The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-02

A round red spot glowed on eacf
cheek; her bony fingers tremble with
excitement as she laid down her spec
tzcles.
Can You press over my leghorn hat
Miss Seaman" asked the beauty.
''Oh, my dear, I'm afraid not" SAX
the little woman, with hysterica
laugh. Haven't you heard? I'm
10 be married very sooni Capt Ed
ward Gieason-you may perhaps have
| beard Of hin-he used TO be a residen
| Of Miilltown-he has made fortune. r
| seems, in New York. and be is coming
back almost directly Toto claim ar
old promise l made him twenty years
ago. My dear, he has loved me
twenty years" Her eyes shone, hel
voice faltered with the ecstasy of hel
soul And tomorrow he is coming
back 10 me. Oh, Miss Islay. it seems
| almoet like a dream!"
| She laughed again. but Der eyes were
| full of tears. Isabel moved uneasily;
she was almost frightened at what she
| had done. The Joke did not seem hah
SO jocose as it had at first, since poor
Miss Genevieve accepted 1T 10 such dead
| earnest.
She took advantage of the entrance
Of customer TO slip out OF the little
! shop.
Girls" said she to her conspirators,
I'VE must tell her that 1t is only a
joke.
Tell her!" echoed Lucy FELTON,.
'sWhot for? She'll find it out soon
enough. She needn't have been such q
silly, anyhow
sit will Kill heri" pleaded Isabel
mo it won't People don't die 50
easily" laughed Lucy.
''Heard the news about Miss Gcnny
Seaman said Mrs Webb at the
clearinghouse breakfast table the
next morning as she poured the coffee
and helped the eggs and bacon around
Isabel looked guiltily up.
NO said she. What Is its''
"Fouud dead 10 her cheer" said Mrs
Webb. "a smiiin' Rs happy as child.
Some heart trouble, the doctor says :"
Isabel drew long breath. So she
had died and never knew how cruelly
she had beer deceived. she drew
Mary Crane and Miss FELTON, aside.
Girls" said she, you must never
breathe q syllable of this to anyeody.
Let the secret die with this poor little
woman"
but she died happy at last" said
Mary, with the tears running down her
cheeks, believing that her old sweet
heart Yves coming back to her.
Yes, but that doesn't justify our
cruelty" whispered Isabel. And then
and there the three girls entered into
compact of Sc creey.
Miss Genevieve was buried in shady
corner of the village cemetery, and on
the very day Of the funeral Isabel Islay
met tail, bearded stranger walking
along the street, scanning the houses
with keen, troubled eyes
Can you tell me-" said he, where
Miss Seaman lives-Miss Gspevieve
Seaman"
Isabel started.
Miss Seaman was buried this morn
ing. y said she. ''Oh, I'm so sorryI Was
she friend Of yours?''
They had stopped opposite tho little
gate where the wheel tracks of the
hearse were yet visible. The sign
'Milliner and DressmRker" yet creaked
IN the wind, the red sun was sinking
behind the low caves, and Miss Gennys
cat rubbed itself against the door sill as
if begging to be let in.
"a friend !" repeated the stranger, as
he drew an old-fashioned miniature
from his pocket. See, here is her
picture! I've waited all these years to
make home for her and now-she is
deadr'
Isabel Looked at the picture. Good
heavens! had Genevieve Seaman looked
as fair and dimpled and smiling as thatP
And the thought flashed across her
mind that it was well that Capt. Glea-
Son had not been undeceived. yes"
she repeated softly, "she is dead"
And were you her triendp"
Yes, was ner~ friend-at least as
much as anyone here" fslteringly
owned Isabel feeling like an impostor.
Then perhaps you can tell me some
thing of her. i wanted TO surprise her
and now"
His voice was choked. he turned his
face away.
Isabel told him. in low, sweet voice, !
all that she could-all that was good |
and cheering and hopeful-and Capt !
Gleason went back to the village hotel, |
with his hands behind his |
back. and his head dropping on his
breast
For the time he truly mourned the
sweetheart of his youth, but no one
Fan grieve forever. Moss grows over
The fallen tree; violets bloom over the |
new made grave. Poor Miss Genevieve.
was dead and buried, and when the |
next summer blossomed over the land .
Capt. Gleason was married to Isabel /
Islay.
''lf death was really so near her, I'm
ylad ! wrote the letter that made her
happy" thought lisa bel And Edward
will always think of her as young and
beautiful! But l never, never will play
another practical joke Helen Hurst,
n Kansas City Times
Large Sail-Making Machine.