The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-14
Winning an Heiress.

from experience. Since the other day I
have given up the thing in disgust, and 1
shall never try again IN this city.
You see, I haven't anything myself
but what I can make by the sweat Of
my brow. and that's precious little, and
somehow or other I got the notion that
Miss Van Doodle was in love with me.
OF course, l made a fool of u1yself-quite
! naturaly-any enc else would have done
the same-and made up my mind that 1
would try TO win the girl and the $4,000
/ which she is said 10 possess in her OWL
| name
4 have never gone much into society,
/ owing 10 my accursed poverty. but I went
in the nwith q vengeance saved Up al
most ali my earnings and invested the
| coin in flowers cabs, candy, and anything
else you please, for Miss Van Doodle.
She knew pretty well that I was after
/ the money, though I. like d fool. did not
/ realize my lack Of sense until a week
ago.
II had taken her to every dancing party
| during the week, and. as she had no tea
/ to attend that particular afternoon. I
took her TO the matinee. We chose the
matinee because We had another engage
! ment for the evening.
Il put all my available cash in flowers.
carriage, and box. and when l finished
! my preparations I had left just $50 /
! didn't mind that, however for I imag-
/ ined myself in sight of $500 O0o. We had
! good time at the performance, and at its
! close I was foolhardy enough to propose
/ little luncheon, with the accent on Tit
/ tie in my mind. I even urged -ner. but
/ even urging was unnecessary. despite
/ the lateness of the hour, and with alac-
/ rity she took me up.
! ST took her to the SWEETEST cafe in town,
/ sadly fumbing the pittance in my trous-
ers pocket, and thinking grimlv of that
| tailor bill, and wondering what was 60
ing to happen.
She was equal to the occasion. She
took the bill of fare daintily in her fin
gers and proceeded to make bill of an
othe rkind for me.
at makes me sick to thing about it, but
my memory was active at the time, and
l can reproduce the whole terrible thing
as easily as an actor can recall his lines"
How did you get out of the hole with
out detection" I gasped.
20, ii was trying on my nerves and
| haven't got over it yet, but I made my
exit without a complete showdown" he
replied. You see, the bill amounted to
s23.75, and I had only a third of that
amount in my Inflated trousers pocket.
81 rushed to the cashiers desk, pretend
ing to find out about my carriage, and
hastily explained that ] could not pay
them until the next day. The cashier cold
~ replied that she did not know me.
had no watch, for 1 had left my time
piece at the jewelers.. and, you know,
l nevH wear any precious baubles What
to do? as the Frenchman would say.
Il quietly handed over Miss Van
Boobies $50 pair of opera glasses and
told the cashier to keep them till the next
7 ha
money. And with thS I hurried my
charge to the carriage.
ION the way she recalled having lost
her opera glasses, butt assured her that
it wasen't worth while hunting for them
at the time; 7 had a notion, said where
they were left and I would see that they
were recovered safely.
1.-THE day following I borrowed from
brother sufficient to get me out OF the
dilemma. and since then I haven't been
TO call on the young lady for whose hand
and fortune 1 had such aspirations.
"a poor man can't expect to win a rich
wife easily. These girls are too worldly
wise.
81 have always acclaimed against a man
being ma hurry" said West Side TO me
the other day. but somehow or other I
have never profited by my own doctrines.
II left the office for lunch the other
day feeling tired and having those sensa-
tons as one might have were he shot
out Of a thirteen-inch oreech-loader.
High ball?' said the waiter-clever
fellow that waiter
No I answered. and directed him to
get me some writing paper. 1 was suf-
fering from mental troubles
How would you do under the circum-
stances? Here's the case in a nutshell; I
am making desperate love to a gay.
society girl. l make her believe that 1 |
have lost all sorts Of money. She likes |
ne, of course. What girl who thinks & |
fellow has money could fail 10 like him? |
III bred if she does. Well, where am I? |
Q yes, she thinks I have money in my |
own name-mark that, in my own name. |
I had an enga cement to take her out and |
wanted to take her out that evening, |
when haden't cent
''There was nothing to do but to write |
a note to her and make the engagement. |
Furthermore. 10 pen another to West |
Side ST. who is interested in church /
work, and get some money with which /
10 keep it.
Il sat down at the desk and wrote the |
two epistles. sealed them, and stuck them |
in my pocket-to mail.
THE first letter was something like |
this; My Dear Father-Sorry to bother |
you, but I spent my last cent az the /
charity bazaar last week. Brother Jones /
wants me 70 contribute TO the new char /
itv enterprise he IS forming. Wants ne 1
10 pay him this afternoon. Kindly remit 4
so on my account and obuge your own
West Note No. .: My Adorable Helen /
Can't you come with me to the show
tonight? Wen go afterwards and have a
little luncheon. Now. my dear you viii /
not fail me. I'll meet YOU with cab at /
rs sharp. You eternally devoted West
II walked up TO the desk after my
meal and excitedlv addressed and mailed !
them. I then returned TO my place ~
business and sat down nervously. 70
await the issue The letters were mailed
with special delivery stamps. and 7
thought I'd get some word by O'Clock.
Then notion suddenly struck me.
Were those notes addressed correctly
Y rushed TO the postoffce. Too late. /
the carrier left an hour ago.
I bOlted into car and fairly ran UP Z
Helen's steps. 7 burst through the door /
as the astouished maid opened Il and was
about % announce my presence by
shout, when Helen met ne on the stairs.
ID you get your note?' I cried
No. West. no-fo- mercy's sake IN
tercept it
It darted out again.
II got % the door Of nv house, breath
less and gaspluE Just as father was open
ing the door He had been cut calling ca
some q his friends
II slipped past nm and grabbed that
letter Just q : his fingers were about 20
close on g. tod him that I could make
my mean.lg palmer by verbal exDiaul-
ton.
Wen 7 saved myself from having ny