Arizona republican., 1899-01-19

about the suicide of MT. Chichester, 2 Mrs Kennaird announced. ''Oh, per fectly dreadful things. It can't be true, though. that he has rc.ined the firm be- fore blowing his brains out"
 No, mo-" faltercd Kathleen, as she seated herself at the breakfast table. 'Alonzo will be here this morning, I'm s,:re, and tell us the real tacts.''
 He came. but not till late that after noon. lie had been with his uncle m til quite late on the previous evening, and he had spent all the earlier part ct his day at the bank
 Ruin, ruin. or something almost as horrible" 7" rang through lis brain as he stood at Kath!ceE's doorstep. He was silently quoting the words Of his uncle, uttered just before they parted. l Kathleen received him alone. I'm so glad your mother isn't here" he be- gan, as they sank beside each other on a sofa. i've a great deal to tell you''
 And he made clear what he had to tell. It was terrible tidings. The Lisp erard wealth had been wildly squan- dered I'm a poor man. Alonzo at length finished. As he thus spoke he i caught Kathleer's hand but instead of pressing it waited for her to do so. The clasp came, but more faintly than he had expected.
 kathleen he exclaimed, and with drew his hand entirely from hers. "Lonz-Lonz." she said. and looked at i9iI1. with wistful eyes that a threat of fearful storm seemed darlening.
 Just then Mrs. Kennaird entered She had been listening, but by no means had caught all that Alonzo had spoken. His voice had been too low. ia the first place, and in the second she had used an overplus Of caution.
 Alonzo gave her a somewhat Hurried greeting and slipped from the apart raeEt within the next few minutes, promising Kathleen that he would come back that evening.
 But it was five good days before he came back. During this time he wrote his sweetheart several eager and soulful letters. in more than one of which he offered to release her from all bonds Of betrotkaL Repeatedly Kath- leen replied that she would not consent to be released. During those days the very worst became patent to Alonzo. A mere wreck was left to lis sister and himself Of their former splendid patri mony. The young man was surprised by his own calInness. He arranged in the most quiet way for sale of all his possessions; he held more than one very painful interview with his sister at his own residence; he discharged his serv- ants and engaged a small suite of rooms, placing a bill upon his house in Gramercy park. His costly art treasures he offered to ar aIctiC1ecr on condition of their immediate sale. He amazed everybody who observed him by his coOlness and serenity. And all the while his heart was strained by q wretched suspicion of Kathleen. Not that he thoroughly doubted her, but there had been a na1nelcss dread born of that last meeting-a dread which her letters did not dissipate. fer kc seemed to read between their lines, and as he thus read, voice vaguely cried to him: Tt is not she! It i5 not the woman you so trusted. Something that you be- Heyed would leap from her and breathe itself to you, burning, living, unmis- tal1ably, has not Ghown itself"
 And yet he might be wronging her so sternly. What if his dear and faithful friend Philip Lexington would go to her and hold a little talk with her, and tell him afterward whether he was a nadly self-conscious. fool or whether there had really been good cause for his doubts? As h
 Al6nzo felt his heart warm toward Philip Lexington as he thought these thoughts. ''Dear Philip!' ran his musings ''He will come to me on the instant and seek to aid me all he can"
 Lexington Obeyed the summons. He looked as handsome as ever and listened with his usual gracious calm to all that AlOnzo said.
 When his turn came to reply, how ever, Lexington shifted his legs un- easily and posed little sideways his dark, shapely head.
 T don't a bit want to sound Miss Kennaird on this question:" he softly declared. 'Td ever so much rather be excused. Frankly, I would
 Alonzo stared at him, and then dropped his eyes. ''Oh, you prefer not to serve me? All right!''
 Why put it like that?" came the re- ply. I'd serve you if I could in some other manner. T."
 Don't think of some other manner" Alonzo broke in, with his voice keen and cold. This little favor tests your friendship I think
 'Oh!'' exclaimed Lexington, ''you can't mean that' And as he spoke there rang to the fearer a chilling diff ference of intonation from all others that he had ever heard leave his friends lips.
 T do mean it. averred Alonzo. You know just what trouble has come to i me-
 Yes. It's too bad. It's really horrid, you know
 I've lost my fortune, Philip. I'm poor man.
 ''Yes. I'm awfully sorry for you"
 Thanks, for your sympathy
 Lexington began to curl his full, ! dark rnustache by slipping a thumb under one of it's ending curves and q forefinger precisely above the thumb i Then 1uailn .c-,,1nloai- i-,or :, liAtln .,i1,- l