The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-28
Stories of an inland State.

But a breathing woman, lying in his arm;
in a faint, was a decidedly novel expert
ence, and finding nothing else TO do, forth
with he began to laugh boisterously, with
an irradiation Of wrinkles from the outer
corners of his eyes.
At this odd and impolite demonstration
Luc.lia opened her eyes, but upon him see
ing her, ne revealed several more teeth II
the increase of mirth and she Strengthened
disengaeed herself and walked coldly
across the room and sank into chair
and covered her face with her hands. with
her fingers spread to an accommodation OF
a stealthy glance.
But he did not sober particularly al hel
show of sorrow, but went on laughing as
noisily as ever.
"Mr. Martin" she said in tone Of re-
proach.
"Eh, Lucilla?' ne clustered.
But she would not answer him then
And he did not have anything TO say and
he did not question her further for some
moments. Then discovering, oddly enough
that he was laughing. he sobered instantly
and raising his right hand cried:
by heavens, Luciila! You shall hear
me- Look at me. A man who has been
mistudged by the world, a man who has
been refused the sugar Of a laugh. the salt
of mirth, the sauce Of joviality, the some
thing else of something else, Lucilla, a
man doomed to be always sober, who came
to you Lucilla, begging to be permitted to
sin in laughter. Remember Chis With LIE
drarna), remember, Luc:lla, II was you
who granted me permission to laugh. and
laugh I will, Lucilla. Laugh 1 wtll"'
Il didn't mean you couldn't laugh" she
said slowly.
This OF course was complete surrender,
but c.sregarding It he cried again:
Il will laugh, Lucilla''
OF like to hear you laugh" she said
again.
She did not believe his laugh was ap-
propriate to the occasion. She had dropped
in his erms in a state Of nervous collapse
and ordinarily she would have taken or
Tense at an outbreak OF humor at sncn
a time. But so impressed was she with
Douglass Martins inalienable right &c
iaugn in her presence that she could not
find the heart to deny him the privilege
on any occasion.
He now advanced to her and placed his
hand softly or her hair.
She glanced up at him with the light OF
love streaming from her eyes and then Ii
suddenly faded. Her shoulders contracted
I'm a shrug and she twisted away from his
hand chattering:
"O-o-o-o-h,"
you're not cold. Lucilla?" he asked lay
ing his hand on her shoulder.
But she drew away from his touch and
hid her face in her hands again and muir
INJURED:
Don't Mr. Martin, please don't touch
me-"
You don't love me, Lucilla?< ne said
without noting mentally that he had never
asked her IL she did.
"Yes-No-Oh, 1 don't know what I am
saying. Please, Mr.. Douglass, go away;
&C away, please do
"I won't" said Martin, with bad boy 8
defiance.
But you must"
He had been drawing near her and she
was drawing away, jerking suddenly from
him when he advanced his hand.
why don't you want me to touch your
he asked.
Don't, Mt. Martini she pleaded at an
ether advance. please don't! Not when
you have just had her IN your arms!'
Her, It, Anna Barber. Why. she's q
corpse"
'Oh, don't say It so rudelyl And you
held her in your arms and then want to
touch me! On. Mr.. Martini Go away!'
IT won't go away" he said with pro-
fessional offense. Anna Barber's a
corpse She died upstairs and the stair
way is narrow and had to carry 1t down
now that's all there is TO it."
She looked at him doubtfully, feeling she
should override a certain little slight re-
pugnance she felt.
"Lucilla." he pleaded, 81 won't pursue
you. Come here of your own free will and
kiss me. Come 10 my arms my love-"
She shook her head obviously.
Come, Lucilla," he went on, why do
you object to me holding her in my arms?"
"O-o-o-h, Mr.. Martin, she was dead.''
But II had held some other woman
living In my auns-would that have been
all right?'
well, no." she saia slowly. II don't
think so.''
That's the woman all over" exclaimed
Martin. Don't want me to hug because
they are dead and don't want me to hug
because they are living. That's woman"
He thought the contest was over and
went up to her quickly. but she pushed him
away.
You said" she went on, "that I was
the only woman you had ever held in your
arms So"
Yes, that is. living woman" he an
swered, attempting 10 recover his former
posture.
We'll, then. Mr.. Douglas Martin, you will
nave TO 60" she said pettlshly. You
know I am a widow. And l did love John
Banks-good old John, You come 10 me
with an undivided affection. I will be
frank with you-well you understand"
"Of course. You still want to love John
md then love me. too Yes! Yesi seer
John. good old john" she cried. af-
irming his conclusion in her tone and
,lasping her hands and giving away TO
ears
eatures.
;cous that he could not put on a face of
alse sympathy for her and knowing she
would expect K.
She looked at him Questioningly through
Ter tears.
Don't" he said. Don't. Please don't.
t makes me feel professional"
But John was so good" she said With
fresh food OF tears.
"Lucilla,' he sad. taking an oratorical
posture and separating his index finger
rom the other d gifts for the purpose OF
you know why / came 10 you
% -. l.
are: out OF world Of conventionalities
4 form. OF irou-clsd rules. OF prejudices.
,f-well, most everything, l came 10 you,
-uciila. came TO you and put my confess
on a. your feet. I laid my heart open to
-ou. ] told you I was william; tina;
'ouli laugh: that I did not have tears 20
g.