The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-01-26
Stories of an Inland State.

|
first and rude approach on an elevatet
train.
He had called upon her in her home twic
since-he guessed il was her home h
didn't wrangie long over that question
and his first impression of the woman hae
been confirmed and had grown stronger
Here was at last the woman he had beer
seeking fer so many years
How perfectly she understood him. How
correctly she guaged every glance. the in
tention Of every word, the import Of ever,
pause, and meaning of sentences beguI
and never ended. With her he had founC
that words concealed and reticence reveal
ed. They knew each other.
| He had sit beside her on the divan in hel
home-possibly her home-and held hel
hands for minutes together, looking int
her eyes without a word. She had under
| stood and he had understood. That wa:
all-blissfuIly all. Why was the woman
Jane, so confident, he asked himself. Why
did she know he was honorable?
He has approached her a stranger in a
| public place; she had admitted him to hel
hcme; had suffered the touch of his hands
and lps-within week.
But in the midst of IL all she appeared
always confident, always unembarrassed
| always self-poised What was the key TO
the beautiful woman's equilibrium? He
| could not find it.
| At the second call he had taken her hand
| with an assurance that was brazen, but
not intended so. She had understood his
| intention and told him so with her eyes.
You are very beautiful" he had said.
There was no hush. She had looked at
| him and smiled as though 10 strengthen his
| decision with new evidence
You understand me and my emotions ?''
he had asked.
Perfectly" she had answered.
There was no purpose to be rude In
what I have done?''
None
"You are not afraid?''
"Why should 1 be?''
What is acquaintance" he asked ner.
Twice met
"And friendship?
Thrice
"And lover"
Once
'And then forever?'
Forever" she had echoed.
"You doubt?'
''You like analysis?"
"Yes"
Break yourself OF the habit"
''Why?"
'I fancy a chemist forgets at last the
taste of sugar"
"Jane," he had said taking her other
hand and looking into her eyes, what 1.
Iove?'
"a chemist does not call sugar sugar."
"NOr love lOVe?''
"No.''
you have read Grant Allenw
eyes"
'He is a chemist?"
"Yes"
'But, Jane, what is love? Why Of all the
women in the world, should you attract
me? Why do you give me this joy?'
What joy?'
'You play with me now. Your voice
changed with the question:
Did it? Yes, L understand. And,
Eyes, Jane, you love me-
'I do"'
your voice changed again. Say that
you love me-"
But you say I do"
''Yes. You dol know it-I feel it."
yet you want confirmation?'
mo. / was teasing
You like analysis very much. PERHAPS
it may be beneficial. Let US look into this
matter little.
The voice of the woman had strengthen
ed and Woods felt like boy in her pres
ence, boy who is to be lectured
You are going to lecture me-" he had
said
Yes. An honorable man having an af-
fnity for a woman might waive a formal
introduction 10 her and approach her
straight-way without offense-stilI the for
mai introduction is a valuable institution
You can not repeal that social law without
the other which gives every mar
ried woman the right of offense If she Is
approached by stranger without a formal
But, Jane. you said you were single"
Woods had declared apprehensively.
II am single" she replied But let me
continue. Love also has its social forms.
which you and 1 can not repeal for our
selves alone without penalty. You know |
of me, my life or my family, and
yet you make love to me blindly"
i have been here twice only, Jane. I |
have seen no one but you, and the girl |
who opens the door,"
THAT is true
Il do not care for your father or mother |
Or brothers or any one but you.'.
And they?'
eff necessary. will teach them to like
me-"
II have no relatives" she had said SIM
ply.
You live here alone?"
'Come. That is curiosity;
81 beg your pardon
The voice of the woman had lowered now.
''You say you love me?" she had asked
'Yes''
81 believe you. How much do you Low.
ne? Do you know how Faust sold himself
o the devil?"
'I don't follow you"
Gould you sell yourself TO me?'
Jane. what do you mean?"
Gould your whole part in life be given
,p to me?''
Jane" he had said with laugh. You
lave brought me down 10 the question of
'read and butter, You will let ne work
or that?'
mo"
'No?"
LET me provide" she had said.
Woods inclination was 10 laugh He had
hecked himself. He did not understand
he womans manner.
You are from the we-t." she had said |
Artists and literary men do not come out
( the west You must now be one or the
ther. Artists and authors starve TO death
Without a Macaenas. / shall be Macaenas
am very serious. VIII You promise u1ee'
Yes" he had said. Il shall buy an easel
I once 4;
Il shall pay for it,
'If it plesses your excellency"
''You must be wholly dependent on me"