The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-19
Two Trophies.

first visit, and 1 had arrived late that
day. There was a large party in the
house, but did not know half OF them.
When at last we broke up. Jack Fair
holme said: I'll take you by a short
cut. 1 know my way about; I've been
coming here so often"
| With implicit faith in his knowledge Of
| the country we followed our leader across
an open space, where Whit Of night
| air extinguished all our candles In at
a side door, up and down two flights Of
stairs, in and out of several corridors,
till at last Jack paused before a closed
door.
Here you are, Reggy," he said. This
is where you live"
I turned the handle and went in, the
room was dark. the blinds were down,
the curtains close drawn. 1 felt my way
toard the mantelpiece, guided by the pas
sage light streaming through the open
door.
''Confound it-no matchesr'
Here, have" said Jack.
The room, now lighted up, looked
strangely unfamiliar. 1t was not the
room where 1 had dressed for dinner.
There were none of my belongings about.
| The dressing table and its mirrors were
! draped in lace and pink ribbons; there
were several telltale articles to be seen
"a pair of silver-backed hair brushes,
hand glass in silver frame, number
| of trinkets, bracelets, rings and brooches,
an ivory box or two, and there-not a
doubt of it, lay a thick cot OF reddish
/ brown hair
Jack, who was with me at the dressing
| table, did not wait. He blew out the
candles and ran out. at his heels. only
70 fnI he cI, IN fao ~
| by Jack to spite me, for 1 still heard him
| laughing on the far side.
I was caught in a trap. Before I could
find the door knob and escape from the
room heard movement in the direction
of the bed; a short pause of stiffness,
then the swish of some soft, silken wrap
and the clop-clop Of loose slippers en-
the floor
I had only one chance, one hope-tha.
I might slip out before she discovered
me. But this was gone next moment, for
while Ii stood there holding my breath she
ran I'D against me. There was a gasp.
half scream. and then she upbraided
me by name.
Immediately however, she opened this
door for me, and in a few short seconds
the light from the passage showed me a.
tall figure in light loose drapery; then
turned and fed, Fled, but not so fast
that 1 quite escaped a blow from some
missile thrown after me, and it must
have been by her.
Something certainly struck me on the
back, and as I stopped to pick it up
found a tiny bedroom slipper of pale blue
silk, embroidered in seed pearls. 1 seiz-
ed it, accepting it as an omen of good
luck, as token of friendliness, perhaps
fr oil. no I-lao
it after me?
It was not the only relic of that nights
escapade. When by and by got back
tom own room, not without a long
search, and emptied the pockets of my
smoking jacket, I found that I had also
carried off the coil of reddish brown hair.
There was to be big "shoot" next
day, and we men all came down early.
I caught Fairholme alone and was about
to give him a bit of my mind, when he
broke in with:
my word. Reggy, but you're in luck.
Don't be shirty. There never was such a.
game. DO you know who it was last
night? I set my mothers maid to find
out. I'll tell you"
Don't"
"Tommyrot. Why, 1t was Lady Eel
loves. one WORTH pies. FdI, Ialr ana
forty. No disturbances, only a niece
Ask her to marry you-the aunt, not the
niece. If she won't come to me; I'll make
her."
Drop It, Fairholme, or I must drop
your acquaintance"
All the romance faded out of the incl
dent when I looked at Lady Fellowes.
This woman--fat, middle-aged, passe, the
heroine of the previous nights advent
urel Now understood the false hair.
Lady Fellowes did not seem to be much
affected by what had happened. She did
not look my way, but read her letters,
ate her breakfast composedly, and be-
haved in a most discreet and matter-of-
fact fashion.
Not so her niece, an exceedingly pref
ty girl, whose brown eyes began at once |
to roam around the table, and 1 soon |
caught them resting on me. AT first with |
a look of amusement, I thought, check |
ed instantly, then with a vivid blush and |
a frown as she dropped them demurely. |
Her aunt, Of course, had told her.
lord Priesthood summoned the shooting |
party to start, and for the rest of that !
day was engaged in the coverts.
1t was not until we were assembled In |
the drawing-room that I saw Miss Eel
Freshford and asked her to send US In
together.
When had settled down into our seats,
I went on with the usual commonplaces
Still no reply. Indeed. she turned her |
back on me and began talking with great
to the man on the othe- side.
1t was the clearest case of cut, and I
began to feel like a fool
The old lady had evidently taken my
conduct in bad part, and had set the girl
against me- 1t did not increase my love
for Jack Fairholme, but what was I to I
10?
She continued obstinately dumb, and al
together ignored my existence. It was
30 marked that 1 saw Lady Freshford
ook her way with a half distressed, half
amused glance. and nod towards me- as
though reminding her of treatment that
amounted to positive discourtesy.
Miss Fellowes responded TO the appeal,
but strangely. She did not speak, only
FLUSHED deeply, a blush that crimsoned
sven her neck and shoulders
1 was seized with a sudden inspiration.
Miss Fellowes" No answer Miss
7eIlowes." No answer. pray listen,
wen IL you win not speak. I believe
lave some OF your property. I should ike
% restore it"
You would not be 50 base. so ungentle-
Not the slipper" 7 went on calmly.
akirg for granted ! was right fl my !
Inc. Il shall keep that as q souvenir.
{ IS treasure troye- But the hair. you ,
viii want that al once. cannot think
low you got on without q all this time
%. Captain Phsyre, How can you-why | !
houid you think-what have I done to
L. IL