The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-10
MAY.

He was looking at Mays portrait-a
lovely little rliniature-when the house
maid brought the packet to him. The
girl entered timidly. with furtive glance
at her master, for whom her heart was
bleeding.
No sign of tears-either past or present
was visible in the young mans eyes. They
were hard and bright. Hard, also, was
his face, and the clenched lips Ike ada
mant.
He took the thick envelope, glanced at
the clerkly writing, and at the back, up
on which was stamped in blue letters.
wv. Robinson & CO.. Then ne flung it
on the table, and as the servant left the
room, the sound OF harsh laughter broke
upon her ears She fed to the kitchen,
and with scared face whispered that she
thought poor Mr.. Ord must be going
mad.
He had written few days before 10
William Robinson for those patterns that
he might choose the materials for his we'd
ding suit. May was so particular about
what he wore He used TO be a little
careless about his dress, oSce. Then, in
his endeayor to gain Mays appreciation.
he had overdone it in the opposite direc-
ton, sporting collars OF absurd height. and
impossible ties. enduring like a martyr
too small for him, and getting himself
a little chaffed by appearing in suits
which were Enthusiastically in advance Of
the fashion. May, with gentle tact, had
changed all this.
He had written for the patterns from
Robinson's a few weeks before the inpor-
tant suit should be needed, as he wanted
to have Mays opinion with regard TO the
materials. He consulted her about every
thing. He had no sisters and until the
last year-when the death Of an uncle and
the inheritance of a fortune had made him
his own master-he had lived a solitary
life in a remote country town with the re-
lation by whose sudden death he was en-
riched
After that laugh of harshness which had
startled his servant, Laurence Ord went
back to the study Of Mays portrait. A
sob of anguish broke in a groan from
Ord's pale lips. He had tried TO realize
that those dancing eyes were closed for
ever.
The idea Of May-May, the prettiest lit
tie person in the world-lying cold and ST
lent was too much for the young man who
last had seen her having a wild game with
a kitten on the deck of friends yacht.
He had dreaded that little cruise more
than he could say. He had all but asked
Trained, deeming it mere selfishhess.
You don't mind me, going, Laurie. do
you?" she had asked, when the trip had
been first suggested, and with a little
pleading look in her eyes which was ir-
resistible, especially as he had not yet
the absolute right to give or withhold per-
mission. ''Fll only be gone three weeks.
and then-if you still have a mind to
you may take me and keep me forever.
A large order Laurie! Shall you want
me for so long, do you think?"
He had gone to see her off on board the
Orchid, and she had stopped in the
middle of one of her airy whrls with the
kitten and a piece Of scarlet ribbon.
Mind you have the patterns ready by the
time I come back!'
The yacht Orchid, which was wrecked
last night on the dangerour reef outside
Alwyn Bay, is the property of a Mr.. Grif-
fths of London. All on board were saved
except the unfortunate lady whose body
was washed ashore early It's morning. 1t
has been identified as that of Miss May
Garden"
This was the paragraph which had
caught the idea of Laurence Ord as he
had run over his morning paper at break
last. Afterwards he had come upon the |
irst and longer account but this was evil |
iently a little paragraph inserted when
.urther information had been received.
His senses had at first been blunted by
he shock Now they were awakened to |
ulI consciousness of the immeasurable |
pain. He laid the miniature down, and |
,egan to walk about the room. He moved !
hings here and there. He wound the |
,lock-then his nerveless fingers dropped |
t with a crash. He let it lie where it had |
allen.
He began mechanically to settle things |
m the table, to fold up the newspapers, |
md open his neglected letters. He was |
lighting his pain. The letters were read |
Without his being a whit the wiser as 10 |
heir contents The packet of patterns |
vas the only thing that remained.
With another of those pitiful laughs he |
-pped open the envelope. The laugh /
hanged into an indescribable cry. There |
we're no patterns in the envelope. In |
tead there were thick sheets of note |
,aper, each of which had "Walter Rob |
nson & Son, Solicitors. Alwyn Bay"
printed upon it. The writing was a pen
lied a scrawl-a dear, familiar scrawl.
Laurence read it on his knees, sobbing |
tut his thanks to God. Three sentences
nd the signature will sufficiently ex-
lain:
II was brought ashore half-drowned
Mr. Robinson, a lawyer, has kindly |
-iven us shelter Mr.. Griffiths is
ddressine this. Your loving May"
11r