The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-18
Stories of an inland State.

| otorles OF an inland State.
IN moments Of extreme bliss. the mind
Iaiis IN mark time. ard ,'assre > q no- know
now long she reclined in Joey's arms un-
:. she ieii asleep. Long nc neio Aer II
the night while she slept, MS back against
the smooth trunk Of the mulberry, listening
TO the drip of the disconsola,e rain, and the
patter OF TIE wind-shaken showers from
the over-hanging trees And when she
slept soundly, he placed her on the grass
ano covered her with his coat and Emped
from tree to tree to watch the sky for tha
GAVIN. He stood by the little draw with its
muddy Mood gurgling from bank to bank.
Ine rain had ceased and the eastern hori-
ION was trimmed with the dirty grey that
| pfeceoes dawn, and an early bird, up be-
| times, sang with sporadic shrillness ano
then slept again.
The silent solemnity Of the scene moved
| MS mind to inquiry, but he was not curious
| ana only acuteIy sensible that he was not
| ms own master, but dry leaf before the
| iitfui gusts Of c:rcunstar :e. And with
| that recognition Of helpless .ess came a SOM
Ore melancholy. He thought of eternity,
10 make his little life seem shorter. 10 bring
oeatn-and escape-nearer. Buffeted as he
| had been by misfortune surely he could
| nave the heart to bear up bravery against
| untoward events-the practical jokes
Fortune. The touch that the law would
| call blow, that had driven him forth, ban
| !shed him from home and parents, which
had brought the ever-watchfuI suspicion
| which IN turn had driven him forth again.
which had thrown him into the company
or thief to take the bullet intended for
| another; the circumstance which had made
necessary friends presence: the comm.
OF Madge; the obligation he owed to heI
Tor her hero.sm, with all their several de-
| tails and endless ramif1cations. oppresse.
him with the irksome necessity of his per-
petual assumption OF responsibility for af-
fairs for which ne was not, in fact. respon-
sible.
Acknowledging 70 himself 4 feeling o.
humiliation, he mourned a moment over
Nell Everett's refusal. and then with feel
ing OF profound. unselfish joy. he rejoiced
that she had rebuffed him and not bound
herself for life to him and his uncertain
fortunes. Then with shame he refuted
the thought. as an act of alteration for Nell
and one Of lack of fidelity to Madge.
Surely it was better as it was. He limped
back to the tree where she slept so peace
fully. Here lay love. faithfulness, hero
ism, trustfulness, devotion. II it were
allotted to him to be waited this way and
that in this life. she was his companion.
No storm could blow against him that st
would not strengthen her in her love. No
misfortune could level him that she could
not meet il with smiling challenge. and
re-assuring courage. This is a severely
practical life, he thought. Why, then does
Love. which fills all, which moves all, which
encompasses all, fret against utility and
demand toy?
Was there some Providence guiding him.
after all. around the shoals Of foolish love
to substantial. practical one? Perhaps.
His father had told him that his mother
had picked him bride. He had denied
her the right. Now Fate without the
asking. had done that which he denied his
mother. In a moment Of uncontroliabi,
fervor he believed that could he see Nell
once again. she would accept, and instant
ly stifled the thought.
He had told his father that he had
selected one to be his bride He had
promised his mother that he would not
marry a country girl.
He must not break the promise How
he could avoid the violation, he did not
know.
Madge came up In the morning light and
called him softly. He turned to her with
loving smile and approached her but she.
with humiliation for the treason of i'm
pulse of the night before, stopped him
gravely.
You have no fever now?" she asked
with the serious inquiry of an anxious ply.
stefan.
'No. Madge Let me love you again
for what you have done"
Breakfast concerns US more" she said.
Breakfast Madge. How thoughtless ]
am. And your dress-that will kill YOU
She answered gravely that she had never
felt better and proposed that she should
go to some farmers house and buy
food. explaining that they must move
away as the country doubtless would be
secured for them.
She did not listen to his expostulations
over her WEAKNESS but set out at once ant
in two hours returned with food and dress
which che had hIggled over with farmers
wife. They ate their breakfast and Madge
having cut Joey a strong staff, they set out
together, skirting the little creek.
Time and time again he attempted TO
take her hand. but she turned her face from
his and asked him to forbear.
You loved me last night, Madse," he
said tenderly
ct forgot" she said blushing.
Forgot what?'
THAT must not" she said simply, beg
ging him to drop the subject.
But you love me, Madge." he said In
bantering tone which brought the memory
OF a certain roadside courtship to her mind.
Yes" she said as II in vindication Of
her nights impulse. Eyes. I love you"
Her earnestness stopped him and he re-
tanned her.
And I love you. Madse."
Perhaps"
"What do you meanT'
''The kind az love"
"Ah. you doubt that?''
Yes. I would not mistake love for otli-
CATION
His heart jumped at her words with q
quickened guilt
But It IS not obligation. Madge."
81 do not know
But I do know
"You may confuse them"
"No. Tha; is impossible"
II don't know" she said trying TO fathon
why, Il he did not love her, he had sent for
for.
"Madge," he said laying his hand on her
shoulder. 81 do not know whether you are
romantic or not. But here E a spo; with !
this green tree and TIE bright sun above !
Us and the so., gras. at our feet. anG-I |
want you to share ny Joys and griefs and !
sorrows IL life
you ask me 20 be your wife2''
Yes"
This Is proposal?"
Yes"