The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-21

anu SttCleu III DeVOuSHlIc, anu w uOSo
pet hobby was breeding and exhibiting
dogs of various kinds, especially New
foundlands, of which he possessed some
remarkably fine specimens.
In the result, although one of Mr..
Sydney's dogs gained the first prize,
Chance, to the great pride Of his mas
ter, carried off the second. beating two
or three others of the Dismouth kennel.
Their owner was not present at the
show, but his manager, man named
Scott, whose speech bespoke north
country origin, at once offered Nesoit
handsome price for the dog. Although
the money would have been particular
ly acceptable, however, he hesitated to
part with Chance, who was the chief
pleasure and solace of somewhat
dreary life
When, two years before, he had been
appointed stationmaster at the little
village OF Wheathope, everyone tho ught
that the company had dealt very con-
siderately by their disabled servant. 1t
was true that the position was rather
stagnant for a young fellow who had
been one of the most promising drivers
on the line and might have aspired to
the ''Scotchman" in time, but one arm
having been rendered permanently
helpless in saving railway horse from
being crushed to death more active
work was impossible.
His mates laughingly told him that
a station mistress would be required,
and his sweetheart Cis made no doubt
that he would at once ask her to fill
the post
But Nesbit was a prudent man. He
knew that some savings ought first to
be laid by, and to maine the house ha Bit
able for wife would completely ex-
haust his little store, already heavily
drawn upon by expenses connected
with his illness. He felt, moreover,
that his health had been more seriously
shattered by the accident than anyone
knew, and that his appointment there
fore might at any moment have to be
resigned.
1t was not very easy to make the
necessity for waiting clear to Cicely,
who, though sweat and true and Iowa
bic, had no great turn for economy and
forethought.
Marks anxiety for the future and
fear of dragging her down to poverty
seemed in her hastv, Impetuous
thoughts to be signs of cold indiffer-
ence rather than of the deep unselfsh
love which really prompted him, and
the uncertainty about his health, which
would have thrown a light on his mean
ing, was carefully hidden lest he should
alarm or sadden her.
In the first morbid depression conse-
qucnt on his misfortune, too, he
doubted if he was justified in holding
her to the engagement, and this feel
ing gave a constraint to his manner
which she was quick to misinterpret
and resent.
For his part, he attributed her i'm
patient TO want of love and q
desire to be free; thus the misunder-
standing led up to a serious quarrel and
parting by mutual consent
Nesbit's new work, therefore. began
under depressing circumstances and
there was little in the way of friendly
compsnionship to brighten it. Since
their parting he had seen no more of
his sweetheart, who had taken a maids
place in the south. Recently, however,
tidings of her had come through one Of
his old friends, Raine Shafto, whose
wife was intimate with Cicely.
Her new employers, military people,
had offered to take her to India in Oc-
tober. and Shafto urged his friend to
seek reconciliation before it was too
late.
He believed that the girl was secret
" srieving, aud that only pride pre-
vented her sending some token of re-
pentance.
Mark pondered this counsel. waver-
ing and rormented between lore and
pride and doubt He longed to follow
Shafto's advice. vet memories of that
last painful interview battled with his
more hopeful mood One thing he re-
solved-not to plead with Cicely to re-
new a waiting engagement. If no
sought her again he must ask her TO
marry him at once.
In regard to means he was in much
the same case as before, for he had not
been able to save very much Yet. But
everything might be made easy by the
sale of Chance, for whom he had re-
peatedly had of ers ranging from five
to about fifteen pounds.
He smiled grirnly at his own senti-
mentality IN feeling this TO be impossi-
bic. Some verses ran in his mind
about an Arab who. trying to sell his
tavcri.e horse ended hr Mncin0 hack