The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-18
The Last Hope.
(By Kenyon West. In Five Parts.)
PART ".

passionate longing OF ner nedft, tuc oiu
professor, by a skilful transition, glided
into Heilbert's wonderful Study Of JOY"
the notes tunibEng over one another In
their inpetuous desire to express the great
est amount of gladness. of free. untram-
melled happiness. The change came so
quickly, and was so impressive that the
effect upon the company was magical The
professor finished, surrounded by a score
Of smiling faces.
Amid the confusion around the piano.
Dora heard a voice at her elbow, and,
looking up, saw the son of her hostess.
do you know, Miss Winford, want to
introduce you to fellow who seems lone
ly. He's been very much absorbed in the
music; I couldn't get him to look at me.
but now he IS talking to an old chap who
1 know can't entertain him in the least.
I know youth like him. We came over In
the same steamer. He's been in Boston
often before, but we never had met. 1
had hard work to get him TO consent to
come tonight. He says he's got to settle
down to work now in earnest. Let me
find you a chair, and then I'll bring him
UP for inspection"
The gentleman who had excited Mr..
CANDLES compassion seemed loath to leave
his quiet corner.
'I want TO introduce you to a young lady
who Will agree with all your enthusiasts
about music, art, and literature" said
Gamble; besides, she is a lovely girl
"Ohi please excuse me. 1 want to lis
ten TO Fraulein SonnenSchein, who is TO
sing soon.'
"Oh, well, you needn't fear but that
you'll have something different from the
sugary sweetness of music such as we
have had so far this evening. Now, you
needn't look as though you were going to
fight me- / know you Ike Gottschalk and
Heilbert and all that sentimental school,
but 1 want TO hear something from Schu-
mann or Beethoven. Well, come on; am
not going to let you off. My patience is
all gone
BY this time Dora was surrounded by
several gentlemen who were making the
best of the opportunity to fill their pro-
grammes for the coming dance. The ap-
pearance of Mr.. Gamble and his friend
was unnoticed, but as they paused opposite
her, Gamble felt a nervous tremor go
through the arm he was grasping, and he
saw that his companions firm lips were
tightly compressed.
.rhe introduction was cut short by the
sight of Dora's agitated face.
II believe / have met Miss Winford be-
fore'' DR.. Van Auley said quickly, anxious
to shield her from Mr.. CANDLES curious
eyes. 1.-The room is very warm. Will you
allow me 20 take you TO the conservatory
Almost in a dream she took his arm. The
conservatory was almost deserted except
by a few people who were enjoying the
soft, subdued light. The two, thus unex-
pectedly thrown together, SAID nothing
Dora was struggl:ngfi for self-control, and
DR.. Van Auley himself was agitated and
i'll at ease.
Have you been well these last two
years?' he managed at last to say as he
found seat in recess formed by the
thickly growing leaves of some tropical
plants.
Every WELL indeed, thank you," she an
swered, glad of an opportunity TO break
the oppressive silence. 81 hope you also
"Oh, yes" he interrupted quickly. "My
trip to Germany did me a great deal of
good. / went back to Heidelberg for a
time. and then down the Rhine. Then I
spent a whole winter IN Florence. Oh,
what beautiful old city it is
AS DR.. Van Auley turned to allow a
servant to pass with some ices, Dora stole
a look at his face. 1t was thin and pale:
deep lines of care around the eyes; the
eyes themselves, thoughtful and serious,
looked as though they had entirely lost their
old habit of flashing on occasion with
laughter of joy. The mans whole aspect
appealed to all the tenderness in Dora's
nature. She forgot her pride, the old in
d,gnant sense of wrong, the painful huml-
iating past. She seemed to know, as by a
flash of intuition, that he loved her still,
and that word from her could bring back
the old-time light to his eyes. But she
felt she could not speak She tried to lis
ten to what he attempted to say about some
of his experiences in Florence; but he soon
saw how superficial the whole converse
ton was, and he began to wonder what
was going TO happen next. The silence had
become constrained and oppressive when,
to the relief of both, they heard the dis
tant strains of a waltz.
"They are going to dance now, I be-
Ieve," he said. Shall 1 not take you
back? Your programme, I see, is almost
full"
There is room for dance for you,"
she said. with a faint. shy glance. as she
rose. She wondered afterwards how she
came to say these words, but they came
almost without volition.
Their effect upon Dr. Van Auley was
like wine.
"I have almost forgotten how to dance"
he said, smiling, but If you will give me
the next waltz" and for the first time he
looked directly into her face, perhaps you
will teach me the way you once did" She
locked so sweet there beside him, the color
coming and going In her cheeks, her eyes
tvsf-1 r--l -far,, 1ol IL rr
that almost a love-lght in them, that he
could not forbear this one allusion TO the
past.
why. Dr. Van Auley." she exclaimed
impetuously. you know you are the best
walter in Boston
This time ne laughed. 81 would net
ike to suggest that you have not a good
memory. Miss winford,'' he said. but /
think this time it plays you false"
my memory is too good a one." she an
swered rashly.
When DR.. Van Auley and Dora reached
the ballroom the dancing had already com
menced, and the former was conscious OF
almost a boyish love of 1t when ne heard
the familiar strains of one of Strauss :
waltzes.
Dora answered his questioning look by a
simple nod of her head, and the next mo-
ment his arm was around her and they
were in the swing OF the step and the
measure. The color famed up into he's
cheeks once as they whirled past Lillian
and she caught her astou!shed inQuiring
look; but she soon gave herself Up entirely
10 the enchantment OF 4 dance with one
OF the most perfect walters she had ever
known. Only when the music ceased did
they stop. and then II was 10 pause Ia 81
lence near an open window. They were
neither of them conscious OF any one but
themselves-<hey both felt 30 buoyantly
.-=---=- .-c-....-.-