The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-01

On the night OF the musicale the widow
was triumphantly beautiful. There was
the light of battel in her eyes, and that
with good reason, for she had brought her
own affairs and those Of several other peo
pie to a crisis. But no one could look
at her perfect figure and animated face
without feeling that she could conquer
the most obdurate by her charms and have
her will. Harry had never seen her look
ing so bewitching, for he had never seen
her SO thoroughly alert and aroused. Had
Esther not been present to allure and yet
repel him with her lilyliye sweetness and
nobility of soul it is possible that old
thoughts might have been aroused. But
his eyes were dwelling constantly on her
pure, calm face. and she seemed to him
more than unattainable. When the eve
ming was well advanced. the widow tapped
him on the shoulder with her fan.
IT have come TO ask you for that favor"
she said.
II am ready to do your bidding
Take Esther into the conservatory and
! propose to her"
81 can't"
You must. II you DO, I think / can
promise you that you will win her-if not
tonight-soon afterward. But you must
propose tonight"
Hope made him courageous and he did
When he had found a sufficiently retired
alcove in the conservatory, he renewed
his proposal with the stately beauty. But
IT wss in vain.
1T cannot be-" she answered. my
duty is quite clear to me, and must sac
! rifice my own feelings to it / feel that
TO take care Of my father in his decTin-
ing years is trust imposed on me by my
dead mother"
Then. you are not Indifferent to rne?'
She was too honest TO deny her love
She bowed her head in assent, and the
tears welied in her eyes.
II must get papa 10 take me home"
She turned and walked away from him
quickly. Before she had gone a dozen
PAGES she stopped as If transfxed and
looked with dilated eyes into an alcove
! she was passing.
Then she ran back 20 Harry, and, almost
fainting, caught his arm.
Take me homei Take me away from
here"
He FASTENED to call a carriage. When
| they had entered it Esther began to cry.
and he tried to console her. Instinctively
! he put his arm about her. and she did not
! resist. A moment afterJit was the natu-
| raj thing to do-he kissed her, and, lean
/ ing her head on his shoulder, she wept
( until her sorrow had abated. He could
| not imagine what was the matter. but
when they arrived at her home she en-
( lightened him. As she was leaving him
/ in the conservs tory she had seen her faith
| er kneeling before the widow, proposing
/ 20 her, and had seen her grant him a kiss
| &C acceptance. All her illusions about
! duty vanished in an instant Her father
was getting another to take care OF him,
/ and her occupation was gone.
Il shall leave homei" she cried. angri1y
/ If he marries her, I must leave homer
| II have q home to offer you" said
! Harry
! II never occurred TO Harry that the wod-
/ ow had ordered him 20 propose 20 Esther
/ 50 that she could bring her father. as II
I by accident. 70 see the little scene. She
/ had watched his movements. and. judy
I ing the correct moment 70 a ricety. had
+ brought Mr.. Townsend to that part OF
/ the conservatory. He liked Harry too
much 10 interrupt. which the widow had
I taken care TO learn before she took the
( step. but he was naturally surprised. OF
I course she promptly sympashlzsS with
him on losing his ho1sekeeps<. and so
+ wrested from him the proposal which sae
/ had long ago planned She had not count
| ed on Esther overlooking her part Of the
/ drama but that only FASTENED the action
I OF her plot. and she was MT scrry wosa
J she heard Of IL
/ Harry was naturally profuse Fl her
/ thanks, for his happiness SO blinded him
/ 20 everything Else n the word that he
/ thought 4 was f1- his sake hsx Il had all
been done. When this o2wned upon the
/ widow. she laughed loud and Gag
o. 60 away" she laughed. TO your
billing and eooing with Esther. You are
such a pair OF fools you should BE happy
E together And sae adde's, somewhat
Z nlsSchseycuSiy
You see. I am. n z sense taking = boy
20 raise. after all But you vii md ne
an tu6EfEsnE mother tn-fzE tx