Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-11-13

deep, sweet voice. How long shall you
stop here?"
"For fortnight possibly"
"Where are you stationed now?" She
knew well enough.
"AtApache. So you can imagine what
q treat civilization Is to me How does
1t happen that I find you here?"
1--WE are stationed at the Preside.
You must come to see u.s."
~ WILL" he answered. He would
have done anything those red lips might
ask him to do. The receding tide Of his
love for her had swept back with a
mighty force.
"How beautiful you are, Esther" he
said, after moment.
~ always was"
"You have no more false r.odesty
than Of yore."
"why should have? I didn't make
myself, so I'm not praising my own
handiwork. And I frankly admit that
II were to have made myself, think I
should have chosen my present model"
"But there is more than mere beauty
Of feature, now"
Character, I suppose - which ]
lacked as q child. II Is odd that char
acter, even II 1t happens to be bad, can
so improve face"
Then she turned her head and be-
slowed the light Of her countenance on
the civilian beside her, whose infatua-
ton was obvious.
every man in the post and the city
will hate you with deadly hatred, II
Miss Gorschkov happens to take fancy
to you for old sake's sake" Mrs. Graves
warned him.
even her fancy would be cheaply
purchased ut that cost"
perhaps. A woman OF her beauty
is not born into the world once in 4
cycle. certainly"
And Miss Gorschkov was pleased TO
fancy him. She advertised the fact.
She was not one TO fear any means that
would gain her ends. She threw away
her pride and came at his call. She for
gave him the past and met him more
than half way.
But Dudley was too much In love to
despise or mistrust her for this. He APP
piled for two-months' leave and spent
every available moment of II with her.
Mrs. Graves, in her quality Of school
chum of his mothers and an old friend
Of himself, warned him. ESTHER has
done this same thing before, James.
Take care. She is as beautiful rs Cleo
patra, and there are many who say she
Is us bad-at heart. Make love to her,
II you choose, Caesar, but let your wife
be woman who is above suspicion"
Dudley never spoke to her again. And
he continued his fanatical cult Of his
goddess.
His leave came to an end, and he went
back to Apache. He who had been n
light mocker and n philosopher Of life,
saw the bottom drop out of his universe
when he had to 60 from her. She wrote
TO him twice day, for a time, then
once day, then once week, and finally
the mail orderly handed him q letter
from Esther that was almost ver-
batim copy Of the one he had sent to her
six years before, even to the closing
phrase. I'm time you will drink Of the
waters OF Lethe and will forget me rs
utterly as deserve to be forgotten"
A light of memory broke, harsh and
crude, through the rosy clouds that had
enwrapped him. But he said TO him.
self that justice had been meted out TO
him, stern and untempered. And he
made no appeal.
Something more than twelvemonth
later, Esther Gorschkov sat at dinner
beside the man whom she was then
playing fast and loose, who would not
be warned by the fate of the many
whose bodies were strewn upon the
shores where this Cythera had trod.
"You promised, you know" he said
to her, "that you would answer my ques-
ton tonight"
"What question:"
Don't banter, please. am In
earnest"
"You appear to be. And every
body can see 1t, too. Go on and eat,
and look as though you were discussing
the dynamite gun or something"
~ will do whatever you choose, II you
will tell me II you will marry me-
"0h! is that what you mean? J.
couldn't remember whether ii was you
or Mr.. Clayton who had asked me. May
be II was both of you. But can't sec
why you should bother about that sort
Of thing at dinner. Why don't you wait
until the dance. 1t would be so much
better form. Fancy saying no to n
n man and then putting piece Of harm-
less little lamb In ones mouth"
Are you going to say MOP"
"Gracious! but we are insistent. How
should l know what am going to say?
Go on and eat, and stop hanging on my
words, or ! won't answer you ut all. II
is so fearfully conspicuous"
Even in his suspense, the man could
not Out retuTH. NHchcc thiS HcN
found dislike to being conspicuous"
Miss Gorschkov smiled slowly and
started TO answer, but voice from
across the table stopped her.
"What is it, Capt. Lawrence?" she
asked.
"Have you heard of Lieut.. Dudley's
death?"
mo. Is he dead?"
"He died at Apache week ago."
I'm SO sorry; but, frankly, l don't
think dinner-table the place for fu.
neral notices." she rebuked him. He
dislilled her, and she saw the purpose of
his announcement. Her dead-white
skin could turn no whittier, and her smil-
4. ii