning"
"No," chined in Mr.. Pearson, ''this
is III. noticed the other day that the
first figure was almost washed out We
must have it repainted."
Then my turkey has gone wrong!
exclaimed Leopold II must see about
! it."
He was, as has been previously re-
marked, an impetuous young man, and
before the others could recover from
their surprise he was hurrying down
the road.
"Who lives at 71?' asked Mr.. Pear
son, after short interval of silence.
The Grays," answered George
promptly. Moved in last week"
Had Leverton stayed one minute to
reflect on Speedman's words it is prob
able that he would have sacrificed a
dozen turkeys rather than risk meeting
the wrathful pater of his discarded lady
love, but so bewildered was he that the
possibility of such contretemps never
entered his mind.
The advent of tho fateful fowl, with
Leverton's note attached, in the Gray
household had caused almost as much
bewilderment in that household during
the afternoon as Leopold was himself
experiencing at that momont-
Mrs. Gray unpinned the scrap of pa
per and read it.
"Why, Laura, Laura" she cried, run
ming up to the room where her daugh-
ter was dressing for a walk 'Mr.
Leverton has sent US turkey"
Laura let fell the brush she was
using and stood gazing at her mother
in silence. Then the color mounted to
her cheeks, but she did not speak.
Laura read the lines and returned the
paper. She was still strangely silent,
and her mother, anxious to have an ex-
preston of opinion from some one else,
trotted off downstairs again to consult
Mr. Gray as to what should be done.
Laura followed her closely.
Mr.. Gray took the slip of paper in his
own hands, read it carefully, reread it
and tnen turned it over, as though
seeking further enlightenment.
His eyes fell upon the line which had
been written by the lad with the po-
etic soul:
LET the dead past bury its dead"
Il suppose he means he would like
us to let bygones be bygones," replied
Mrs. Gray, slowly. Don't you think
SO, Laura?"
YES" said Laura, very softly.
The afternoon wore swiftly away. A
faint appetizing odor arose from the
kitchen and gradually permeated the
apartment
Steps sounded in the vestibule, the
handle ratified, the. door was thrown
open and dark figure stood in the door.
way.
Poor Poly in his impetuosity had
never thought of how he would explain
his errand, and now as that savory
scent foated from behind that dark
figure and struck him full with a sud.
denly warm gust he began to stammer
something about "a mistake" and "a
turkey"
| Mr.. Gray, attributing his confusion
to tho awkward predicament in which
he found himself through having
broken so shabbily with Laura, and
thinking with an accession of that
good will to all" which often comes
over men at the glad Christmastide, to
help him out of his difficulty, put forth
his hand and half dragged Leverton
into the house.
There, there" he reclaimed, you're
a strange fellow, but if you can make
! it up with Laura all we'll andigood."
mir. Gray" said Leopold, regaining
the use of his tongue as his outdoor
garments were taken from him, iii
has all been a mistake"
"Yes, yes" interrupted Mr.. Gray,
"but you will find Laura in the draw
ing room Explain it to her while din.
ner is being served"
He pushed the unresisting fellow into
the drawing-room, and, himself re-
manning outside. closed the door be-
hind him.
AS Leverton entered lady rose from
the fauteuil upon which she had beer
seated 1t was Laura
Somehow at sight of her standing
there, looking so fair and SO sweet in
her evening costume, Leopold forgo,
all about the lady of the legacy, and a
sudden feeling of shame stole into his
heart and caused the warm blood &c
rush up into his cheeks
There was a moments awkward
pause. and then he said bravely:
Laura. have been fool Can you