The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-27
From Chambers Journal. In Four Parts.) |
PART III.

ly. and instead of leaving her to tell me
what she would in her own time, as had
intended, I went out and joined her.
John" she said al last. without look
ing at me, how much money have of
my very own?"
She had accepted him, then. and now
business must be discussed.
You have eight hundred year"
And it is settled on me?'
Yes, settled on you absolutely"
so that, if l like. can set up a house
of my own. and live all by myself"
Yes, when you are OF age"
who settled this money on me, John?"
Il did"
''why?"
Because. In the event of your marriage.
considered it well that you should have
complete control of your money affairs"
You seemed to be quite sure 1 should
marry?"
nodded
II thought It possible"
Minsy was silent for long time. Then
she said: Does Priscilla know?"
Yes; Priscilla agreed with me-"
Does Priscilla want to get rid of me,
too?''
Il don't understand you, dear child; no
one wants to get rid Of you"
Another pause. Then:
John"
Now it was coming. Prepare yourself,
John Travers. for a singing blow. 1
braced myself up.
Yes. Mimsy.''
This morning Harry asked me to mar
ry him.
AND
"And said couldn't. And then was
miserable, because l hated to hurt Harry,
and he looked so unhappy. And then he
said you would be glad if 1 married him"
1.-THE deuce he did Harry had taken a
great deal too much for granted there)
land that made me more miserable"
why did it make you miserable, Mir
iam?"
ut hurt me to think you would be glad
to get rid of me-
81 never could be glad to lose you, little
one
Then, why did Harry say that?''
Il think / can explain it. Harry OBJ
tanned my consent to speak to you of his
love land I believe he loves you dearly;
and, having gained that consent. he nat
urally supposed it given with a certain
amount Of pleasure"
Which it was not?"
(which it most decidedly was not"
She gave a sigh of relief.
I'm glad of that. 1t hurt me dreadful
ly, John; like a sharp stab would do"
why. sweetheart" l said emphatic
ally, you can not suppose for one in
slant that it would be pleasure to me
and to Priscilla" q thought 1 had better
put that into know that our nesting
might choose to fly away. perhaps to In
dia, with Harry, and take all the sun
shine from our home, leaving it desolate
hnr I f.
same again Then I checked myself;
it seemed to me I might go too far.
And how did it end?" 1 went on, as
she made no comment
1T ended like this: Harry asked me
if l cared for any one else, and 1 said
yes" -or
Good gracious. the child! She closed one
wound only to open another. Who was
this man for whom she cared? That she
had many admirers 1 knew, but it had
always seemed to me that she treated
them all alike, as comrades and friends.
And this man. Mimsy; does he care
for you at ALP"
Yes" wistfully; "he cares for me. He
does not love me-"
How do you know that?"
Because if he did he would have asked
me TO marry him.
Z.
And if he did ask you, would you mar
~ him?"
Yes. tomorrow"
with all the love on your side?"
yes, I love him; that is sufficient I
told Harry So
] was a little disappointed in Mimsy.
1 had thought her so different. And here
she was ready. at a moments notice, TO
throw herself at the head or into the arms
of man. who. she confessed, did not love
her. And telling Harry, too! I could only
gasp: You told Harry?"
Yes. and l told him who it was"
Worse and worse
My dear child. you shouldn't have done
that. What did he say?''
He looked very much surprised, and
said: Then, 1 haven't the ghost Of a
chance. I won't bother you any more.
Mimsy.' And then he went home. and I
came on with Jenkins"
Here was a pretty kettle of fish, Poor
Harry, 1t was bad enough TO have to
hear q refusal and the dashng of all his
bright hopes TO the ground: it was
harder still % be calmly told of rival.
not only preferred before him, but loved,
it seemed.
sudden mad desire came over me
to take her In my arms and
hold her SO that never should the breath
of other love come near her. Was il the
pent-up longing OF years breaking loose
a. last? But between US there glided the
shadow az that other man. the man whom
Miusy loved, and my haIf-outstretched
arms fell down. And still she stood there
apart from me, her eyes travelling among
the familiar objects around US and iinger-
ing on them with a pathetic sadness. as
II she were taking A last leave. I could
could bear it no longer.
''Mtmsy." said. as calmly as I could
for ny heart was beating rapidly, sending
the blood tingling through my veins-''tell
ne, who is this man who is taking your
love from u.s.
As she turned and looked into my face.
I saw In her eyes the glistening Of tears
They E,;stened. but they were brayely
kept back. The sight mz5deled me.
quick. Minlsy. tel. ne"
T car not tel. you" she said very softly.
but you shall! see his photograph. ! al
Ways carry 1. With ne Here sse took
from her pocket u;tie, thin. weii-wcrn
leather case. which she placed IN my
hands. Z an going indoors now she
continued. and I want you not 70 open Il
Until you are quite alone And when you
have seen the face. x VII be goo6-by
between Us forever. dear, dear Cusrdy.
for ! can never, after that Continue %
live with you here"
sat down and watched her move slowly
over The grass, pathetic figure passing
gently FROM ne into the unknown tutGTa
Al The window she turned and waved her
hand an not ashamed % say TIA. y
ny eyes the tears we're swimming ! stu
held ;he i.ttie leather case tightly graspe6
IN u~ hard ard as sire E4za oueared 7