The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-14
Stories of an Inland State.

| reputation to come 10 MN.
But she babe him stop and he continuing.
she would not listen, but rained in anxious
! interruptions until he was forced to cease.
In his mind his obligation was signed and
sealed. His mind was made up. He had
been something of strategist in his milo
way in the past and 1t is a worldwide
weakness of. strategists to act on occasions
| bl.ndly. TO let offense wait on explanation,
be it ever so long delayed, to throw deliber-
alton to the dogs and trust in the blind,
fateful conclusions of fortune and lastly,
to pay the obligation which grows from an
| unfair advantage, to pay that obligation
by years, perhaps a lifetime of depressed
desires. So ne had made up his mind.
The pinch of self-den:al might come to him.
doubtless would, and callow regard might
demand to be warmed TO flaming affection,
and doubtless would, but to those he was
resigned, and when the time came would
meet them nobly. Now he removed them
far in the future and for the moment felt
the peace Of the soldier who does not have
to fight today But had made up his mind.
And was there no agency. on heaven in
earth, in human opportunity or superhu-
man direction, in advantageous circumstan-
ces or favoring event, which could wipe
out the resolve? A beautiful woman?
He was a man of his word. OF all things
the word of honor stands supreme. Law
nor writ nor instrument can substitute ar
equal potentiality, nor rack, nor bride of
opportunity, nor conjury of affirming tech
ncally cancel it. 1t is the jewel of pure
soul, sacred without thought of reward. in
violable without thought of penalty. AS
vase, a mans word Of honor has its being
IN, fr,o al ms nIxan
So he made up his mind, and his relations
to her were henceforth to be those OF sacred
obligation.
He turned to her now, with a deep sense
of gratitude for her restful presence and
took her hand and kissed it, while she
touched his sylvan couch here and there
trying to bring to it a greater degree OF
comfort.
He would have spoken then, but Dick
Thomas, the thief. hoped into the little
cabin and said:
cover so soon! Note the obligng thought
fulness of your friend, Mr.. Dick Thomas
so anxious to oblige that ne remained be-
yond the last kiss of welcome, which in
true love, is the first kiss of parting. Ex-
cuse mel I've come to say farewell. Now
my advice. Our mutual friend, Miss Bar
rett can not relieve the country people OF
their possessions as has your humble SER
want. That's settled. Now for my second
point, gentlemen of the jury. For the
present set up housekeeping here. Let
Miss Barrett go to the nearest and most
obscure country town and buy groceries
with what little money you have and nurse
you until you are WELL then skip out. I'm
going now. But before 1 say good bye,
Joey, let's hear your story. Come. Out
with it. You've heard mine. Go ahead"
1t was request that joey could not COM
ply with, much as he owed this fellow.
$50, hoi" cried Dick. Suspicious Of me,
Ell? Well that's unfair. But wait. Allow
me a guess. There's a woman in it!'
Joey looked at him imploringly and then
at Madge who went on arranging the little
room mechanically and feigning not to hear
wishing she could not hear.
First guess correct" said Dick Saw 1t
in your eyes. Wouldn't take money, and
no minister handy. I see. But if know
what I'm about you're unduly stimulated
over the affair. She's forgotten it long
ago and all concerned and its ridiculous for
you to be hiding now. It's all blown over.
Am I correct? OF course I am. One word
more"
He paused and looked cunn;ngly atMadse
and her rich black hair.
Blonde or brunette?'
He paused again and looked sharply into
Joey's eyes.
Blonde I'll bet. This fancy Of mans
rotates-weu good bye-no thanks-good
bye
He went out Of the little door STOPPING
and tipping his high silk hat, with an air
of great courtesy. deaf to the cries of Joey
to stay him and thank him again.
''Madge," said joey softly.
She came to him.
''Sit down here please he said kindly,
''and give me your hand. Now let me tell
you the story. There is no woman in it,
She sank upon the ground at his side
and suffered him to take her hand. Her
black hair coiled about her forehead and
her eyes glistened feverishly and her bosom
moved with a sigh, as she drew up a de-
Tense already for this man, whose confess
sion she was about to hear.
IT ask you to believe me, Madge," he
said lowly. Now and always. My father,
Jacob Reuter-, is a rich merchant in Chi
cago. Three years ago he was a prosper
Gus merchant IN New York City 1 was
an only son, and reared with that over
ders child pettish and willful. My temper
consumed me and made me unhappy most
OF the time I was not sent to school but
educated by private tutor. The place for
me was in the public schools, with rough
and-ready boys to teach me to keep my
temper and a civil tongue in my head.
But L was educated at home instead, and
all my complaints were paramount TO the
tutors protests, and all my wishes deeds
as soon as wished. l went into my faith
er's business house and began an active
management of its affairs I was tyrrani.
cal, unsympathetic. grinding on my inferi-
ors and they came to hate me. I began TO
d!ssipate wildly. 1 had a friend, Louis
Worth. young man of my age, an even
tempered. gentle boy who laughed at my
outbursts and who often said TO me that
would pay for II all some dsy-as I did.
One night we began drinking, We two. He
picked up friend unknown to me. visi-
tor in the city. named Miles. What his
first name was l never knew. We went
into a gambling house that night, over
heated by liquor. We. Miles and I. quar-
relied, and becoming boisterous. were re-
quested TO leave the house, which we did.
still clamoring angrily at each other with
Louis Worth interceding good naturally.
We passed out on wooden landing to a
staircase six stories up. The moment We
struck The fresh air, relented and reached
10 touch. yes touch. Miles arm TO make
peace with him. when he stumbled back
ward over the railing and down below. We
found him there in the alley-way dead and
left him. My friend Worth recoiled from
me- with horror. I FASTENED 10 explain.
had merely touched him. He believed me.
but he said that any court on earth would
hang me for the touch. I understood.
told him I would give myself up But ne