The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-31
Obedient to Their Fate.

] Their friendship was rather the result
OF forced mutual dependence than any
| thing else, and they drtfted into it before
| either realized the turn events were TAX
ing. At first it had been nothing more
| than the interchange of a few remarks
! on leaving the hotel dining-room in the
morning and an occasional chat on the
piazza after supper From this it be-
came regular thing to saunter together
! down to the boat landing for pull across
| the lake before the sun made outdoor ex-
ercise impossible.
| Then, because the mail came at Il. It
| suited them both to inger under the
| shade trees on the lawn until the distri-
| button Of letters began. 1t was on these
occasions that they compared notes upon
| the subject Of summer resorts in general
and Fairview Springs in particular.
They were there for the same reason
rest and a change OF air. Both were
eager to exchange the quiet of the place
for the rush of their every day life. It
| was not easy for him to shake off the
thought of his neglected law practice,
and it was equally hard for her to forget
the half-finished manuscripts calling for
attention in her desk at home. With
frankness which was not fattering, and
which would have surprised either under
other circumstances, they openly discuss
ed their dismay over the prospect of re-
naming two months or longer at Fair
view, and bestowed their most ardent
pity on all newcomers to the springs.
If, in the beginning, he had accepted
the situation blindly, he was the first to
realize it in its full significance, for,
que with himself as he might there was
at last no overcoming the disa greeable
truth that he had given his promise to
one woman and his love to another. In
his Utmost soul he knew he had no right
to feel that perfect sense Of happiness
which had lately come to him, for perfect
happiness it was when she was near him.
1t was only when he was alone that con-
6icting emotions took possession of him.
When he looked into her steadfast eyes
he was conscious that she had moved
him as no other woman had done. He
did not tell himself that he had never
loved until now; but ne knew that It was
because of her he wished he could undo
the past and this had never been the
case before.
He needed her always, he'woud rea-
son with himself, but whenever he used
this argument he felt that she would be
the first Gould she know it,, to assure
him that he was striving after the shad-
ow and not the substance. He was
weakling, trying to depend on her
strength
A telegram calling her home-her sud
den departure early one morning-these
were things to recall her to the reality
of life.
A formal little note of farewell, two
or three faded roses-and a memory were
al he had left to tell of the summer.
Rudely awakened from his dream Of
happiness, he was like man cropping in
the dark. 1.-THE right way"she said to
himself. (Which is right" With his
face buried in his hands. he thought the
matter out. The spell Of her presence
twas gone, but its fragrance remained.
She also was fighting out the battle
alone. 1t is strange that, actuated by the
same feeling, and arguing along the same
lines, they should have arrived at such
widely different conclusions.
The letter that she wrote was not to
him-but to another man.
Forgive me- it said, ''for the pain
am about to cause you, for 1 can only
give you back your promise and ask you
to forget me. There was a time when
believed that the calm friendship had
for you was love, but know that poor
human hearts were made for more tand
they will have their due. Do not re-
proach me, for it was not my fault that
I learned this too late"
Then she began to turn the pages Of
one Of her manuscripts, YEARLY trying
to collect her thoughts. But while ago
everything had been different When she
was tired there had been some one
whose strong arms were ever ready to
receive her; and now-but she could not
think of 1t Just then.
The letter that he wrote brought tears
to the eyes of the girl who read IT,
'T have been away long time" 1t said,
but I am coming home tomorrow. AS
look through my window I can see the
foliage on the mountain side changing 10
red and purple and yesterday I saw
flock of birds flying to the South. Think
of it, the roses were in bloom when
told you good-by! Now I want to ask
you to take me for better, for worse
before the snow marks the winter tine
For better, for worse. such as am. take
me and make what you will of me.
Heaven grant 1t may be for betterp -
New Orleans Times Democrat.