Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-06-01

I'd and saw a lady on the top of the
brake waving her handkerchief at
him.
1t was Miss Merrington. In an in
slant he was standing on the wheel to
take her outstretched hand, and as he
looked up into the eyes that looked |
down into his with an expression of |
sincere pleasure at meeting him thus |
by chance, he wished that he might |
die then and have this for his last
memory.
She was staying in Lenox, she told |
him, and would be very glad if he
would drive over and see her. He did
not promise to come, but after the
brake had gone on again, he stood so
long looking after it that Quincy ask
ed if he did not want to continue the
game.
He played it to a finish and then
went off for walk by himself. He
had hoped that the hard work of the
summer, and the absence of the one
who had aroused it, had cured him of
the passion which he felt was threat
ening his whole aim in life. This
chance meeting convinced him of his
mistake.
But why should 1 seek to check it?
one side of his nature argued. Love
is of divine implanting. There is
nothing sinful in a mans taking to
himself wife.
Tn ~ % -: L.
led to him the consecrated purpose
with which he had taken up his new
career. 1t reminded him of his de-
termination to devote his money to
the betterment of his fellow beings.
to consecrate all his spare time from
business to this end. How could he
do this with wife whom he must al
ways consider? And then, would not
a woman who had been brought up as
Miss Merrington had been, demand of
her husband that which would effect
ually prevent him from continuing
any of the philanthropic work to which
he had given his life? Again, there
were few prouder natures than Laus-
ing's. Once having put his hand to
the plow it was gall and NORWOOD to
him to reflect that he had looked back
When he returned to the house he
felt that the battle was fought and
the victory won. He was even able
to chat calmly with Quincy ON the in
cident of the brake hating at their
place, and to recall to him who Miss
Warrington was. He went back to
the city two days later, declaring that
he had been greatly benefited by his
outing. But his friends remarked
among themselves that his face look
wan.
The weeks passed by, and when
October came, true to her promise
Miss Merrington was once more in
her place at the missi school. AS
soon as he saw her Lansing knew that
he was not cured, but he steeled him
self to endure. He would have re-
garded it as cowardly to adopt the
suggestion that came to him with the
thought that he might escape this
misery by fleeing and seeking field
of labor elsewhere in the city.
You did not come to see me in Lenox,
Mr.. Lansing, she said, as they shook
hands.
No, he replied, making a desperate
effort to appear fully at ease. 1 was
only in Stockbridge until the follow
ing day.
But you will be in New York all win
ter, presume, she went on. 1 shall
be very pleased to see you some eve
ming at my home here.
Thank you, he said, and deity
turned the conversation.
So this chance meeting among the
Berkshires was to be far reaching in
its results. Lansing thought Miss
Merrington would scarcely have in
vited him to call upon her here in
town had not the hillside incident
naturally paved the way for it.
I can go once and be polite without
danger, he told himself. It is not
likely a girl of so many engagements
will be at home.
He chose one evening when he knew
large wedding in her set was to take
place. He felt slightly guilty at the
subterfuge, but reflected that desper-
ate diseases require desperate RENE
dies. To his surprise, the butler told
him tina, Miss Merrington was in, and
took up his card.
What good angel inspired you to
come tonight? she exclaimed, when
she came down. l had resigned my
self to an evening of horrible ennui,
thinking over the good time 1 might
have had at Isabel's wedding, if the
doctor had not positively forbidden
my going out while have this wretch
ed cold.
In an instant Lansing had forgot
ten all his high resolves of the past.
He thought of nothing but the golden
moments of the present, in which this
woman sat there talking to him, with
her eyes now and then seeking his,
and with smile that melted his as
sumed stony-heartedness into an af-
lection that terrified while it thrilled
him.
Ito be Continued.)