The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-09
Stories of an Inland State.

l | to the incorporated iunatic asylum" a
they called Hastings Farm. President Wat
son was to bring some town folks on,
A town orchestra was to be present TIL
rugs had been thrown 70 one side and tn
, floor waxed. A supper was to be served
and on the whole the inmates of the incor
porated lunatic asylum, were promised
royal good time
The dancers arrived and the orchestrs
, started up. A rollicking grand march start
ed the frivolit.es of the evening. Myrtl,
Dawn was busy with the arrangements fol
. the coming supper and was not peepng a.
the show as most Of the servants were.
President Watson was everywhere, gent
~, almost stealthily gliding around about
among the guests. During an interim
while the orchestra was being refreshed
Mr.. Watson, having returned Miss Grace
Beffel to her seat after waltz, turned to
the company and lifting mis- eyebrows said
with wave Of his slender white hands:
Ladies and gentlemen. In the next qua
drille 1 will have for partner the belle OF
| the ball.
There were shouts Of laughter at this.
Miss Beffel blushed crimson and VIII
| Wynants looked indignant
''She Is none other
Name her! Name herr cried the young
| men.
"She IS none other than our new house
keeper
A lepd cheer met this announcement,
principally from the young EngIishmen.
President Watson tripped out Of the room
He found Myrtle Dawn and said:
Come with me, my fair one, and dance
/ the next Quadriile.'
II can not dance" she said
You can not dance! Nonsense! Any
| one can dance
MIR Watson" she pleaded "I can not
dance"
Then I will show you. Come"
She followed him to the room. The or
chestra started up.
Here" said Watson. 1--WE take your
place here. What"
His fair partner was the target Of all
eyes. But her eyes rested on one form
| VIII Wynants. She stood motionless, her
black eyes cleaning joyfully upon her old
lover. He had seen her and had touched
Grace Beffel and now they both looked
again, struck with her wonderful face and
figure.
AS they talked together, the streaming
light OF joy died in the eyes of the child
of the Indians, and the hard, bright look
come to her? All, He had seen her and
recognized. He knew. He knew she was
| Indian and felt above her And was that
her half sister? He had chosen to ignore
her"
what Is the matterr' asked Watson
studying her. Come the set is complete"
She followed him through the figures,
walking with the stiffness Of a ghost, her
heart breaking with the insult she felt the
man of her dreams had given her. Now
she looked up and most of the company had
ceased dancing and were watching her.
They were all laughing. She looked about
her for her white god. He was laughing
too. She looked at Watson. All laughing
laughing at her!
The hot blood mounted to her cheeks
"All that your belle has In beauty" said
q young man. 'She lacks In grace
Myrtle did not hear the laugh that greet |
ed the insult.
She turned with her eyes flashing, to the |
place where her former lover sat with the |
young woman. She was then the Grace |
Beffel his betrothed.
She walked across the room imperiously. |
The orchestra had ceased and the company |
grew strangely calm.
her finger the diamond ring which the out
laws had given her and handed 1t to the |
young woman.
Il return your ring"
Grace Beffel recognized the ring at once
and cried:
''Where-but no, give It to him.
"It is yours said Myrtle Take IT,"
NO" cried Grace breaking into tears.
1T is not mine
Wynants arose perplexed. Myrtle Dawn
tossed the ring in Grace's lap, turned short,
Indian fashion, and walked out Of the room.
Grace arose and rushed from the room
in tears the diamond falling to the floor.
AS Wynants turned away, Watson stoop-
ed and picked the ring up read the in
scription inside the band and said to him.
self:
Mystery somewhere. Get ready for the
next quadrille there
The dance began.
What does Myrtle know?" asked Wat
son of himself. Where is the key to that
scene of the ring?"
He went out of the room and through the |
house but nowhere could he find Myrtle
He went into the yard and wandered
around At last he found her crouched in
an arbor on the ground. He sat down be-
side her. She was sobbing bitterly He
placed his arm about her and kissed her.
"A devilish fine woman" he murmured
to himself And in sorrow"
She did not resist his kisses.
Why should I trouble her with idle |
questions, he sad to himself. What's the
mystery 10 me?"
Grace Befel had sought an upper room
IN the house and thrown herself on a bed, |
cyring silently. The ring was not hers.
Why had II come up again? An outlaw
had taken it from her finger. Why did this
girl bring it back 70 her, who was no longer
entitled to il? And VIII had stared and
lid not urge her TO take il.
Wynants went into TIC front yard and
paced up and down fever.slly. He did rot
understand how the ring could have turned
Ip as Il did in the hands of that beautiful
out awkward housekeeper.
A few minutes later woman rushed by
lin. her hair flying. and something glitter
rg in one hand, and Immediately after her
,ame his friend Watson with a long scratch
across his cheek which was bleeding.
WHAT'S the matter, Watson?" asked
Nynaats.
II stepped out doors q minute" said
Watson in his old gentle tone And ran
nto a hedge and scratched myself there.
Heavens, how il hurts. I wonder IL they've
,ourt plaster here. Damn it.''
You don; often swear. Watson
Excuse me-" said Watson. 'I wan,
ome cour: plaster" He passed into the
house
Myrtle ran on around the house. Her
ears were gone now Her long hair had
allen about her shoulders; her cheeks were