The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-12-01
FOR ONE WEEK.

the balcony with ready courtesy.
with pleasure, Miss Raynor. If there
is anything can do for you, please don't
hesitate to tell me-
Elsie shivered slightly, and Keston Eyre
asked her:
fare you sure you are not in troubled"
III hardly know how to tell you, how
to ask you,' she faltered incoherently.
You will think me so strange, SO un-
womanly, and yet if you only knew by
what stress of need appeal to you you
would not, you could not blame me"
Miss RaynOr, you are making me hate
myself to feel that you have SO little trust
in me. What have done that you cannot
confide in me as you would in an elder
brother? Child, I am more than ten years
older than you. Don't you know win
never betray your confidence, whatever it
may be?''
She hesitated, grew very white, then
turned to him with a movement of pas
sionate abandon.
1t is this: Can Twill you-at least
may be engaged to you fdf just one
Week?''
Engaged to met But-but''-
"Oh, I know, I knowi" feverishly.
''You think me bold, hateful to have spo-
ken sol But if you only knew
"Hush Don't cryl could not think
such thoughts of you, child, and know
you must have some good reason for your
request stun bling somewhat over the
words Suppose you tell me the whole
story and let me see if we cannot manage
to arrange. something between US They
say two heads are better than one, you
know"
Six months ago my aunt left me for
tune, with only one condition attached to
it-that was that should become engaged
to some good, trustworthy man on or be-
fore my nineteenth birthday. She was an
or lalr Il liz
mantle, believing in love and early mar
riage almost as a creed. She knew me
only very slightly, and I had not the least
idea that she had wiIIed the whole Of her
fortune to me until the lawyers wrote me.
Before then we had been dreadfully,
grudgingly poor-sueh poverty as you can
have little idea Of gave lessons IN mu-
sic, while my three other sisters did what
little they could.
''Then Lady Layne asked me to Join
this house party, and came, hoping II
could fulfill the condition there
But my birthday is just one week from
tonight, and unless something happens
we shall lose everything, and the old,
weary life will begin again.
.'And supposing you did me so much
honor-what then?'
sit need only be for just enc week, IN
til my birthday is over. Then we could
go back to our old footing and no one need
be any the wiser"
t'Wiu you honor me by becoming en-
gagged to meG'' he asked her, in a courte-
Gus, gentlemanly way, and Elsie turned
toward him with ouUstretched hands, her
erstwhile pale face hi-shed and glowing.
Mr.. Eyre. you have done me an ines
Unable service, and cannot find words
to thank you Now, shall we-shan we
go indoors?''
Two days had passed, and the surprise
which Elsie's engagement had caused had
almost died away, though curious and
often envioJIs, glances were cast at the
diamond which sparkled on the girls third
finger. The female portion of Lady Lsyne's
house party had come to look upon Keston
Eyre as a confirmed woman hater.
The remaining days fed swiftly, and
the morning of Elsie's nineteenth birth
day daWned. A little pile Of letters and
presents lay beside her plate she took
her seat at the breakfast table.
She opened them merrily, with much
laughter and thanks yet with a dull pain
at her heart the while for among all her
gifts there was not one from Keston Eyre.
All, well, how could she expect differently
She had sent the viscount on some err
rand and was standing alone in the big,
curtained window, when Eyre joined her.
Il have not added my good wishes to
theirs as yet, - he said quietly, ''but they
are nevertheless sincere Will you accept
this as a slight remembrance of the day."
This" was an exquisite bangle with
the name Elsie" across it in diamonds,
and the girl flushed hotly with pleasure.
''Thank you very much. I will accept
it for the present 1 must speak to you
today, but there is no time now. viii you
meet me on the balcony after dinner to-
nigbt?''
Eyre was standing motionless on the bal
cony his eyes fixed on the ground. He
started as Elsie's light footstep sounded
beside him.
81 think you guess what have to say
to you, Keston, Elsie began steadily.
''You have made it possible for me to full
ill the condition of the will, and 1 thank
you from the bottom of my heart. You
have been very good, very kind, and I
shall be grateful to you all my life But
but it is no longer necessary that you
should help me, and so, and SO return
You these and will say goodby."
She drew of her engagement ring with
steady fingers, and, together with the dia-
mond bangle, laid it on the balustrade be-
side him. Then she turned silently away,
but he caught her hands in q quick, firm
sIasp.
You are very anxious to be free from
me, Elsie Have proved such a very
careless loverS Have bored you SO utter
lyY''
Elsie clinched her hands tightly. oh,
this was too much.
"Oh, hush, hushl Why need we speak
Of this nowS It is all over. Let US forget. "
''Forgetl'' he repeated, the passion he
had held so sternly in check overmaster-
ing him at last Forget Do you think
{ shall ever forget you as long as I live
and breathe? Don't you know that you
have crept into my heart until 1 can think
Of nothing, dream of nothing but you
my sweetheart, my darling Give me
tome hope, some promise that in the fu-
sure may be something more than mere
business arrangement to you. Elsie
EgeetheartP'
''This is not Pity" Elsie faltered
"Pityi 1t is the one love of my life,
EIsia Don r. fortuna mo