The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-05
Stories of an inland State.


1t was her conviction now. however. that
her mute appeal for forgiveness had been
sufficient and she had been forgiven.
II was her intention to see him again
soon and discover whether she was cor
rect in this supposition. The opportunity
came sooner than she expected.
She had called upon Mrs. Reuter- the
afternoon of two days later when Joey came
home with headache of which Nell, with
cut knowing il, was the cause. Mrs. Reu-
ter, master hand at making opportunities.
was called out, and left Joey alone with
Neil.
She approached him timorously and plac-
ed fer hand on the arm of the chair in
which he was sitting and asked:
Are you very sick?"
He glanced up into her loving eyes and
down upon her hand whose whiteness was
broken by a single simple ring.
NO" ne answered in honesty that could
not be suppressed. mo. am not sick.
Not now
But 1 fear you are" she said gently and
her voice filed his heart TO overlooking.
Not now" ne said you make me
we'll"
'I?''
You. Nell Everett" he said you and
only YOU
And how?" she said really puzzled.
"Ahr' he said springing to his feet with
madness in his eyes. You make me
well. Your hair Could only touch it ~
And he raised his hand TO her mass of
golden hair but did not touch it.
She smiled family.
MY hair?"
your hair. and your eyes. They make
me we'll Oh. Nell, they are the most
pleading eyes on earth, in heaven. How
Deep how bright. how beautiful they are.'
He bent toward her gazing with intensity
into her open, smiling eyes.
She dropped them modestly then and he
went on:
And your lips, Nell. How beautiful your
lips are. 1 would give my life for kiss.
They are so beautiful. so very beautiful.
They make me well. Your presence. Nell,
your breath upon me, your hands, your
living, heavenly beauty makes me well"
HIS outburst was so fierce that she bush
ed even without the aid of intention 10 do
So and he stood quite near her now and
held his hands clasped before him and with
out touching her, SAID
II could pick you up and run away with
you, steal you, carry you to the ends OF the
earth and further-to the ends Of the earth
because -"
He got no further but stood above her
holding his hands together and burning his
glance into her eyes, so that she took a
step backward in spite of herself and ac-
knowledged fear of his ferocity.
She certainly did not understand this.
What was the suppression in his voice and
restraint in his manner? From what did
it come? Why had ne not touched her
hair? What damper stopped the fury of
this mans love and made ii more furious
still by combining it?
She could not tell. She stepped forward
quickly and placed her little hand on both
of his and said:
And then you have not -"
But he interrupted her impatiently with
a protest and she did not complete IL.
"A woman's hand, Nell! How beautiful
il is How softly is lis office of loving care
pursued-and how it is tearing my heart
CUT"
Suddenly she withdrew the hand and
walked away. She was standing on ur-
known ground and did not want TO trust
10 impulse. What was the matter with
this strange man?
From where she sat some little distance
away she studied him, now seated in a
chair collapsed nerveless, angrily despond-
ept.
And after little while she said:
Above ali let us be reasonable. First
explain
Il have nothing to explain" he said de-
jectedly.
You say my hair is beautiful, my eyes,
my lips, myself. my hanI-and that 1 am
tearing your heart out. I do not under
stand"
Don't" he cried fearful the analysis of
her shrewd mind.
Il do not understand you, and you must
explain
II can not explain"
She smiled and coming to him said with
tenderness:
There now. am sure your headache is
gone, thanks to this little scene. which
can not explain. Tell me now soberly
what is the mystery OF your residence on
a farm where 1 first met you. Perhaps
that may explain
Some day shall tell you. Not now"
Certainly she said piqued at the re-
fusal
He turned quickly at her tone.
Don't take offense." he cried. Some
day. I would not offend you. Nell. Oh |
Nell, what a grand woman you are,'
said with an assuring smile. Tell me,
what did the outburst mean? You are an |
enigma TO me. truly"
Let me ask you a question. II we can
rot control our thoughts and our thoughts |
are guilty. do We sin?" he asked quickly.
The question came to her as an accusa- |
ton ana she shrank from him involuntarl-
ly. |
She studied has face keenly. This man |
had given away to pass:on-and that pas |
sion love for her-she knew this. But why |
had he suppressed declaration, and to her /
il was conspicuously grotesquely missing in |
all that he had said.
II can not answer the question" she said |
Iowiy. Il would not make out the whole |
world sinful?"
Then we all sin. In thought?''
Il would not Ike TO say SO fatty. We |
may not be OF the purest and be unfair 10 |
the purest by using ourselves as a stand
ard. But many. many sin in thought"
And II is wrong
Yes, it IS wrong
and she said:
And may ask you a question:
Yes
And you Will answer it?''
YES"
rs the man who demands the assurance
II I love you a fool?'
He WINGED and tried TO remember where |
le had heard those words before
He did not answer.
is the woman who demands the assur-
.ace OF I love you fool?'
Nell" he said She must demand IL"
''-Ah. but let her get her answer in the
yes. the biush?'
Again h. vfuce5 srd <-sa5 - -s-.-bsr /