The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-03
A Debt in Honor

L
human eddy in which she was entangled.
forgot all about the timetable and turn
ed back, delighted that the rush Of the
preoccupied crowd around US gave an ex-
cuse 10 keep her little siIk-gloved hand
upon my arm. She had been seeing Cous-
in Phil and his wife off. she said. and
was now. guessed, returning TO the des-
olate house in Bloomsbury Square. The
picture called up by the thought was so
poignant that proposed a visit to West
minister Abbey. She appeared a shade
surprised-I certainly was myself-and
then agreed, with a little sigh, which
plainly said, LAS we'll there as any
where else But once she accepted my
companlonship by stepping into the han
som called, she made, 1 could see, dis
tinct effort TO take interest in the null
ticolored life swirling by.
The abbey is the first place one thinks
| Of visiting when one is away" she OBJ
served and yet, when one is al home, 1t
is so near that you keep deferring the
visit from day to day, and 1 am leaving
. town tomorrow. Papa meant She did
not finish the sentence, but added: 1T
is so kind Of you to give your time"
Il am man Of leisure, said I, dryly.
Papa was always in a hurry she went
on, and then stopped again. All roads
u CDNFeTSdtiOu icQ 70 IeT IdlNeF, anu
Death had written NO thoroughfare"
across every one.
Better wear out than rust out" said
I, considerably, though the best of US
but write their names on water. after
all. 4 very consoung reflection for the
idlers."
Yes if everything ended here she re-
piled as the cab pulled up and the great
gray temple doomed above US.
If time be duration set out by measure,
my watch was of the opinion that we
spent two hours here; my conscious
ness, however, has nothing definite TO say
on the matter. the endurance Of 81 ep-
during things" not being painfully Aromi-
nent Neither do I remember having
shone among the tombs. On one thing,
at least, I am quite clear; it is when we
came out I was decidedly hungry. so art
fully plotting my charge past restau-
rant l suggested lunch.
/ Here again lacuna occurs, for have
no distinct recollection of the earlier
stages Of the banquet save the other fact
that her mode Of eating and drinking
forced me to make comparisons which
would have brought me slowly to my
senses had not the unforeseen, which has
such a trick of happening, done so with
paralyzing promputude.
Her little hunting watch had run down,
but the officious cuckoo belonging to the
restaurant clock spoke 50 plainly that the
young girl almost jumped from her chair
"Oh. Mr.. Patterson" she cried, what
shall I do? 1 was to call upon Mr.. Turn
bull-he is my guardian, you know-about
papa's will at halfzpast 2, and now it is
a quarter paSt!"
''Where does ne live7" I asked.
N cfty - 81 reDIiad dpSDa friOqlv
land oh, he is so precise, and there may
be delays-you don't know him.
l did, having met him in his professional
capacity some years before, when 1 was
a witness for the defense.
Wen drive there a once!' I cried roy
ally, putting my hand in my pocket while
she fumbled for her glove. Then an awful
fact struck me; my purse was gone. l
suppose my CONSERVATION got into my face
for l caught the eye of the polyglot waiter
fixed upon me. He was tall, and, doubt
not, swift of foot, and as he smiled thinly
l could see that he had lost one front tooth
and all his illusions. I put my hat on
and took it off again. At another time.
in another place, the incident would have
been merely laughable, but now, with her!
I had been so blase, so mildly cynical, Oh,
it was unthinkable! 1 moved toward the
counter which was near the door, shad-
owed by the waiter, who was mentally
calling the police, and approaching the
lady in charge explained the situation.
She was a German frau of spotless morals
and she listened calmly to my tale, the
cold contempt of narrow, literal nature
glinting in her small eyes. The comedy
of the situation did not strike her. She
only saw that I had no money. 'Dey pay,
dose who eat here; dose are de rules she
reiterated. declining even to examine the
ring 1 offered, ''as a guarantee Of good
faith"
The waiter who had been fielding in
the immediate vicinity, advanced and ask
ed if ] had lost anything. 1 inquired for
the proprietor, but by some hideOus ill
luck he was not accessible. I saw Miss
Langton, who had gone to the door, look
ing back, evidently surprised at the de-
lay. Then the storm burst. The German
was impenetrable; the waiter passed from
legitimate doubt to open skepticIsm as I
rendered my card, which was not trump
one, and seeing that we all talked togeth-
er, the effect was very striking.
Excuse me" remarked a thin, crisp
voice lit is a little trouble about the bill,
IS it not? Miss Langton, I shall be with
YOU in a moment: don't be alarmed"
OF course it was old Trumbull. who
ought to have been miles away, and had
been lunchng here all the time instead.
I bowed. he looked me in the face, and
/ understood that he remembered the last
occasion on which we had met. l re-
called his terrible, Now, upon your oath,
SIR as I stood clutching the edge of the
witness stand, bit Of court plaster over
one eye.
You are doubtless aware that Mss
Langton is my ward?" he observed. when
he had appeased the Teuton sphinx.
Il learned it," I replied. Permit me to
congratulate you!"
And you will also learn now" he re-
torted, shutting his pockstbook with a
snap that l wish the acquaintance to
end here"
''On what grounds?" said Z
IF on no other than that OF the pres
nt-er-disgraceful scene, I should be jus
tiied," he answered; but forbid it on
ahem,-higher grounds"
Then he began to talk, "as one man OF
the world 10 another" about Arbuscula
and her sisters. He was illogical but con-
vinciug.
What is the amount Of the brI?" ask
ed, shortly.
He handed me the receipted slip Of pa
per; put it in my pocket. He smiled
sardonicaIly. and gathering up his black
bag, went out 20 Miss LangtOn. while the
waiter hailed a cab by whlStliug through
his fingers in a most talented way.
Beyond the glass door I could see Turn I
bull talking TO Miss Langton as she re-
arranged her veil; some girls ar an ad-
iacent table put their heads together. /
whispering and tittarlng. The chariot pull