The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-22
Stories of an Inland State.

| at the humble home OF Mrs Banks. H
waited three days. By that time her grie
would have dried up little" '(the figur
was h.9 and he could talk to her more Il
his purpose. He left the coftin-pedestai
there with this object in mind.
AS his life had become one of conceal
ment he would have concealed the fac
from you that the Widow Banks delight
/ ed his eye. In fact he concealed it from
himself in his disp.rited manner. He arsu
| ed that her only attraction for him was hel
knowledge of His True Nature. Had sh'
not caught him, the grave Mr.. Dougla.
Martin, undertaken, actually laughing riGss-
| among his caskets? She was into the
secret of his life-the secret that he could
laugh. Sine had doubted him that day ant
he had made gallant effort to persuade heI
| he WAS sincere, by contributing the caske'
and flowers for her little daughters funeral
But he was convinced that he had merely
Closed her lips by kind act, that he had
not persuaded her that he was sincere
rlan-that she knew and held il as bomb
to be thrown under him, almost any time
IN the future, that the grave Mr.. Douglas
Martins gravity was hyprocisy-that he
was a vulgar, common laugher, who far
| from sympathiz:ng with bereaved people as
ne pretended, really made an effort to keep
Il ON wh!stling at funerals.
So firmly convinced of her knowledge
was ne that he had almost determined 10
make a clean breast of it 10 her and, show
| ing her how wicked he was. brighten her
into silence by the very audacity of his
| abandon.
He brushed off his hat and coat, three
days later consequently, and took his way
for the home of the Widow Banks. He
| carried a cane and walked slowly. He
looked glumIy at the bright sky, and as he
| crossed the bridge over the sparklin g
waters of Pepper creek he murmured Bit
| terry:
What is the cerulean sky to me? Why
| does the ripping water ripple to me for?
Why IS the lark larkish for me? Why does
the verdancy of spring smile upon me?
He heaved a sigh and exclaimed:
"A criminal
| 1t would be difficult to determine Just
what he meant by this soiloquy. He passed
on to the house Of the Widow Banks.
She lived in little cottage, with a porch
| in front covered with vines. She led him
| into the parlor, little room of winning
| neatness, with screened windows reaching
from the floor to the ceiling and opening
| upon the shady porch, and through these
the wind was breathing, and in it rustled
| neE pllh, ITcSHls
| AS he looked upon her, his eyes brighten
ed and ne muttered to himself: Damn
you Douglas Martin, she's sweet, she's
terrible sweet. You could hug her,
Douglas, You could, Don't deny II,
Douglas, you could do IT, Yes! You want
to do St Blush. criminal. You're wicked
and you don't dare deny il. You could hug
her. And kiss her! Kiss her! Think of
It, Coming into a widows house and think
ing such thoughts of her. Criminal, Scoun-
drel. Wearing this grave face and looking
wally out of the eyes with your hands cross
ed Ike a minister's and all the same time,
your black heart telling you to hug her.
For shame, Douglas Martin, for shame"'
1t was struggle, and just al this point
of the argument, the protesting ingredient
in the mans nature collapsed and the wick
ed spirit of his brain triumphed.
With an audacious, sin-thrilling glance Of
admiration at her he said with chuckle:
Lord. Mrs. Banks, how nice you look.''
''Oh Mr.. Martini she exclaimed in pref
ty protest.
$50 nice and cool and" he paused, but
struck discretion dead at a blow adding
beautiful, beautiful, Mrs. Banks
mir. Martini she said emitting the for
mer oh and lowering her voice.
his name, half in protest half in invita-
ton for him TO go on, partly, too, with
strain of fear that he would stop, sang a
deiirious song to his heart.
At any rate he momentarily lost the facul-
~ of sequential thought and said:
'Oh Mrs Banks. Call me Douglass
While the widow had been following HE
abandon in vague way, she was not pre-
pared for this signal for actual hostilities
This sudden demand for intimacy brushed
from: her eyes their languid love-iight and
brought her lips out of their arch curl, for
she suddenly Strengthened in her chair and
said in startled way:
"What?"
He did not Immediately answer her for
he was on the point of most wonderful
declaration. which he felt demanded some
dramatic effect in delivery.
He arose slowly and walked across TO the
charming widow and took one Of her little
hands, and though he touched but two fin
gers, the warmth of those came very near
leading him into the appalling catastrophe |
of throwing dramatic effect and discretion |
to the winds and taking her then and there |
IN his arms and Kissing her eighteen times, |
and each time hard.
Mrs. Banks" he said and paused
The truth was she had pulled her hand !
away from him and he did not propose 10 |
speak without touching II. So he paused |
and with his teeth set in determination |
reached forward and caught her wrist. !
gripping Il tightly to prevent a second at
tempt at escape.
Mrs. Banks" he said again and feeling |
that the REPETITION Of her name was a most /
thing.
Then he noticed that she had cooked her
pretty little head over on one side in a
listening attitude, and 1t was such jaunty
fascinating pose Of her dear little self. that |
the contemplated words from his mouth ap-
peared TO be useless instruments al this
time-in fact they would prove an impeli-
mert- This was not the time for words.
Still he must explain TO her. That was
his Grand.
Mrs. Banks" he said the third time with
a perverse persistency of tongue which be-
gan 10 anger him. Now he was going
ahead.
Heavens, Mr.. Douglass Martini" she
said giving the name In full in a sense OF
Mrs. Banks" he exclaimed nervously.
-Four times she said smiling
Eyes four times he said argumsntative-
" as though he had come there determined !
10 pronounce her name four times or give ,
up his life in tho attempt. Listen. Lucllla
Banks
'Oh Mr.. Martini Who told you my
name?" she cried softly
Listen hs Numbered. taking a step
backward and raising the hand which was
free. above his head, and then with a coll
apsei voice: ''Is there any one In the
next ROOM"
No one" she esii
Then (softly) listen, Listen, Cheavilyl