The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-08-05

Then will defer my errand. Some
other time will answer just as well, per-
haps. Will you kindly tell me when 1
may have the pleasure of seeing you?"
What is it, Nelson? What can be
the matter?" she asked, her brown
eyes staring in establishment. "Win
you not speak now?"
"Why, can certainly. It is not very
important, perhaps. I wish to ask you
what you know about the station agent
at Sidington. have seen you talking
with him on several occasions. What
can one like you have to talk about with
such a desperate villain!"
Florence's face turned white. "Des-
perate villain?" she repeated, in fear
some whisper. ''Why. Nelson!"
Then told of my recent talk with
the scoundrel and his dastardly at
tempt to shoot me.
/" Florence hearkened, with hands
clasped across her bosom, her eyes
staring in terrified amazement.
"Oh, do not be alarmed" added. "He
did not hit me. A miss is as good as a
mile, you know"
But she still stood gazing at me.
NouOC oIo ASoA u pun hCi 1dSSs tOo duhi-
founded to speak. Finally. she burst
into tears, and, in a most pathetic way.
held out her hands appealingly to me.
Stirred to the hearts core by her
grief, I caught the dear form in my
arms. Wondering what could be the
cause of the sudden and overwhelming
expression of sorrow, and heartily
ashamed of myself for having ad
dressed her in cold, formal tones, I
sought with many endearing terms to
console her.
What is it, my love, that so distresses
you? Tell me about it. You do not
know how happy it would make me to
be allowed to share your troubles"
81 am troubled, Nelson, deeply
troubled" she replied. l,ieing her tear
stained face. ''There are so many in
applicable things going on about me,
so much mystery, such forebodings of
dreadful happenings, in my heart. that
if it were not for your love existence
would be misery. And now your own
| dear life is threatened, and all my
fault, too. cannot understand it at all.
Why should anyone want to kill you?
| Oh, Nelson!"
She laid her head against me, and
| gently stroked the soft tresses which
| fell back behind her ear in such beau
| tiful waves. For few moments 1 could
not answer. Her words startled me be-
yond eXpressinon. What, in Gods name.
was there about this back-country
| place? Had it's uncanny mysteries even
entered my darling's sweet life to faint
it's happiness?
"Do not give way to an unreasonable
terror, dear heart" 1 finally said.
''What possible harm can reach you?'
ct is not for myself that am fear
full, and 1 suppose it is unreasonable;
but think, Nelson, if he had shot you'll"
She shuddered, and then with an eff
| fort became calmer.
"Do not worry about me. Be sure
am able to take care of myself; and
forewarned is forearmed. What else
is there? Tell me. You know you may
count on my help and sympathy"
eyes, yes, know that, Nelson. And
I do need your help. 1t seems as though
I were walking blindfolded on the edge
of precipice." The loved form
nestled closer to me. It made me fool
ishly happy to hold her in my arms and
| know they were as haven of refuge to
her.
"Then, too," Florence went on, 81
am so worried about father"
$50 you said yesterday. Have you
any reason to be?'
Maybe not; at least know of none.
except that he is so changed of late.
But a woman's instinct often divines
causes for worry when none are per-
ceptible."
you cannot mean that he is changed
toward you?"
ooh, no, no! Not in his love for me-
Indeed, there seems to be an augment
ed tenderness toward me. And it
makes me feel as though, somehow, l
was partly the cause of the trouble.
Why, 1 know there is something wor-
rying poor father. He is even chang
ing in appearance, and is becoming so
haggard. There is some secret sorrow
he is enduring. I spoke to him about
it only the other day."
"What answer did he give you?" l
asked.
"Just laughed, and said was gifted
with a vivid imagination"
There, you see, it must be only
business worry. If it were anything
regarding yourself. he would not make
light of it."
Florence was partly comforted by