The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-29
"A Pleasant Alternative. "

"A Pleasant Alternative,
Mrs Carruthers flushed slightly as she
read the name on the pasteboard- Il will
see him here, Jane" she said. with stud
led calmness, "and remember. please,
that am not at home to any one for the
next hour"
She nestled down on her settee. pillowing
the shimmering gold OF her head against
its cushions, and waited She was glad
he had come. Her thoughts travelled hack
10 their first meeting that day on the
| front at Brighton, and she smiled as she
recalled the gust of wind that caught ner
| handkerchief, a scented scrap OF lace ana
cambria, and carried it f1uttering 10 his
| feet He was young, a mere boy, in fact,
| and singularly handsome, and he actu-
| ally bIushed as he restored the trtfie.
| There was something frank and fresh
about him-few of her men friends ever
! blushed-and her tendencies were sufi-
| GENTLY Bohemian TO render more formal
! introduction unnecessary; before the week
! was out he had lunched and dined at her
hotel. Time had flown for her since then;
| bright summer days spent drifting among
| the upper reaches of the Thames, with
the heat of the afternoon lazed away in
some shady backwater; morning drives to
| some old-world retreat among the Surrey
hills; afternoons on the lawns at Hurting
| ham, strolling, talking, tea drinking
| among the smartest in the land, with the
| band Of the Guards crashing out the mas
| terpieces of great German composers, in
terspersed with melodies from the Casino.
They had been friends, nothing more, but
each day had brought fresh delight.
and she had been happy. Now it was 10
| end; he had come TO say "Good-by.
ut seems almost like a dream" she
murmured; ST wonder what 1 shall do
without him?"
The hangings swayed aside. and the boy
! advanced with outstretched hand. She
smiled and gave him hers without ris-
| ing.
! coffee, unless you prefer something
| stronger
Coffee, thanks" he answered, dropping
! into chair beside her.
| She poured some out and handed It to
! him, together with a tiny box of tor
| toise-shell and silver. He laughed softly
| as he opened it and saw row Of ninia-
4 ture cigarets.
'Ah! so you indulge. 1t appears. How
| often?"
CO. sometimesr
'And haven't known It until this mo-
ment! VIII you join me ?"-offerins
| the case.
mo. thank you; I prefer to see you
smoke. There is a match beside you
He lit one of the cigarets and pulled
away in silence, until a blue haze had
| gathered about his head. Then he looked
| across at her. Il am going abroad" he
said, abruptly. Are you surprised"
Assuming that you mean some horrible
ia Vnddod-sfrrac I + cum
it means the loss of everything that has
made your life pleasant in the past-yes?
and the gain of-what?
Nothing"
''Then, why go?"
She leaned back. clasping her hands be-
hind her head, and her sleeves, falling,
disclosed arms as smooth and white as
ivory. Their glances met and she asked
again, why go?'
Because 1 have no choice" he answer
ed. Look here. Madge, we've been
friends, jolly good friends, and God only
knows how I shall get on without you
1 will be perfectly frank, and tell you
just how it stands My father, as you
know, was a country parson. He ought
never to have put me through Sandhurst
it was beyond his means-I often wonder
ed how he managed do all he did, but
really knew nothing of his affairs until
his death last yNr. found out then that
he never did have much beyond his pride
and it appeared that towards the end he
had dabbled in stocks and shares. Well,
you know what happens when parsons
walk into bucket-shops; there was barely
enough left TO keep the young one at
Sandhurst. That is why am exchanging
for the West Indies" He looked up
thoughtfully at the smoke cloud wreath
ing from his cigaret "Of course I shah
see something of life. I have seen little
so far; school, Sandhurst, an outlandish
depot in the west Of Ireland, and-town."
do you want TO go?'
zone cannot always do what one
wants"
She shrugged her shoulders beneath the
billowy lace and muslin of her demi-
toilette, and there was another pause.
How strange it will seem when you
have gone-I shall feel quite lost by my
self" She spoke softly, in a tone almost
of soliloquy, watching him closely to see
the effect Of her words. He made no re-
ply. and she went on: when one has
so few friends, it is hard to lose them
the places are so hard to FILL" He WINGED
at that, and a momentary CLEAN flashed
in her eyes. cit will seem strange" she
repeated; II wonder if you will ever think
of me-often, 1 mean?"
81 hope not" he replied; Il want TO for
get you"
That was all she wanted; the simple
directness of the answer conveyed more
to her than any outburst of passion could
have done. The rest was easy.
After awhile he rose to his feet. She
rose, too, and stood before him, looking
into his eyes as though she would read his
soul. wild desire TO crush her in his
arms took possession Of him. and the
finger-nails bit into the palms OF his
clenched hands.
''Mush you go?" she whispered. drawing
nearer to him.
II have no choice" ne said, again.
you want money she continued;
well am rich"
He did not reply.
Would you do something for me?''
Yes" he said. simply, Il would give |
my life for your
Her eyes dropped. and delicious color |
crept into her cheeks.
well, before you go. do me favor. |
Marry me-
He did.-St. Paups.