The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-10

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'sBRoUeHT THE EDITORIALS TO HIM."
down. At the same time shot or two
was fired from the opposite side of the
street, 1t was in a lonely part of the
town, but crowd soon gathered,
among them woman whom the men
recognized as the assistant editor of
the independent. She seemed to have
all the common sense of the crowd. In
ger for doctor and another for restor-
atives, which she applied to the injured
man. Virginia Kingsley, sitting on the
curbstone with Brad Harper's head in
her lap, knew for the first time her
feeling toward him. What she said or
did she scarcely knew, but after Brad
had been taken to his boarding place
and she had time to think it over, she
was haunted with fear that she had
said something expressive of feelings
which were more than platonic.
Miss Kingsley did not nurse Brad.
She was too busy running the paper.
The Independent suddenly became
popular when the people saw the girl
fighting the battle alone. The wom-
ans column, the fashion notes and the
poets corner were neglected while
Virginia wrestled with her editorials.
She kept up her side of the battle with
the Banner man; and as she had her
views about the assault upon Brad,
and did not hesitate to express them,
popular favor turned against the Ban
ner and it's head, and the sympathy of
the town was with the Independent
and it's editors. The reform party
gained the day, and it's friends did not
hesitate to say that their success was
due to the independent
Brad was badly injured and a serious
illness was the result of the wound on
his head. He pulled through, thanks
to his good constitution and the faith
full nursing of Mrs. Smart, his land
lady.
Virginia did all the work of the pa
per while Brad was i'll, but as soon as
he had sufficient strength she began
taking her editorials to him for criti-
cisms, and before long he was able to
dictate to her. It was on one of these
instances, when Virginia's pencil was
running at its fastest and Brad was
debating an editorial on the silver
question, that he stopped and laid his
hand on hers.
Wait" he said.
Miss Kingsley held her pencil poised
over the paper, thinking that he
wished to make some correction.
Kingsley, you kissed me the night
I was hurt"
She turned deadly pale. Don't"
she said. ''Oh, don't remember that"
''But can't forget it. You kissed
meAnd called me Brad, darling l did
not hear any more, for | went off some
where. Now, | should like to know
what such a demonstration meant.
You cannot sharpen that pencil; your
hands are trembling. Give me the
knife" Brad went on talking in
steady voice, meanwhile cutting dainty
shavings from the pencil. THE pencil
was sharp enough if you had let it
alone. If you were anyone else i
should say you are nervous.
But to return to the night that you
kissed me. You and l were getting
along on purely platonic principles,
as supposed. We were pards, in the
of this wild and woolly
west; but I never heard of a partner
who would hold mans head in his
lap, kiss him and call him Brad, dar-
ling. Of course, this platonic business
is played out; you can see that as well
as |. The question is, What is to be
done about it?'
Through this long speech Miss Kings
ley had been trying to find her voice,
and as Brad paused for a reply she
said, hoarsely:
Il intended to tell you, Mr.. Harper.
that shall leave Smoky City as soon
as You are able to take the helm again"
Brad felt the tears rush to his eyes.
Brute he called himself. under his
breath. but even then he could not re-
sist teasing Miss Kingsley.
A., Don't call me Mr.. Harper. Can't |