The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-22
An Uncommon Deed.

perfectly correct their tenue. l could not
help half turning around. and who should
they be but that arch-tease of cousin
of mine. Sybu Vane. and her bosom friend.
Gwen O'Hara. II was Sybil that had spo-
| ken, and she haid said:
Fancy that little fool throwing herself
! away on man like that, when she knows
| he only wants her for her money"
What little fool of what man?' I ask
ed, as / raised my hat by way OF apol-
| ogy for the intrusion.
"Oh, you mean, You never know any
| thing said Sybil. when she had recov-
cred from the shock my question had
evidently occasioned.
Then, tell me-" rejoined. You never
have any secrets from me. you know-at
| least not for long"
why. Honor Beaumont and Captain
| Faulkner, TO be sure"
Are they engaged to be marriedT
"Of course they are. and he hasn't a
| penny, while she has mil-l-ions.
! well he's a very handsome fellow, and
| she is-passable."
'-rhey say he cheated at cards. that he's
| in everybody's debt, and Is nothing short
| Of a mere edventurer. And yet Honor
beaumont has accepted him! say It's
| really too bad of her.
| had known Faulkner for some years,
and am bound to say had very little 70
| urge in his defense. He had never been
actually caught in any nefarious proceed
! ing, but 1t was known that he had run
through most of his friends. and be was
wonderfully lucky at faro. and that he
was anxiously looking for an heiress.
The wedding day took place. and about
four months afterward Captain and Mrs.
Faulkner were back in town, apparently
= in q l.
gravia.
AS for Faulkner, he seemed completely
changed There was a lnanliness about
him that one never noticed before; his
ewes wore a frank expression that was
truly refreshing to see. He was clearly
devoted to his wife, and they seemed to
perfectly understand and trust each otner
What could it mean?
Gradually got to really like Faulkner
He made a splendid host, was pattern
of the domestic virtues and impressed one
as being the soul of honor. our acqualnt-
ance finally ripened into close friend
ship, and the intimacy developed until al
length l found myself-how know not
on terms OF real confidence with the man
whom, only a few months before, mao
been inclined to look upon very much In
the light in which he was regarded by
my cousin Sybil.
One evening he expounded the mystery.
Shall 1 tell you the story OF my court
ship, Jack?" he asked.
"As you will, my dear fellow" he re-
nlied. ''if 1t isn't too sacred a subject for
a third party
That's just tit Is a sacred subject
as you will see"
He lit a cigar and proceeded:
"All that the world thought and said
of me before 1 was married was true,
and more than true. was regular BAD
lot And it is true also that in pro-
posing to Miss Beaumont was actuated
by the most mercenary motives. and those
alone. ze
"All that I wanted was her money-her
money, Jack-do you hear? The world
said so, and the world was perfectly
right. / had plans as to what 1 would
do with it. My chief anxiety was to pre-
vent her getting any mixing OF the truth,
and so never ceased TO dance constant
attendance on her, and especially to
withdraw her as far as possible from her
lady friends All went well until one even
ing at the Villiers bali she took me on
one side, saying:
'Fritz'-she always called me Fritz,
rather than Frank-I want to speak to
you
What is it, darlinz|
"rYou are not to call me darling any
more till this matter is cleared up
"'what matter, dear?
"'Just this. People are always saying
that you are marrying me merely for my
money; is that so9'
"'Of course, not; I love you for your
self
...stop, stopr I am going to put you to
the proof You know my solicitors
Messrs. Hopkins & Dicey. in Loncoln's
Inn?' oG
Yes
''wen, meet me there tomorrow at noon
sharp; and now, good night!
I'm moment she was gone. passed
a sleepless night, and with great difficlty
nerved myself in the morning to keep the
mysterious appointment.
"Old Dicey-I call him that because he
is now one of my dearest friends-received
me coldly.
~ have been favored, Captain Faulki-
ner,' he said, with some very extraordi-
nary Instructions from my client-your
fiancee-Miss Beaumont. l must entirely
disclaim all responsibility in the matter.
have simply given effect 10 Miss Beau
mont's wishes, and the final issue of them
must rest entirely with yourself. If you
please, we will go to the adjoining room.
where Miss Beaumont awaits US
I'VE found her seated near a window.
She did not rise, but simply bowed, and
l saw that her face was pale. and that
it wore an expression of apparent enforced
calm
Fritz I told you last night that peo-
pie are saying you are marrying me
merely for my money. It matters little
to me now whether they speak the truth
or not. If they do, then. whether or not
YOU become my husband. Is the light gone
out of my life! II you have done this
cruel thing, nothing can undo II now. II
YOU have deigned to begar me, under the
pretext of affection, fortune or no fortune.
husband or no husband, can make no
difference to me. But it shall never be
said that you actually did marry me for
my money. and so, Fritz, l have asked
Mr.. Dacey to draw up a deed, which
which and here the poor darling broke
down completely and could say no more
1.-The deed. Captain Faulkner. said
Mr.. Dicey. with frigid solemnity. is an
uncommon one; know, indeed. OF no
precedent. But it relates that, IN consid-
GRAFTON Of Captain Francis Arthur Faux
incl. Of the Second Life Guards releasing
Miss Honor Beaumont OF Hurstheld
House, Hertfordshire. from her engage
ment TO marry him. the said Miss Honor
Beaumont herewith makes over 20 the
said Captain Francis Arthur Faulkner
all her real and personal property. as
scheduled herewith, save and except the
residence known as The Grove" Isle
worth. in the County OF Middiesex. and
as much Of her Midland Railway debent-
ure stock as will suffice 10 provide an
annuity OF 1880 a year
Il turned half mechanically 10 Honor.
She was stu calm and pale but her eyes
were brimful OF tears