The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-01
CHAPTER ".
nv Miss Blanche Guthrial

for your loving counsels 10 me-
CHAPTER ".
(By Miss Blanche Guthrie)
So saying, she settled herself upon
the couch in half reclining position.
while rather a woe begone expression.
the probable outcome of her recent
interview. rested upon her face. The
light was turned low, its rays falling
but softly upon the furniture in the
room The whole aspect and the ex-
listing circumstances seemed 10 invite
the confidential chat in which the girls
INDUCED. My dear Margaret. do you
too, think that l look sad?" asked
Edith, trifle YEARLY. the smile which
for a time lit up her countenance
giving place to an expression hardly
describable. Dear me. il is so unfOrt-
innate. Here ! fattered myself that l
so far concealed my feelings that no
one would surmise l was anything but
one of the happiest girls in existence.
Really, Margaret. l have done my best
to live what | have not felt. that is 10
be merry and light hearted. / have
read funny stories. / have studied
funny people and thought of funny
things until I'm weary but it seems of
TO consequence whatever First thing
7 know. my features relax, my mouth
drops down at the corners, my eyes
fall back in my head. my cheeks fall
into my mouth. and before / am aware,
L look for all the world like what am,
girl disappointed in love" Here the
young lady put on a most woeful eX-
preston which caused her companion
to laugh heartily. Then while she was
still thinking of the poor count. Edith
continued: And so you think i look
sad? Mamma talks to me so often about
it, but really Margaret, / have had
great trouble and have just cause 10
feel as / do. OF course when the fam
lily speak of what l choose TO call my
great misfortune, my great unhappi-
ness. all / must do is TO smile and look
pleasant and declare that it was only
a passing fancy. But oh, those words
how cruel. Would that 1t had been
but that. Alas it was more. Only my
mother. / think, knows what / really
have suffered"
The two girls looked at each other in
silence, neither seemed to have aught
to say. The light seemed to each TO
grow more dim. Margaret by this time
was in sitting position upon the couch.
with her arm clasped caressingly
around her knees. Edith'S rather hope
less speech, her own memories of the
still more hopeless count, also those of
the two men far away across the broad
Atlantic. waiting, each very obediently.
in all probability until she should re-
turn and make the final decision. had
tendency 10 make the cold chills chase
up and down her back, while she Won
dered if life was really worth the
living.
Edith" she whispered breaking the
silence; but there was no response.
Edith gazed into vacancy as If nothing
could call her back. Edith" she spoke
this time in a low tone which caused
her companion to start and change her
position for one more upright.
Pardon me- she answered, what
is it?''
Suppose you turn the light a little
higher. Things seem rather supulchral
in here to me-"
Il had noticed that myself" respond
ed Edith. but was loath to break the
silence and monotony. Away with
darkness she exclaimed, sliding out Of
her chair and turning the light so high
that the smoke poured out OF the
chimney. The wick finally adjusted in
a proper manner, she went to the couch
| and seating herself began in different
| tone, "how about l., dear old place:
| how badly 1 felt TO leave there: TO go
elsewhere. where l must make new
! friends and new acquaintance. Do
you know Margaret, when i think OF
the happy days We have spent to-
gether in school and out, even though
| It was while We We're quite small. It
L
not describe. TO go back TO them once
more. How time has flown, and yet, it
has been many years. I've almost for
gotten the old friends. and many of our
school mates. Tell me of them; those
with whom we used to play. Has the
place ever changed? Have many new
families come or gone? II seems like
pleasant dream when / recall the few
happy years we spent there. / have
nr m nd vie
but other things have happened and II
has never been paid. Since we moved
to the city papa has been so successful
that l suppose / must not complain.
And have not. But schoOl-the boys
the girls-I wonder If any Of them re-
remembers me? What of Phil? Dear lit
tie Phil Laird, don't you remember
him, he was our constant companion?
What jolly times we used TO have.
How we used TO tease you about him
too, and your face always used to grow
so red. You did like him, now didn't
you?" During the conversation Ediths
face had grown brighter, and she seem
ed more like the little Edith Of twelve
years before, who had been one of Mar
garet's closest friends Then they had
moved; moved to the city where they
had since lived. For a time the two
children had exchanged letters which
Were fewer as the nunths passed by,
until finally they had ceased passing
altogether Since then all that Edith
had ever heard had been from Mar
garet's aunt, Mrs. Thurston. who visit
ed Ahem occasionally when in the city.
During the interim the girls had
each been educated in their different
ways, Margaret in the south with re
latives and Edith in the north. and for
over ten years they were as strangers
TO each other.
"One at a time, please" laughed Mar
garet, referring to the many questions.
About l.. II is much the same pretty
sleepy little village which you left. The
population has necessarily changed
somewhat Many there were who went
TO fight for their country who never re-
turned. Others have met death quiet
ly at home. / think II would still seem
pleasant to you however, were you 20
visit there again. And, by the way.
must secure a promise from your father
10 let you come as soon as We return
home, the time for which by the way is
not far distant now. You know our two
years have almost expired We have
only two months TO visit Germany and
England, then home Then you shall
see Phil, Of whom you speak in such
glowing terms. Yes did Ike him then
and Edith / like him still Yes / love
him now. That. / have but recently
discovered 20 my own satisfaction AZ
ter we finished the village school at
L. Phil went 20 college. Yes. heard
Of that" interrupted Edith - The
same time too, went away and We saw
each other only during vacation They
were happy days. when we walked aad
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