The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-19
Only Two Weeks.

Herman Powers hurried along the street..
his thoughts travelling even faster than
he was doing. He was engaged 70 Marga-
ret Lseland and had been for over . year.
He was much Ia love with her. and he
considered hIEsSIf q lucky man to have
won her consent to marry him. She
loved him, too, and, as Is often the case
with good. pure woman, this love
amounted TO almost worshlp.
Herman had enjoyed this devotion on
her part exceedingly, as what man would
not in like circumstances? But lately he
had sometimes thought she was too de-
monstrative in her affections, little too
sentimental. in fact, and that in her great
enjoyment OF his company, perhaps she
was a little selfish and took good deal
Of his time away from his profession.
Before he met her this law business had
been his sole object Of interest, and now
that the first glamour Of his engagement
was over. he did not exactly return to his
first love, but was willing to divide his at
tention, and strange 1t would be, indeed.
II his fiancee did not suffer in the dividing
process.
Just now he was about to take q short
trip out OF the state, and he was On his
way to bid Margaret goodrby. He had de-
scene over this first parting. and as for
love letters, they would be entirely out OF
the question. 1T would be Iargaret's way
to make great fuss over our separation.
he said to himself as he ran up the steps
of the Lelands' home and rang the bell,
but ] shall be taking trips often, and
there Is no need OF being oolish. We
must begin as we can hold out"
He Is relieved as he enters the drawing
Foow that there are guests present and he
Is not lkelyesto aoi hrdlllinSTAOIs....
is not likely to see his sweetheart alone,
and with 1t all Is q vague sense OF dis
appointment, too. He talk with her, with
her mother and brother, and with the
friends they are entertaining; he exerts
himself to be agreeable and TO keep the
conversation on general topics. and when
at the end Of an hour he rises to go and
carelessly announces his departure from
the city on the morrow, he Is convinced
that he had avoided the thing he dread
ed, and in a diplomatic kind OF way, too.
Margaret had perhaps grown little white
when he spoke Of his trip, but she said
nothing. It was only when he left the
room that she followed him and put her
arm around his neck.
81 don't like to have you leave me, dar-
ling" she whispered coaxingly. us 1t
necessary"
The reply came rather shortly.
''why, of course. Do you suppose I
would go II it wasn't7 Come, Margaret,
don't be silly"
She withdrew her arm Immediately. but
her face dropped with disappointment and
her lips trembled. Her lover moved un-
easily, but she recovered herself at once.
You will write me every day? 1t VIII
be such a comfort to me when you are
not here to know just where you are and
what you are doing"
20, no, my dear. should not have
time to do that. 1 shall be rushing from
one place to another, and It would not pay
to display SO much sentiment for just
two weeks"
'iF'or just two weeks" che repeated me-
chanically, and with an effort. Eat all
events give me an address where mail
would reach you. Something might hap
pen; 1 might want you. Something tells
me shall want to send for you"
He laughed rather forcibly.
you dear little soul, you would write
me twice a day and it would interfere
with my business affairs and take my
mind of my duties. No mail for me this
trip! Why, I am not even leaving my
address at my hotel. We must endure to
be separated totally for two weeks, and
I dare say II will be good for US. You
will love me a great deal more when We
are together again."
"That would be impossible" she quietly
returned, and then she gave him her hand
in parting. He avoided her eyes. the hurt
look in them was more than he could
bear, but he took the trembling hand in
his. and stopped to kiss her. "Gpod-by,
dear; take good care of yourself. Give
me one more kiss and 1 am gone. Remem-
Der, It's only two weeks" 49, 49,
Two weeks later the, train Is steaming
into the city as fast as the big iron horse
can carry it. but 1t cannot go too fast for
the impatient Mr.. Powers. The two weeks
are over, the business trip Is at an end
and is successful, and now he wants to
see Margaret, his love, his darling. He
has thought OF her day and night, he has
bought her extravagant presents, ne has
done everything to please her except write
to her, and he can hardly wait for his
meeting withe her. He gets mis- overcoat
on, his grip in hand, he scorns the assist
ance of the porter, and before the train
has fairly ceased its motion he steps
down to the platform Of the station. He
sends a telegram to Margaret announcing
his arrival, and then takes a cab to his
hotel, giving the cabman an extra TO hur-
~, so anxious he is to make the neces-
sary changes In his toilet and get to his
fiancee. He fairly runs UP the stairs to
his room. and finds a note under the
door. From her? 40, from her brother.
Nfy Dear Fellow: We are 80 sorry we
haven't your address and cannot send for
you. Margaret, OF course, must know
where you are. but for some reason she
declines to tell US. Probably 1t IL too spare
you the pain of parting-for Margaret Is
dying. She took cold the day you Left
and the illness rapidly developed into
pneumonia. The doctor gave us almost
no hope from the beginning and tonight
says we must expect the. worst. He thinks
she will hold out q couple Of days long
er, and we are ali hoping that some
chance will bring you home esfore she
goes send this to your hotel that 1t
may reach you the instant you arrive.
Come to Us at once II you would see Mar
garet alive Very truly yours,
JACK LELAND.
This letter was dated week before