The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-07
Stories of an inland State.

Curtains at the sides OF the hallway
waved suspicuodsly, a second later, ard
from their sides peeped curious eyes. From
the top Of the stairs came a slight cough,
a cough of gentility, cough that changed
its mind when half born and turned to q
sigh.
A frai1 figure with a satin brocaded and
quilted dressing gown clutched with feeble
fingers about 1t, pale face with great
solemn hollow eyes showing above stood
at the stair leaning YEARLY against the
newell
The frail man glanced around him with
the extreme of ennui and called softly:
Agnes! Agnes 1 say"'
The curtain conceal,ng the servants fut-
tered violently.
A woman rather careworn but sweet with
mellowing womanhood, came to the stairs.
Agnes said the man. VIII you give
me the kindness Of your help down these
horrid stairs"
The woman tr,pped up the stairs put
her arm around the man and lifted him
down tenderly.
At the bottom he put the woman away
from him and stood quite independently.
His eye glanced furtively from curtain to
curtain.
"Ah,'' he said not voicing his suspicion
that the servants were watching. and waiv
ing his impulse to reprimand them.
The woman placed her arm through his
and led him into study. He seated him
self IN a great armchair.
MY tea. Agnes; my tea" he said irrita-
bly, tapping arm of the chair with mis- slen-
der fingers.
1T Is waiting for you"
"Yes. Be so kind as to bring It here"
Agnes brought in the tea. He tasted It
daintily with spoon and put It away from
him with a gesture of annoyance.
Agnes he said reproachfully.
'It Is too hot
'I should say two degrees too cold. I
must have IT so or can not drink it,
81 know. 1t is my fault"
"Ah," he answered in approval Of the
self-conviction.
The tea was soon brought He drank It
slowly and in silence.
When b. had finished the woman stood
beside him with a box Of cigarettes. He
took one listlessly and turned to her. She
was ready with lighted match and held
1t to the point.
He pulled slowly, turning the lighted end
repeatedly TO his eyes and looking into il.
what DO the papers say?" he asked
slowly. ''Ah, yes. What do they say?"
"Fulsome praise as usual
They are so tiresome. Callers?'
Eyes. Several"
"Ah"
Here are the cards, among them Mrs
VanBruner and her daughter"
They In the morning. Such taste"'
He took the cards up one at time and
dropped them again without looking at
them.
you told them-yes what did you tell
them?'
THAT you could not be disturbed
''They are worth, yes; what are they
WORTH"
Report says fifteen million"
Fifteen rniIlionw AS the man repeated
L he looked up to Agnes with something
Of a smile. And said:
'T, Burr, could not be disturbed! Another
cigarette. What o'clock?''
ELEVEN now
1.-THE day IS very long. There Is the bell" |
Agnes left the room and came back pres |
emily. TT is the agent from anyways. You
promised them a testimonial for their |
piano."
so I did. Write It yourself. Tell him |
He'n mail it,
'oThey wish an autograph letter for re- |
production"
THE beasts. can not spare the exer- |
Jon. Tell them they can not have It."
'-They left grand here this morning"
"a grand. Tell them 1 can not spare the |
They must take what they can |
get from me-
When Agnes returned the man was mus
ng and they sat in silence a long time.
A. last he spoke feebly: This fame,
Agnes?"
you have It now"
at is not what thought It. II is so tire
some"
THE country rings with your name"
1.-The east"
And the west?'
Unto the smallest hamlet, do you say;
ITO the smallest hamlet?''
And among all classes?'
Among all classes"
cit IS very tiresome. Another cigarette"
The woman lighted his cigarette.
'"The barber?"
He is waiting
Send him away. Let him CONS again In
wo hours
When Agnes had again returned to his
ide he asked:
This fame, Agnes?'
The woman who had made Alsernon |
Burr, who had opened up his every oppor-
unity. had secured his scholarship abroad,
vho had lifted him into fame and fortune
who had done II for pure
ove and continued to do 1t for love that
ad all but ceased 70 hope for requital,
atient. suffering, forebearing. worshipful
agnes knew what was at the mans heart
nd answered:
The western flower. the Clara you tell
he about, has heard #"
Burr arose. with shaking hands lingering
t his dressing gown and asked eagerly:
you know that?"
81 guess it,
Bah"
He sank back into his chair into a state
Z collapse.
It cost the woman before him TO say
that she cid but she said Il firmly.
You must write her
And plead I, Burr"
To the woman you love"
80 had forgotten. That would be good
aste. But she has married."
You do not know that Perhaps she has
-aited.'
"You know thatT
Il guess it,
Bah"
Write her"
NO" he said Tipping THE ashes from his
igarette. IT shall not write. Perhsp. she
better. only a memory
But Il was beyond Agnes how a man
-ouid surrender his heart 10 the sol. &C.
lpancy OF a memory.