The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-19
She Was His Ideal

s'Wel, old fellow, / need hardly say
how pleased am to see you again. When
did you come back?"
Only last evening. You know that
l have no Immediate friends or rela-
tives to be anxious about me, so l thought
l would stay in town for a few days on
the chance of coming across some one
1 know, and, as luck would have 1t, l
have met you"
Just in the nick of time to fulfill your
long-made promise"
What was that? l must plead guilty
| Of having forgotten it.
Il am going to be married next week
and you know it was always a bargain
between US that you should support me
on that occasion"
Yes, recouect. Well, let me offer my
hearty congratulations. Who is the
Lady,"
THE eldest daughter of Sir John Gra-
ham. and the dearest little girl in the
world
"'Cela va sans dire" laughed Charles
MedcaIf
And her name is Enid" continued Cap
tain Lane, without needing the Interrupt
ton. I'VE have only known each other
six months. l met her first at my grand
mothers. Lady Martyr, and l think We
sight. There, you have the whole story"
Medcalf had just returned from South
Africa. where he had held a lucrative
appointment, being a junior partner in q
large firm of engineers.
Have you succumbed during your
travels to the fascination OF some fair
one, or do you still hold the sex in abb
horrence?" asked the Captain.
Scarcely that" replied Medcalf, flush
ing a dull red beneath his bronze. But
have never come across my ideal, ex-
cept in a picture"
"Ah, I always said you were a romantic
fellow, Notwithstanding your boasted sto-
icism. 1 am curious to know the story"
1T was three years ago-just before 1
went abroad-one Sunday afternoon in
Kensington Gardens. I was with Jack
Dunmore-you remember him? We had
been sitting there some time criticisins
the multitude. when Jack left me to
speak to an acquaintance he recognized
in the distance.
'Just then my eye was caught by the
face of a girl passing. 1t was my ideal!
Neither fair nor dark, but with happy
combination Of the two. 1t was not that
she was strictly beautiful. but She had
fascination for me that l could nel-
thor resist, nor can l describe it.
Presently I saw Jack returning, and
at the same moment the girl rose. She
was with two others, and as they moved
away something dropped out Of her lap.
1 FASTENED to pick 1t up. Her back was
turned, and, by some hasty impulse,
slipped it in my pocket. My treasure
proved to be a treasure indeed, for il was
the photograph of my darling. Yes, ii
had come to that! / think of her still as
that, though 1 left England next day, and
have been away three years"
Let me complete this tale" added Cap
tain Lane, slyly. Your task is now to
find the fair unknown, and to lay your
heart and fortune at her feet. Joking
apart, old fellow, 1 fear you will have
difficulty in accomplishing your object.
But talking about photographs, let me
show you Enid's.'' @
Captain Lane detached a locket which
dangled at the end of his watch chain,
and opening it, displayed the miniature
of his lady love, which he offered for his
friends inspection.
1t was well that Gerald Lane had not
full view of the others face Just at
that moment, he having turned his back
half round in order to get better light
on the portrait; for. as his eyes rested
on it, Medcalf started violently and turn
ed CHASTITY pale-it was the pictured face
of his ideal, the fellow to which even now
lay next to his heart.
''She is lovely" he managed to stammer
as, with a trembling hand, he returned
the locket. And then he had to listen
patiently while the Captain descanted on
the many virtues of the original.
He declined, however his urgently
pressed invitations to join his party at
-
after his travels. and it was with relief
that he found himself at last in his own
room.
When a week later, however. Captain
Lane called on him to fulfill his promise
on the wedding day, the temptation of
seeing, nay, more, of speaking to, the girl
just once was too much
1t would be difficult to say which was
the more nervous, the bridegroom-elect or
his best man, as they waited in the
church for the arrival of the bridal party.
Not once during the ceremony that fol-
lowed did Medcalf glance al the bride.
though his pulses were thilling at the
sound Of the sweet. clear voice that made
the responses which bound her to Cap
tain Lane.
1t was in the vestry after the signature
had been duly entered in the register,
that some one whispered in his ear.
Come, old fellow, don't you know your
duty? Kiss the bride"
Then he raised his eyes which rested
for one brief moment on his ideal! The
next moment he had gravely bent and
pressed his lips on the cheek Of the dainty
vision beside him.
There was a general litter as the girl
gave vent TO a little exclamation OF dis
mayed surprise.
1.-The bride, man! That's not the
bride!'
Then. for the first time, Medcalf looked
about. and his wandering gaze fell on
the apparition OF the bride.
In puzzled wonderment he turned once
more to his neighbor-she and the bride
were alike as two peas! Which was his
ideal? Well, it mattered not, since one
was freei
1t was not until years after when Char
lie found the courage TO tell his wife ths
story of that purloined photo. that he
discovered that he had married his ideal
after all, and not her twin sister.
=
Easy on W ar Heroes
II has been a long established rule OF
the Astors to collect rents on the first