The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-12
The Husband Hunter.

neOoOTd DaIe started from lhS Ooep
reverie in which she was buried, and
looked up with large, startled eyes
Certainly. Mrs Locksley,'' said she.
What is it7''
IT'S about the rent for the rooms, Mrs.
Dale" said the landIady, drawing her
self up with little jerk. Two good
months you've occupied EN-. and it
stands to reason, ma am, as hard-work-
ing widow woman, as has only herself
TO look to, wants to see the color OF her
money. Not as 1 would have hurried you,
ma am" with a half-relenting glance to-
ward Theodora's deep mourning gar
ments. while the poor major lay Ill. nor
yet while he was being buried. But
Theodore looked panied. The deep scar
let dyed her cheeks.
II am sorry 70 have inconvenience
you, Mrs. Loeksley,' she said, but 1 was
of course. obliged to settle the underta-
ker's bill at once, and that has taken
all the ready money which I had at COM
mand. l have written to my husbands
relatives, however, and I expect remit
tances very shortly, which"
Mrs. Locksley compressed her lips.
I've heard that same thing from my
dodgers before ma'am,' said she. IAN
can say is that 1 would very much like
to have the bill paid as soon as posi-
bIe.'
1T shall be paid tonight Mrs. Locks
ley, without fail" said Theodore, her
cheeks becoming even hotter than before.
And the instant the door closed upon the
short, stout figure Of the landlady she
let her head fall upon her clasped hands
and burst into tears, tears that were al
most like distilled fire, so scalding and
bitter were they.
ha6 nj,
three months. She had been a schoolgirl
of Is at Nine Bonmercfs establishment,
just out of Saratoga. when Major Lionel
Dale saw and admired her at the Springs.
He made some careless inquiries about
the young beauty with the gazele-iike
eyes, scarlet lips and blue-black hair that
clustered so low upon her forehead, and
learned, in an incidental sort of way,
that she was an orphan, training at the
expense Of Nine Bonmerci herself for
governess.
Hang itP' said Major Dale, "she's too
pretty for that I'll marry her!'
Little Theodore Mayder. who had
scarcely left off playing with her dolls
and was heartily sick of Nine. Bonmerci's
exactions on the one side and the uncon-
scious tyranny OF the children on the
other. was half frightened, half pleased,
when the handsome, middle-aged major
proposed matrimony to her.
But 1 am so young" she pleaded, the
carnations and lilies succeeding each
other on her cheeks.
You are the prettiest little half bloom
rosebud in the world" the major made
answer, CALAMITY.
Nine. Bonmerci spoke a word or so OF
warning to her.
my child" said she, "beware what you
are about He is three times your age
he CANDLES 1t is true that your life now
is hard one, but"
''I shall marry him." retorted Theodore.
And she did.
At the end Of three months Major
Dale's favorite horse, Meg Merrilies, ran
away with him and killed him, and The
odora, not yet IS, was left a widow.
Naturally enough she wrote to her hus-
bands relatives, whom she had never
seen, and now, upon this October even
ing. she was expecting an answer TO the
letter.
The color mounted to her face as the
postman paused under her window-she
caught the letter from his hands and tore
1t eagerly open.
1t contained nothing but her own let
ter, returned to her with these words
penciled across the envelope:
"Mr. Chandos Dales compliments 10 the
young lady who beguiled his brother into
a secret marriage. and ne Is confidently
of the opinion that her talents In the
misunderstanding line need no assistance"
And this cutting taunt, this gratuitous
insult was all.
Theodore sat pale and silent. She knew
that her husband did not care to refer
to his relatives much. generally avoiding
the subject when she preached It. but she
had never dreamed that he had allowed
them to think her a mere adventures
who had contrived to entrap him into a
6isadvantageous marriage. She had long
ere this discovered that Lionel Dale was
a thoroughly selfish man, but she had
never dreamed how selfish.
But the blow, sharp and sudden as II
was, nerved her to further exertions. She
put on her hat, went out to the nearest
jeweler and sold her watch and chain
Iioners wedding present-for probably
about one-third Of It's worth. With this
she paid her bill at Mrs. Locksley's.
Begging your pardon, ma am" said the
keeper, but what be you
going TO do now?"
81 am going to give music lessons"
said Theodore.
She had a full, fresh voice, like a lark's,
and she knew that she could make this
one gift Of God a bread-winner.
And the years crept by and the 16-year-
old widow who stormed the citadel Of for
tune so bravely won the day.
"Sienora Theodore DALI! No; I have
not heard her yet" said Chandos Dale, |
But they say she is the
best Marguerite we have yet haS and I
have sent to secure a box for tomorrow |
night"
Slgnora DALI was in her best voice that !
night when Chandos Dale, her brother-in- /
law. sat with folded arms in the prosce-
mum box. And the half-blown bud II /
five years ago had ripened by this time /
into the full-blown rose Of loveliness. Her /
blue-hlsck hair fosted ike a jetty. glim- /
mering veil OF brightness.
And Chandos Dale, sitting there With /
intent eyes and an artists soul. all alive 1
10 the fute-like richness OF her voice. /
thought she was simply the most beauti- !
ful creature ne had ever seen
The mayor Of the city where the sig /
nora was singing had a little private re /
ception in her honor after the opera was |
over Chandos Dale. OF course. was 1
among the Invited guests; and then Sig /
nora Dahl knew who he was.
u have the advantage OF him Eai1 I
Theodore to herself. smiling a curious 4
smile And I shall take care 70 retain /
IT,
Just a month afterward Mr.. Dale pro- /
posed to make the beautiful signora his 4
wife
Are you really IN love with me-" said /
the signora, opening wide her almond I
shaped eyes. where Tire jetty fires seemed 4
70 burn With sleepy Iuster-"with mean 4
opera singer
And Chan50s. about as hopsiessly to .
,atuated as e Is IN the nature 81 man 20 I
b.. vowed that he would commit suicide 4
e she didn't have him 81 once.