The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-27
BIunderinp Into Matnmony.


Mrs. Cramer, wealthy young widow,
lived in a style of simple elegance In
desirable quarter of the city. Her per-
soma attendant. Susie Moore, was young,
pretty, and coquettish, with half a score
of lovers at her heels, SO that 1t IS not
TO be wondered at that she was a. tunes
absent-minded and giddy.
Mrs. Cramer had gone out GAZING, anu
Susie was doing two things at once Sne
was reading for the twentieth time
declaration of love she had received that
morning, and busting maroie-top taole
that stood in the center of the room An
ominous crash which followed an unlucky
whisk of her buster caused her TO drop
both the broom and the letter and ex
claim:
MY goodness
On the carpet lay the fragments of a
costly porcelain cup. a valued gift OF
the dear Departed Instant dismissal was
the least she could expect in case OF
detection, and how could detection De
avoided? No one else had access to the
department, and there wasn't cat on
the premises.
But Susie was girl of resources
bright idea struck her and she ran 10 the
back yard, snatched up a stone twice as
large as a hens egg, and dashed it
NlfOASA4 OIlC VI tilE pdlicS VA q -NeAA 800
dow. Then, returning TO the parlor. she
picked up the stone and laid it among
the pieces of the broken cup.
But will that look right?' she ejacu-
lated. People don't throw stones
through windows for nothing, and this
being a back window, why-I have
itr
Her love letter lay at her feet. 1t had
neither address nor signature, though
well she knew whence ii came. Catching
up the missive and the missile she hastily
wrapped the one around the other, secur-
ing the parcel with a thread, and placed
it amid the ruins.
Having finished her work, Susie closed
the apartment and took good care not
TO be there when her mistress returned.
If Mrs. Cramer was vexed when she saw
her broken cup and window, she was in
dignant when she came to investigate the
cause.
who can have dared to take such a
liberty?" she exclaimed, crumping the pa
per in her hands but she had scarcely
asked the question when dark suspi-
cion took possession of her.
The damaged window not only overlook
ed her own back yard, but the garden
OF an adjoining proprietor, gentleman
passionately devoted TO horticulture and
vi ,. 1ldIlSI udQ OCCdStOldlIS U0SiC0 ICA-
self for a few minutes in looking out
upon his labors. The two had often ex-
changed chances, but never the slightest
token of recognition. She had thought
him proper man, and he had some
times fingered a little longer at his work
than he probably would have done had
the bright eyes Of the widow been alb
sent.
To suspect was to resolve aud. instant
ly tying up the stone in the letter. as she
had found them, she walked to the win
dow and with all her might hurled back
the hated message beyond the enemy's
confines and at once retreated.
The innocent and unsuspecting neigh
Dor, who CHANGED to be stopping out of
sight digging weeds in the midst of the
might be some meteoric body whizzing
past in dangerous proximity to his head,
raised himself just in time to catch a
glimpse of the widows receding figure.
But judge of his surprise as his eyes
fell on the strange object which had
barely missed knocking him down. With
a trembling hand he undid the parcel and,
as he read its contents, his heart futter-
ed worse than Susie's had done in the
The fact is, he had long been in love
with the widow and had secretly sighed
for an opportunity to tell her so, but to
an unequivocal declaration from
her-that was little more than he had
ever dared to hope Some fastidious peo-
pie might thing such a proceeding indeIi-
cate, but the widow had evidently ta-
ken pity on his backwardness; besides
wasn't it leap year? True her grammar
might have been better, and her spell
ing was, to say the least, Indifferent But
then he wasn't partial to literary ladies'
Domesticity was what he wanted. and
the widow was the picture of that. The
note said something about not forget
ting O'Clock. No, he wouldn't forget it.
And he didn't
At O'Clock sharp. Elijah Rogers pre-
sented himself at Mrs. Cramer's door and
was admitted by Susie.
Tell your mistress" he said. that a
gentleman desires to see her"
Please walk in," invited Susie
The fair widow was prompt in making
her appearance.
Mrs. Cramer. I am Mr.. Rogers-Elijah
Rogers-your neighbor," said the caller,
arising and introducing himself, with
some nervousness and heightened color
The widow bowed stiffly, for in Mr..
Rogers, though better dressed and of
course better looking than she had ever
seen him in his garden, she recognized |
the ruthless trespasser who |
had broken her window, smashed her
china. and been guilty OF other acts
against her peace and dignity.
4 scarcely know, madam" Mr.. Rogers |
began, after a painful pause. "how TO !
preface what 1 am about TO say, but the |
"That, indeed. requires explanation" |
exclaimed the widow.
And vet 1 had fattered myself that |
1t was sufficiently explicit" returned Mr.. |
Rogers. somewhat disconnected.
Sufficiently explicit, no doubt" conced- |
ed Mrs. Cramer But the motive
DO not say it was to deceive" inter |
posed the caller.
And the method chosen" cried the |
widow; perfectly unhesrd Of
Whatever others may think said Mr.. |
Rogers. between US TWO it can never /
be misinterpreted."
And Mr.. Rogers told his Iove-toId Il |
so much better than the stray note could /
have done that the widow would have 4
how much his tongue was /
mightier than his pen had she been in /
any mood for such comparisons.
She and Mr.. Rogers have now been
married for many years. but whether they !
ever discovered how the broken cup first /
broke the ice between them is more than /
can tell-New York Evening World