The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-06
Stories Of an Inland State.

ton. Joey felt that tact alone could lea
him to victory. but impulse drove him on Z
an unheeding plunge into the very heart o
the matter.
His determination was impatient of della
and deaf to discretion. He loved her. Til
shadows that hid in her magnificent hair
| the languid glory of her dreaming eyes
the normal fever OF life which tinted he
soft white skin, the active invitation il
Transporting bps, these overwhelmed him
filled him with disquieting eagerness
| would have been sacrilese to stay. an eager
ness that it was not in man to stay.
1 There are men who rise to such eagernes.
| who. thrilled with a fancied invitation K
| love. and the elemental exaltation of love
grow mad for possession. These are the
men who forget dinidence. to whom rebuff
or forced retreat seems impossible, to whom
| the thought Of failure is never a guest. but
| is shut out and locked and doGbled-locked
out.
The energy Of such a love admits of nc
brake capable of staying 1t. Once in move
| nent. with a courageous. undoubt.ng ego
| tism, it holds itself irresistible. ~ love,
she must love-" is the sequence. for his
wish becomes her command. his desire her
necessity. He needed no word to bid him
proceed on his way to her heart and no
glance, no cheering smile. Nay, no frown,
no denial, not even absolute disavowal.
cruelty. faithfulness. nothing could turn the
ferocious tide of his affection he thought.
HIS love for her had but one argument;
she lived and he lived; it was impossible
that both should not love. There is a
faith whose very intensity argues the GER
tain fulfiIlment Of the hope. a faith whose
existence in the human breast stands as
irrepressible evidence of Supreme Being
too noble to inspire It falsely, so there is a
love which In its intensity will turn to its
Inspiration. as its creator, and rash. heady.
blind and unreasoning, demand acceptance
there.
Perhaps the thought came to him that
she might not love him. He put it away
lightly HIS love-could she inspire 1t and
refuse it? Impossible.
Still his mind demanded tact the tedious,
certain, studied watch Of the caprices Of
her heart. He felt that that would be the
safer game. But why safer, when the
other the plunging charge of a yearning
heart was irresistible?
Nonsense The impulse which she had
inspired could best storm her heart. 1t
was her own.
set out boldly to declare himself. The placi-
city of certain triumph set upon his brow,
the fever Of eagerness for the trial flushed
his cheek. He did not need any excuse
to call upon Nell Everett She had given
him an invitation without day or limit.
HIS step was as light as his heart when
he walked brtskly down the country road
the same evening and went into the Mat
Id IL Nall he
little vine-clad porch Of the small farm
house.
She arose to meet him with little smile
" hich he in his confidence exaggerated and
which on her part was nothing more thar
formal.
Miss Everett" he said. You have seen
everything but our wild-fowers. Down on
the meadows less than half mile, the
fields are all paved with petals and have
come to take you there. The sun is just
down and the evening COOL"
II am sure do not care for the wild
flowers" she said coldly.
But you must come. You under-rate
them"
This was direct challenge for direct
refusal and she. prepared to give it. forced
1t back from her lips and asked him to
wait moment.
She came back presently with a great
leghorn cushioned on her glorious hair with
holding red buds above. The Sunday be-
fore when he had first and last called upon
her she had detected this mans affection
much as he had denied 1t. Now when he
Rad come again, she felt declaration COM
ing. There was a little flush of triumph
for the moment and then vexat.ous sense
OF annoyance. They had passed out on the
country road when she said:
Mr.. Reuter-, I will be frank with you
but do not understand your call tonight.
Our nonsense Of the Sunday is over. You
certainly understand that"
He merely nodded.
''Why do you not speak, she asked ap-
pretending something she could not divine
clearly, but which oppressed her.
Miss Everett he said suddenly, taking
one of her hands. II love you"
In the flash Of his eyes she saw his sin
cer.ty The comedy had ended. He went
on rapidly.
Miss Everett, you must listen to me.
II eloQuence can win you, forgive me II I
halt and stammer for all lovers do but
love you-you are my life. You have said
Eothins. done nothing. looked nothing to IN
wife me to say this, you yourself are the
invitation, the very fact that you live and
are not NINE conclusively assures me that
you are to be mine. Mine you are now.
You must, you shall love me-"
The rapidly with which he said this did
not rob it Of its emphasis.
She took her hand away with a murmur
of NO, No"
You must affirm" he said. There is
no hesitation that is legitimate here much
less a disavowal. You have filed me with
a love that will not brook the coldness Of
its own crea tor. You must love me-"
She placed her hand back upon his by
way of protest and then she spoke distinct
~, magisterially almost:
IF j told you my inclination was TO be
coQuettish here, YOU would not believe me,
Mr.. Reuter-. But that is the truth. have
represse il. Believe me- I am most
serious. You have evidently fed the fuel
of folly to passing fancy-and are need
lessly stimulated now by wfimI do not
understand men. Sir, but I want you to be-
leve me sincere when ! tell you that /
do
Fearful that she would speak unfavorab-
ly. he stopped her. with an apprehenssve
step forward.
Stop" he said hoarsely. You shall
rever say that You do not mean IT, You
know my love and its depth. you have hon
ored il by treating Il seriously, but you
shah not deny it"
II was the first brush and he was retreat
ing with angry disappointment. He raised
his eyes TO her and continued in a low
monotone: