The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-01
A Treasure Lost.


you to that picnic Dottie? You see, IT
is this way. Miss Davis and I were
talking about 1t this morning and she
'hinted that she wanted to 60 but had no
one to take her. Well, offered my SER
vices, and they were accepted. You know
| that viii spend a miserable day without
you, but could not help it., could I,
Dot?"
Certainly not, Mr.. vane," was the
| scornful reply. you chose the lesser
of two evils. Either Miss Davis or my
self must remain at home. and you have
| decided for US. I must retire now. Good
night
Richard vane and Dorothy Warren had
been friends since childhood, and every
body expected that they would marry.
| The families had decided that the would
take their summer outing together, and
the first of July found them In a quiet
| little hotel on the coast of Maine.
| During the first few days Dorothy and
! Richard were together great deal. Then
Miss Davis appeared upon the scene. She
was beautiful and attractive, and Dick
] seemed to find much pleasure In her COM
pany. They walked, drove, and sailed
together, while poor Dorothy seemed to
be forgotten.
| Dorothy observed all this. but did not
say a word. When Dicks father spoke
of his treatment of her, he would say:
Il will have Dot myself by and by. We
are not engaged yet, and meanwhile, II
deucedly pretty girl wants to make her
self agreeable to me, where is the harm?
We will go home in a few weeks, and
then Dot will forgive me and take me
back
One evening an unlooked-for Interrupt
ton took place. The stage coach drove
up and deposited a new guest at the no.
tel. 1t proved to be a young man. tall
and handsome, who registered as DR..
Raymond Drew, Boston.
In conversation with the newcomer, Mr..
Warren learned that he was the son OF
the junior member of his fathers firm,
his father having died a few years be-
fore. He had been fond of his father.
and was pleased to make the sons ac-
quaintance.
DR.. Drew seemed to become attached to
Dorothy from the first, and she was no
longer lonely. He accompanied her on
her walks, and together they read the
books of the day.
Dick did not seem to relish this state Of
affairs He loved Dorothy as much as
he loved any one, and did not like to
see her apparently enjoying the company
He tried to speak with Dorothy and win
back her affections, but she avoided him
as much as politeness would permit.
Thus the day passed on. Dick and Miss
Davis still appeared together. but her
society seemed to have lost some of its,
charm for his fair companion often found
him preoccupied and dull, and following
the direction of his eyes, would see that
he was watching DR.. Drew and Dorothy,
who always seemed unaware of any other
presence.
At last Dick said he could stand 1t no
longer. He wrote a little note asking Do
rothy to meet him on the beach that
evening.
They strolled along for some time in
silence. Then Dick burst forth: Dorothy,
why do you treat me so? You know that
love you, and still you go around with
that doctor fellow, and don't have one
word for an old friend. tits the wish
of both our parents that we should mar
ry, and you cannot mean to throw me
over"
You are mistaken, Mr.. Vane. I am en-
gagged to be married to DR.. Drew, with
the full consent of my parents" and as
she turned to go she said sarcastically:
Miss Davis will more than console you
for your great loss. Farewell"
Miss Davis" was the scornful excla-
nation as he sank upon the sand. II
hate the name, and I wish / had never
met her. She has come between me and
the only woman I ever could love-
He did not notice a little white-robed
figure that was sitting in the shadow at
a little distance, nor did he hear the
groan that escaped her lips at his last
words. Elsie Davis had seen and heard
all that had transpired.
Locked in the secrecy Of his room Rich
ard Vane gave vent to his thoughts
what shall I do? Go back to the city
and let people think 1 am Tilted lover.
No, have It! will marry Elsie Davis
I could do a. great deal worse, and 1 am
almost sure she loves me-"
The next evening ne saw her sitting in
a lonely part Of the veranda. He APP
and sat down beside her. ''Mis
Davis, 1 have known you for some time.
and admire-yes-like you much. VIII
you be my wife?"
That was all. and. o. hof differently
she had pictured this to herself.
After a few moments she held out her
hand. You do me a great honor, Mr. |
Vane, but this can never be. I have en-
ioyed your company much, and thank !
you for all your Kindness. 1 hape that |
you will ever be prosperous and happy. |
the city. but he never knew the great |
worth Of the treasure he had lost.-Bos- |
ton Post