Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-10-03

this one of-Oh, Mr.. johnson. whatever
Is this ?-Dick. and-and an actress;
| taken yesterday. tool Oh. it can't be
my Dick" The poor girl sank into
chair. and it was only Johnson's pres
ence which restrained her from crying.
For the FIRST time. Huntly Johnson
felt sincerely sorry for her, but he real
lied that he had put his hand to the
/ plough, and that he could not now turn
back.
'I-er-that is, really am very sorry
that you have seen that photograph.
/ did not know It was on the table"
By this time Miss Farquhar, being
very self-possessed girl. had quite re-
covered herself.
will you be so good as TO give me
sheet of note paper and pen, Mr.. John
| SONG" she said. coldly.
Certainly; can be of any use to you
in any other way. Miss Farquhar?"
mo, thank you. I merely wish to
write Mr.. Beaufort short note" re-
turned the girl.
| She sat down and, though Johnson
could see she was still very much af-
| fected, wrote on bravely for a few min
utes; then she handed the note to Hunt
ly Johnson, requesting him to give it to
Mr.. Beaufort, and wishing him good
afternoon. left the house with a firm de-
termination never to return to it.
Presently Dick entered the room.
ooh, 1 thought I should arrive before
she left" he said in rather disap-
pointed tone. "a note from her,
though. How awfully sweet of her to
| write" Hunt1y Johnson was seized
with sudden fear lest Dorothy might
| have betrayed him in the note she had
written. Whatever is this?' shouted
Beaufort, as he glanced over the first
/ line of the note,
man, clutching hold of his friends arm,
what can she mean by writing about
| 'faithlessness,' love for another wom-
! an, etc? Look at the letter, man.
! Huntly's face turned CHASTITY white
| as he took the letter from the others
trembling hand. but as he read on he
| looked more relieved.
I'm afraid she means to give you
up. old boy. She said nothing to me
about it, though. I should go and see
| her If I were you; there is evidently
some misunderstanding"
Johnson knew he was quite safe in
saying that much, as he felt sure Doro-
| thy would refuse to see Dick. At any
rate it would get him out of the way for
! a time.
by Jove, I think I WILL" said
! Beaufort, slightly cheered by this
| suggestions; and rushing out OF the
| IOOUls ne u1dOS way " 1OIO-
| thy's house, which was not far dis
| tant. Looking at his watch, he found
| it was still early in the evening, and he
| felt quite certain of seeing his lady-love
| and explaining everything there and
then. On inquiring for Miss Farquhar,
Beaufort was informed that she was en-
| gagged, and could see him on no preteXt
| whatever.
Tell her that I must see her It is
| a matter of Importance"
But the servant merely repeated her
message, and would not even agree to
| take Miss Farquhar a small note, scrib-
| bled on half a sheet of note paper.
miss Farquhar said she would see you
| on no account whatever, sir" was all
| that the maid would say.
The door shut in Dick Beaufort's face
| and he was left alone on the doorstepI
he remained there thunderstruck for
| few minutes and then slowly walked on,
| wondering what on earth could have
given rise to Dorothy's unfair accusa-
lions. He paying attentions to wom-
| an whose character was, to say the
| least of It, shady! Was it likely that
when he had gained the love of a crea-
ture little short Of an angel in his es-
| TINA ton, he would be trying to do the
| same thing with another woman?
| Someone must have been giving her
| false information about him, that was
certain. But who could be the culprit?
Probably one of her admirers, who was
| Jealous of his success. Could it be
| Huntly Johnson? The thought chased
| itself quickly through his brain, and
| left it as speedily as 1t had entered. No;
| 1t was an ungenerous thought; he felt
| certain that his old friend would be in
| capable of such an action.
Huntly Johnson was in his own sit
| ting room as Dick entered the house.
| "She won't even see me-" the latter
| cried, throwing open the door, breath
| less with excitement; isn't 1t a shame,
| Huntly? I've done nothing to deserve
| her throwing me over like this. think
| some cad must have been telling her
| lies about me-
Huntly Johnson WINGED at this, but,
| luckily for him, Beaufort did not notice
| 1t. Beaufort walked to the table, and
| began absently to turn over some pho
| tographs which were lying there. Sud
| denly the other saw him start as he took
up a photograph in his hand; Johnson
| made wild clutch at it, but it was too
| late.
johnson, what does. this mean?"
shouted the young man. "a photograph
| of me kissing Kitty Hawthorne! I'M
| possible! I never did such a thing in
my life" Suddenly his former suspicion,
| that Johnson was the cause Of all this
| trouble, returned to him. johnson,
| don't deny it," he said; confess that
yon did this out of spite because was
going to marry Dorothy FarqChar."
An explanation ensued. Johnson was
certainly subdued and Inundated by
Dick Beaufort's kindness. He offered
| to make the only amends in his power,
namely to go to Dorothy's house and
confess everything. At first, in answer
| to his knock, a message was returned
| that Miss Farquhar was engaged and
refused to see him, but by dint of per-
| severance he was at last allowed to en-
| ter. Dorothy al first treated him coldly,