The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-15
The Last Hope.
(By Kenyon West. In Five Parts.)
PART I.

Il
| night, Dora? - - Dora. DID yo
4 hear me?'
The young lady thus addressed was sit
ting before a wide window opening on
| upon a lawn made beautiful by the light
and shadows from the afternoon sunshin
| and the masses of clouds sailing acros
| the sky. She was absorbed in these ex
| quisite effects OF light and shade and sh
! did not hear the light step of her sister be
| side her. Now at the heightened tone o
| her voice she half turned around:
Mrs. CANDLES? Oh, yes; I suppos
| So
| "You don't speak as though you caret
much for going. 1 saw Eva Gamble TIL;
morning on Commonwealth avenue, an,
| she said only lovers of music will b
there, and then few young people wis
are to have a lovely little dance after tn.
| musicale is over. But it's no use talking
| to you. You're not listening
my dear Lillian, l am. But why car
not I catch a glimpse OF beauty at ths
same time? 1 don't believe you have ever
noticed what a glorious day it is, but are
thinking more of the costume you and
Elsie have been concocting for tonight
Confess now" and Dora turned a smil.
ing face around to her sister.
well, 1 really think you ought to tel
Elsie what gown you intend to wear. The
poor thing will prabably find something
awry at the last moment" answered Lii
Ian, with a trace of petulance. IF you
showed little more interest in these COM
monplace details you would often be a
more agreeable companion. People
wouldn't think you so cold and unenthu-
siastic as they often do"
do they think that?" asked Dora, with
almost an accent of pain in her voice. 'It
is cause of regret, surely, that people
are not satisfied with me- notably my gay,
pleasure loving little sister Well dear.
well have to hunt for some conventional
mould TO fashion me all over"
I'm sure you didn't use to be so indif-
ferent to these lovely little parties that
Mrs. Gamble gives. Why can't you forget
that disagreeable affair, and let US both
be happy as we once were?"
This time Doras dark eyes left the
clouds to themselves, and were fastened on
her sisters face with an expression Of ur-
mistakable reproof.
, do you know, Lii, that often regret
that 1 ever yielded to your entreaties and
told you about that unfortunate affair?
You keep it in memory constantly. If
am ever moody, you speak of it as a di-
rect outcome of thatsietter. If 1 Bury my
self in a book you infer that 1 am eating
my heart out with grief. I wish to assure
you that desp:sed letter has been forgot
ten-and / wish you also to understand,
dear. that you are never again to allude
to the subject"
The rich voice began to tremble, and
Dora's eyes went back to a book she had
been holding. The next moment, however,
she threw it impatieatly on a chair and
abruptly left the room.
Mrs. CANDLES rooms were well filed by
the time the Winfords entered.
What a striking looking girl Miss Win
ford is,' remarked Miss Curtis TO Mrs.
Mortimer Brown, as Dora passed on her
fathers arm.
"Yes, she has a fine face Beautiful in
my opinion except for its sad expression
when she is not talking"
What do you suppose is the cause?'
"An unfortunate love affair, people say.
She bore it well, but. I'll tell you all
about it after a while. We're so near the
piano we shall have to stop talking now.
We are to hear Prof. De Liszt, you know"
Mrs. Gamble had called this musicale
DuI SOLDG VI ItT SutSlS were lOpeieSSly
insensitive to the finer, more subtle crea-
tons of musical genius. In order that
they might not be bored beyond the limits
Of their endurance, Mrs. Gamble had lit
up her extensive grounds and opened a
long suite of rooms behind the drawing
room leading to the conservatory, so that
might indulge their propensities without
Z -rrh.nov ba trna Of oxx-l1n
nained behind in the draw:ng-room.
1t was not long before Lillian and Dora,
the latter, in spite of her own wishes, found
themselves in the midst of merry young
people. II was from no indifference to
music that Dora responded to a gentle
mans offer of his arm for a stroll among
he trees. He was an intelligent, agreea-
Die fellow. with a few well-thought-out |
deas and an original way of giving them
But even while attentive TO
lin Dora'S ears were half for the beauti-
ul sounds which fioated out through the
,pen windows. And soon she stopped her
voice by an abrupt command
oh, please listen''
He did listen for few minutes VERY
pretty, is it not? But We are too far away. |
Shall We go nearer the windows?"
When intensely interested in book. |
or anything which ministered TO
Ter love of beauty, Dora had the bad habit |
# not interrupting her enjoyment by an
wering trivial questions. This was one |
f Lillian't greatest trials with her SIS |
er.
Suppose 1 take you back to the draw |
ng-room," continued Mr.. Brooke. you
an hear there"
Thank you
But at that moment the music ceased |
mid storm of applause. The musician,
diffident, nervous-Iooking little man.
ad left the piano evidently without the in
ention of responding to the cries OF en-
ore from different parts Of the room,
rhen he heard a qu;ck step behind him;
hen voice say in low tone:
viii you not give US The Last Hope
nee more, Prof. De Liszt? Please, for
ny sake
For your sake. Mees Winford, would
lay 1t many more times zan once" re-
ponded the little professor, with a de-
GIFTED glance up at the tall figure before
i'm. The next moment he was seated at |
he piano, with Dora near him.
Even in the midst of playing he some
mes glanced at her absorbed ana
loughtful face. She was one of those
are women who can cross a room or
and in view ot a crowd without being
onscious either of herself or OF the scruti-
V of others. Now. as she listened 70 the
lusic which was speaking to her inmost
Jul, the scene around her. the gayly-
ressed people, the brilliant lights. all be-
ame 10 her the dream and the shadow,
lille thronging memories OF a scene IT.
&c past. OF a face and voice. even hs-
Tn words IN answer, became 70 her the
Ingible reality.
1t Takes a Woman To Ftnd Them.