Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-01-12

| stone, leading his companion away
where the strains Of the violin were
already calling the dancers.
/ Ii was very dark in the pines, now
shat he was beyond the lights from
! the hotel, and AylmerS started at
| finding some one crouching beside his
path. Pressing forward, he was able
10 distinguish the form of a woman.
she s. oke to him TREMENDOUSLY, as if
half fearful OF physical violence
g. ont send me away, sir, please, +"
she pleaded; Il don't mean no harm
here"
by her voice he could tell she was
one OF the people of the region; peo-
PIE who are crude, uncu tivated, I'M
schooled, but simple and kind Y, yet
terrible when reused by passion.
What are you doing here" Ayl-
! ners asked the question not because
he cared in the least, but because it
seemed lncum bent upon him to make
some answer
81 was wait ng-to see him when
he comes out" tne woman said. hest
tatingly. Il saw him through the
winnow, dancing, with his arm
around that tall, dark, beautiful
g RI"
She stopped suddenly, as if afraid
she had said too much. There was
an oRinOus note in her voice, as if it
was not well for this nameless one
that she had seen him with his arm
about that other woman.
You saw him dancing, eh? And
with another girl? Then you mean
your lover, l suppose? But how can
that hurt you You will have him
all to yourself after awhile, won't
yOu?" He spoke half-mockingly and
his contemptuous note caught the
woman's ear.
IL don't know why 1 should tell
you," she answered, sUIkily. 81 know
you are laughing at me. But 1 will,
for l must tell some one No.
sha'n't have him-after awhile, be-
cause he don't care for me. But he
sha'n't have that other girl.
''My poor woman" said Aylmers,
more gently than was his won't, II
don't know whom you are talking
about, but if / did [ should caution
him to look out for you-especal y on
a dark night like this. And my ad-
vice to you is TO go home and to bed"
"You don't know who / mean?
Then-look"
The woman seized his arm and
pointed back toward the hotel, where
i'll the sudden glare Of light from an
open door two figures were revealed
in distinct silhouette.
Something in the attitude of the
two, in the way the man bent
toward his companion, and the in
tentness with which she appeared to
listen to the words, stung AIymers
like whip He turned to the
woman with renewed interest; he be-
gan to understand the passion that
swaYed her and to feel some kinship
with her.
what is he to you?" he asked.
81 know him and he is not like
other men. He is kind and gentle
not rough and coarse"
"But you see, there is the other
woman, the one he is with now" In
spite of the hurt to himself he felt a
malicious pleasure in adding to the
woman's torment.
"What is she to me? That"
Alymers heard twig snap quickly
in her hands and shrugged his shout
ders at the suggestiveness of the
sound.
"Don't be rash, my good woman;
it won't pay. And it don't matter
very much if we don't get just what
we want"
"MaYbe not to you"
The man laughed at this ready ap-
plication OF his philosophy.
"Well, [ am going in" he said,
land it might spoil your chances if
Feathcrstone saw us here together.
Besides, this wind is toI doleful.
"Much he'd care" she answered,
land L like the wind. 1t suits me
tonight"
In the parlors an hour later the
three drew together again.
II have had unique experience,
Hugh" said AYimers. ''Out here in
the pines l CHANGED on an admirer of
yours, who had come out merely for
the pleasure of watching you through
the windows"
FeatherstOne tried to repress look
of annoyance as he answered:
''Bess MontrOss | suppose. A poor
girl here who seems to have taken a
fancy to me. Why, can't imagine.
Aylmers laughed easily.
sit was too dark out yonder to
judge of her style or beauty" he
said, ''but / think man would have
his hands full who would undertake
to curb her temper"
Eugenia rose and walked away
from them to the end of the parlor,
where the low windows led out upon
the gallery. She paused there mo-
men and then lifting the sash
stepped out into the night At a
little distance, beneath the tees, she
could make out the form of woman
She stepped down tearlessly upon the
carpet of soft pine needles.
You are Bess MOntross," she said.
Eyes" answered the woman,
briefly
Then tell me, and tell me
truly, as one honest woman to an
other, what is he to your"
In the intensity of her feeling
Eugenia had seized Tess by the arm
and brought their faces close togeth-
er, so that she had only TO whisper
her last words. and it was in. a
whisper that Bess answered.:
''He IS mine minem
''In the sight God?"
'.In the sight of God-yeS."
EuQenia touched her gently. MY
poor girl" she said.
But less shrank from her and fed
away into the night.
FeatherStOne was superintendent