The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-05
The Wrong Card.

| IN a certain pretty home uptown, laying
MS love and lucre at the feet of a charm
| ing woman, who, long, long ago, had
/ come 10 be an essential part of his ex-
| istence
Whilst he was thinking over the situa-
| ton and hurrying homeward, he was
| hailed with business-like: "Ho, Farr;
want to speak to you a moment
Turning about, he faced the speaker,
a friend of his junior partner. and in a
| few minutes they were deeply engaged
in discussion of some abstruse question,
| concerning a case which was then inter
estlng a great many lawyers.
When the two parted, the one who had
| nailed Farr handed the latter card with
a request that he would give it to Som
erton, the junior partner of the firm of
Farr & Somerton." In the hurry Of
parting, Farr took the card without look
Ing at il. and only after he had reached
his residence, his mind still full of the
matter they had discussed, did he think
10 glance at the bit of pasteboard. II
should have borne certain memoranda
which Somerton desired; but was. how
ever, quite blank, save for the engraved
name Of the owner. With a slight smile
at the others carelessness, he tucked the
card in his pocket.
Supper over, he betook himself 70 pipe
and slippers. Then, lounging comfortably
IN big armchair before the study fire
he gave himself up to the interrupted
reflections of the afternoon. AS a result
Of his cogitations, before he retired
letter had been written, addressed 10
Miss Margaret Iamore." In 1t Miss La
more was informed that he would call
the following evening on an urgent mat
ter. The letter, perhaps was a trifle stiff
hflSinpsG-iilya hrrt
help being clear to a woman So at
least, thought Farr and he went TO
sleep that night TO dream of a gracious
woman and a successful suit.
The business of the next day put an end
to any further air castles for the time
being, but when evening came he lost no
time in hurrying whittier the letter had
gone Arriving there, ring brought the
maid to the door-a new maid-Farr no.
ticed. With his thoughts on the coming
interview, ii was only in a mechanical
way that he gave her his card and asked
to see Miss Lamore. A few moments
waiting, and then the girl returned to
say, in we'll bred voice, that Miss La
more had an immediate engagement and
begged TO be excused
Somewhat dazed by what he considered
a rebuff, FAIR lefrt the house Once more
IN his own rooms, he contrived. within
an hour or two, by the aid of his pipe. to
put himself in a mood which played ha-
voc with sentiment.
An early train the next day carried him
rapidly away from his home and the wo-
man who, few hours earlier, had been
all in all to him. Now. however he
thought he had convinced himself that
she was not worth the wooing. Yet every
single day Of the next half year had its
Of hi
the great successes he met with. Not a
single night but found him YEARLY pray
ing for sleep, to drive away the vision
or proud, sweet woman who so persist
emily haunted him Sometimes he wearied
of both himself and the world. but he
was obliged TO live and meet his fellow
men, even if a woman had scorned his
love.
Time passed, and the conclusion Of his
mission allowed him to return home But
little more than six months from the day
when Margaret Lahore had made life
seem so gloomy to him. he was once again
in his native town. On the day of his
return Somerton insisted that he should
dine with him at the earliest possible op-
portunity, and, of course, tired though
he was, and DESTROYS of nothing beyond
peace and melancholy quiet, he was COM
PEELED TO accept the invitation so warmly
pressed upon him. Accordingly that even
ing found him on the way to the Somer-
ton home.
He must have forgotten that Mrs. SOM
erton and Miss Lahore were the most
intimate friends, or. perhaps, it was natu-
raj to start when he found himself face
to face with the latter in the Somerton
parlor. That he did start was a fact
quickly detected by Miss Lamore-a fact,
aIc
barassment.
Judging from your appearance. Mr..
Farr, said she, your health has not been
much benefited by the western trip"
Il am afraid not" was his answer
1.-THE work was hard. and did not go TO
it in the best of spirits" This last with
a glance intended to be full of mean
ing.
She saw the look. snd. wondering at
it, colored
You look so worn and ILL.," she contin-
ued, that l have not the heart to scold
as you deserve; yet you must have
known how much I should regret not
seeing on before you took the trip
The seeming effrontery of this took
the power Of speech from Farr and the
establishment depicted on his countenance
brought a flush once more to the face of
his fair companion. Seeing that he was
not disposed TO speak, she resumed:
You promised to call and then left
without a word. I certainly did not expect
il of YOU
Recovering himself a little at this, Farr
told her, with as much dignity as posi-
bic. that she must have been deeply en-
crossed that summer day to have forgot
ten the card he had sent up to her, and
the fact that she had pleaded an imme-
date engagement as an excuse for not
seeing him.
Then followed a period of polite and
gentle contradiction. Miss Lahore firm
" insisted that he had not sent up his
card, and Farr as obstinately persisted
in saying that he had. When, for sew
eral minutes, they had accused and coun-
teraccused each other of forgetfulness.
Farr took matters into his own hands
by breaking out vehemently with:
DO you know why I wanted So much
TO see you that day? Do you imagine
that I could be, for moment. forgetfui
Of the most trifing incident that hap
pened then when I thought you had
treated me with such crushing indiIer-
ence?"
They were now seated on a couch. ard
he. with z bitterness born Of the unhsp-
piness he had experienced, tod her his
Whole story from that Gay 70 ms present
time when she saw him 50 III and worn
worn. not with toll, but with The hopeless
ness Of his LIE. He had 10 new phrases
in which 70 frame his thoughts but
the old. old words seemed 10 satisfy her.
for whea dinner was announced there
were az least two people supremely happy
among th0sa who went arm in arm TO the
dininE-ro0m.
Somerton-s friend. Barton. vith whom
Farr had held such a profound discus
sion on the day when The story opens.
arrived ii time 10 Join the party az din