The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-24
Stories of. an Inland State.

1t was the natural thing for Lewis Barnes
to do. He was the beau Of the neighbor-
hood, naturally ladies man. according
TO local report; in short, so far as the fail
eek was concerned, invinc.ple. What mys
ferrous, magnetic power he exercised over
the sex opposite his own, it would be ex-
tremely hard to tell. 1t may have been
the fact that he was a manly fellow with
broad shoulders and well-buit legs and
arms. and a chest of comfortable, manly
proportions. Or it may have been the triy-
ial circumstance that he had two suits OF
clothes land rumor said separate pair of
suspenders for each suit and that one OF
these suits was always clean and new. with
its top outside coat-pocket lined in coiorei
silk. so that when the lining was pulled
out it counterfeited a silk handkerchief.
But-passing any attempt at analysis|t
| must be understood that power over the
! gentle sex he did possess. 1t was acknowi-
edged by all his followers and all were fol-
lowers, for none cared to be known as a
rival, and risk the humiliation sure to at
tend such presumption.
The beau of the country neighborhood is
of his own kind. He is, in truth, elemental.
The city beau may lack in character and
| courage. He has street lamps and the po-
lice always at hand. But the country beau
must possess courage and character. In the
course of the average country courtship II
is almost always necessary to have at least
one good physical trial with rival.
Lewis Barnes saw at the funeral Of Mrs.
| John Wright the beautiful Miss Everett,
who was visiting the Matkins. And having
| seen her and been all but Frustrated by
the marvellous splendor of her beauty.
Lewis, signing for a new world Of gentle
hearts to conquer, marked this stranger
for his trial and resolved TO call.
So he went down He was dressed up. He
was confident. He was glowing with q
! triumph he fairly realized by merely an
| ticipating.
And yet he could not tell why, when he
raped at the door. the front door of the
Watkins house. that his hand should
trembIe so. Still he caught himself with
a little effort and walked steadily to the
chair in the little parlor to which Mrs. Mat
| kins showed him.
| A moment later Nell Everett came into
the room. Such an apparition Of loveliness
| Lewis Barnes had never seen, and letting
| his eyes feed greedily on her splendor he
| could hardly command himself to struggle
| to his feet and reach for her hand, which
]
| she did not take.
| She sat down opposite him and the
mother, who had introduced the young
gentleman TO her daughter, sat down near
| the visitor, and the two talked together 10
the exclusion of any remarks OF the young
woman who, however, showed no inclina-
| ton to talk.
A few moments later Mrs. Matkins with
| drew, and the moment she was gone the
young man felt himself the object OF q
glance of languid contempt.
He threw his shoulders back and filled
| his chest for a combat he half-anticipated,
even now.
ITS a pleasant day outside. Miss Ever
ett,'' he said.
And inside?" she asked with a touch OF
sarcasm and a touch of surprise and a
| touch of WEAKNESS.
II suppose it's the same inside as out
side" ne went on with a courageous smile.
do you?" she asked again in the tone
which perplexed him.
Barnes did not answer. He had been I'M
| der the playful badinage Of young women
! before-the young women of the country.
! Here was one from the city, ard her moth
| DDS, he thought, did not differ materially
from those Of her rural sisters. He still
| had left a certain feeling OF physical con-
! fidence.
She crossed her delicate hands and stuck
the point Of her shoe out from the edge OF
| her skirt and studied 1t sleepily.
| He felt that the burden of entertainment
was on him and began again, with more
confidence than at first.
The weather is always bright and
IT beg your pardon she said. raising
her eyes solemnly to his, but what did
| you say your name was?"
| He felt that the question was awkward
and he must answer it awkwardly--as
| child to new teacher the first day at
school.
Lewis Barnes" he said, with just a
shade Of resentment.
She caught the tone of defiance IN his
words and she turned on him quickly. her
words coming clear and sharp. cutting
Ike the lash of well-plied whip.
"Mr. Barnes" she enunciated, why are
| you hare, please? Is it to tell me with a
| halt, and hesitation and bashful repeti-
| ton that the weather is pleasant? And if
| that is your mission, Mr.. Barnes. will you
inform me what gave you license to believe
| that 1 could not possibly have had news
of the weather except from your lips?'
II thought would CALL" he said, strug-
cling to keep a traitorous blush back and
| failing.
And you have called" she said in a
| motherly manner of aiding him to his child
| ish conclusion.
Eyes. m'm," he answered, feeling that
! she had him crushed.
And IL that encompasses your desire.
your mission is now at end. II was TO cali,
merely-then II is over she said. rising.
That" he said regaining lost ground and
new confidence. lis an invitation. suppose.
| for me TO CO.
1T is rude TO enlarge on polite intina-
| tons" she said. with curious little smile.
| He was on his feet He felt that he might
F, better go at once. But IL he went, that
was defeat-and he hesitate3.
The Young woman had measured the
young man for a country lout She had
| underestimate his mental capacity. and
| sincerely wishing him TO be gone and rath-
! er offended that he should have the pre-
sumption to disturb her. she was piaued
| somewhat because he had opposed her eN-
press wish for him 10 retire.
MIR. Barnes" she said.
He turned TO her humbly.
You have male acquaintance, suppose,
in the neighborhood. Your mission viii.
use II you VIII kindly act as my messenger
and 70 say to all Of your friends. inclined
! to cali. that my sojourn here is for a need
| 81 rest and not for a d!splaf or exercise
| bic attempt as sarcasm IN his tone.
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