The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-19
Stories of an inland State.

| CtOrleS OF an lnidn0 Stdto.
| That our natures are primarily noble i
most remarkably shown by tee wayward'
jealous guardianship of the innocent. /
the truth were known, the world would
probably find that general sin is abhorren
TO the single sinner, and only his individual
lapse pardonable. If you could elevate &
thief to the bench, no judges severity
would be feared by thieves so much as his
a thief set to catch thief is not only eff
ficient for the task because he knows ths
practices of the thief and his haunts al6
tricks, but because he ha<es thief and
desp;ses him and will pursue him unrelent
ingly.
Since Nell Everett had discovered John
| Wr.ght's malice and the dreadful determin.
| alton which had sprung from it. she felt
| herself called TO thwart him. If the worst
came to the worst, she believed she must
inform the police. The knowledge that he
had been her benefactor was weighed with
an added portion Of full gratitude, but II
did not balance the crying demand within
her TO save her fellow men. She did not
| entertain the thought of possible reward
for her information or the possible suspi-
cion il might throw about her and the in
which would come with an expose. This
| old man was mad, with an insanity of a
single dire purpose, and she must stay his
hand at any cost.
She had hoped for some way out of the
difficulty by which she could save those
whom he threatened without punishing
him. She had no sympathy with his an
arch;stic notions. Her mind pierced through
the passion of the moment and saw clearly
the visionary decreptitude of the old man.
Argument with him she knew to be useless.
If she had been a man she would have
used force.
Much as it IS derogated,'' she said to
herself, violence is an excellent persua-
sion. Violence has no appeal. If 1 could
intimidate him with the threat of little
corporal hurt, / could prevent him from
this act. A man Will face a library of
statutes, restrictions and legal penalties
who will quail before the impending penal
ty of a clenched fist. If I could knock
him down and beat him, he would drop
this"
In seeking for some means by which to
forestall John Wright's act, she thought of
joey and once thinking of him, resolved
to appeal TO him.
She did not know the truth of Joey's pres
cree on the farm, but he had been guilty
of something and had been in hiding. He
could not easily expose John Wright to the
police for fear of counter accusation.
She resolved 10 call on Joseph Renter.
Her passion, long suppressed, came again
when she proposed to see him. and as she
dressed TO go to him, the past seemed to
become the present, for she attired herself
in her best and with glowing hope OF his
approval. II was as if there had never been
estrangement from him, and that this visit
was but a continuance of their courtshp.
But the fancy of the moment faded when
she got out on the street and took her
way TO the great store which she knew
was growing richer day by day. And the
thought of her own fallen fortunes and her
condition in life embittered
her, so that when she reached the store |
she refrained from going in. held as she |
was by bitter envy Of the fortunes of the |
house which she had once planned to own |
and control.
She loitered about on the opposite !
side of the street with the appearance of |
an industrious shopper. It was yet two |
hours before the great store closed. Per-
haps her mind would change and she 1
would permit herself to go in.
But she had not waited long until ne |
came out with the young woman at his |
side. Madge was dressed plainly but will
urban TASTE while Joseph, in shining tile |
and clothes of faultless cut, was gloved |
and booted in exquisite taste, and tripped |
along with the light. graceful carriage of
gentility, which labors so little
that walking is a physical luxury.
There came into Nelrs mind as she watch
I'd him the memory of his figure as she
first saw him, his rough, ill-ftting clothes
lis SLOUGH hat. his heavy, wrinkled boots
with the dust gathered in the deep grooves
IF the leather and his big. brown, knotty
hands, now so delcately gloved.
She smiled at the contrast and then, So
oering. rebuked herself for her folly in not
accepting his attentions on the country
Dad. D:mly now she could see the penalty
or her cupidity. Had her heart been I'M
ainted then with the hope of gain. this
nan would have been now her husband.
Joseph Reuter-, tall, graceful and dressed
xqu;sitely and his employee passed on up
he street with Nell Everett following
hem. She did not know why she should
log his footsteps; she did not mean to
peak 20 him, but the two figures attract
d her. and she kept them in sight.
They walked leisurely, loitered a while in |
he park and went on. She watched him |
id Madge goodbye a her doorstep, hold
ng her hand and tipping his high hat. She
urned away, hoping ne would come up to |
er. but determined not TO attract him in |
ny way. She walked slowly and heard his |
oot-falls close behind her, then beside her
nd with down-cast eyes, for she did not |
ermit herself TO look, beyond her. She
ID not believe ne had ignored her, but his
allure TO recognize her and accost her
hoked her with emotion.
But at the same moment he turned and
topped.
She came Up to him with graceful ten
erness. Every detail of her marvellous
plendor of person and beauty of face,
eemei 10 vie with one another for hts
harmed glance. Her soft brown eyes, cast
own, the fringes OF quivering lashes rest /
x on her delcately flushed cheeks round {
] in distracting lines to her white. soft I
hin. drawn slightly with emotion, her gold I
4 hair. with its rich Involving coils in
lscinating disorder. the hutter of the dra- g
cries on her swelling bust, the curv.ng ,
weep OF hips, the undula;ions OF her long ,
g M skirts. the tinted outlines OF her arms g
trough the thin material Of the sleeves, her
ps full and trembling with a CLINT of pearl !