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

| fou say this because you are sorry
for me. You think l love you because
/ acted SO that night, and you are try
ing to sacrifice yourself to my self-re-
| spect."
Il would not do that, even for you,
Kingsley. If you doubt me go into the
next room and find letter in the left
hand desk drawer, addressed to your
seit. and notice the date. Please go
and find that letter, beg"
She was gone long time. At last
Brad called out: Haven't you found
it yet? You have been gone long
enough to read all my private papers.
suppose you have a right to my Sc
crets now. Oh, Virginia, do come
here. l shall come after you unless you
hurry"
Miss Kingsley put the letter in the
breast pocket of her jacket and but
toned the jacket tightly, then she
went into the sitting-room.
"Do you believe me now, dear? !
found out several weeks ago that the
platonic business had come to an end.
and we had to begin on new basis.
So let's form a new partnership now.
Come here, Kingsley" stretching out
his hand. Kingsley" he pleaded, as
she still held aloof, Il hope you don't
think that letter fake. tell you, on
my honor, that wrote that letter. ask
ing you to marry me, the day l was
hurt You believe me?"
Yes
"Good girl. If you had received it
then would you have accepted me?"
YES" very slowly.
''Then, by all that is aggravating,
why don't you hate me now?" asked
Brad, making frantic efforts to reach
her. But she moved away. 'Oh, dear,
was ever man so shamefully used?
If it were not for that gunshot wound!
Don't take such mean advantage of
cripple. Kingsley. come here: want
to show You about this editorial"
But Miss Kingsley saw danger ahead
and she moved to a more discreet dis
lance
''Shot or not shot, shall walk across
this floor. Kingsley-oh, confound this
leg. Excuse me. Come here, Virginia,
like sensible girl, and kiss me. 1
don't believe you care row of pins for
me. l have proposed to you by letter
and by word of mouth. l am poor
lame devil, half sick yet, with all the
signs of relapse coming on, and you
won't call me Brad, darling, again.
Herose and cautiously lowered one
foot to the floor. COW! merciful
goodness, what twinge! Oh, do bring
me something; there are salts on that
table"
Miss Kingsley. thus thrown off her
guard, ran with the smelling salts and
applied them to the sufferers nose.
Only for a moment, though, for the
salts fell on the floor and she was held
fast.
''It was mean advantage to take
said Brad a moment later, laughing
triumphantly. ''but what else could
do? And truly that foot did make me
vince little. Don't try to look so
severe, Kingsley. I know you are not
half SO angry as you try to appear.
Now go into the next room again and
fra little box in the lower right
hand drawer of the desk and bring it
to me-"
Virginia obeyed and then straight
ened her hat before the mirror.
cit is scandalously late, nearly
noon," she said, land press day, too.
I have ever so'many galleys Of copy
here. to say nothing of the editorial
which you did not write"
Bother the paper. It's editors do
not become engaged every day. Come
here, Kingsley, and let me see how this
ring fits"
Gle buys solitaire" she said,
saucily. ''Independent stock must
have taken a sudden rise"
Don't be impertinent, child. 1t was
my mothers ring. She told me to keep
it for my wife. I think she would like
you, Kingsley. Give me your hand,
quick. 1t is time for my lunch, and /
think hear Mrs. Smart coming. A per-
feet fit. You ought to kiss me for it."
''Do you see what the clock tells?
Where did put my glasses? Oh, here
they are. Good morning, Mr.. Harper"
Smoky City has fulfilled the predic-
tions of its most hopeful boomers. 1t
is thriving city now. The Indepen-
dent is the leading paper, and the edi-
tor is rich man. Mrs. Bradley Har |
per keeps her carriage, and no longer |
wears an ink-stain on the index finger !
of her right hand. Mrs. Harper, her |
husband calls her very properly III |
but in private he always adj
dresses her as Kingsley.