The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-25
His Own Confidential Man.

me Judge placed his hand tenderly on
the little curly head. Where has my lit
tie daughter been?"
20. 1 have been up to the hall talking
/ with the housekeeper, and wandering
through the great rooms; and, o, papa,
she really took me into the beautiful con-
servatory, and I saw such lovely. fam
| ing passion flowers, and the great.
creamy, magnolia blossoms. and, dear
me, can't tell you OF all the lovely
| things
She was suddenly stopped by seeing a
| gentleman approaching from the opposite
| side of the road.
Mr.. Ray, believe"
The judge bowed.
Agent for the st. Leon placer"
Yes, SIR
Il came to see you in regard to 1t,
| and
And you are Mr.. st. Icons confidential
clerk, Mr.. Hartley I believe 1 received a
letter today from him informing me that
you would arrive this week. Yes. yes;
come right up to the house and we will
talk over the repairs. Shall we begin
them immediately"
Papa, you don't mean to say you have
brought him home-a confidential clerk?
You know there are the best rooms to be
papered and cleaned, and our pink dress
es to be made, against Herbert st. Icons
arrival. Well. 1 shall see that he is put
In the little room over the kitchen. He
will never know the difference" and
Blanche sank back in a studied attitude
on the sofa, wondering If handsome Bert
st. Leon would fancy her lovely pink
morning dress that she had made for his
special benefit
The door of the dining-room was ajar,
and Mr.. Hartley. standing before the fire
in the little parlor, had heard it all.
Mr.. Confidential Clerk, you are cry
ing" and Lizzie pushed the white kitten
from her lap and came over to his side.
II am sorry you heard them, but never
mind I'll be your friend
Your friendship is dear to me, my 1T
tie girl"
I'm not little girl! I was Is last
week"
Pardon me. young lady; but can you
tell me something of the hall? What sort
of a place is it?''
Lizzie. Lizzie! you are talking far more
than is necessary. Go to your French,
immediatelyi'
A month had passed by. Mr.. Hartley
had exchanged his close apartments over
the kitchen for more commodious ones at
the village inn, whence he calmly super
intended the projected improvements at
the hall, and all the gossip exchanged be-
tween himself and Lizzie was in the
course of her rambles through st. Icons
woods.
And now Mr. Hartley sat in the same
little parlor where Lizzie had first vowed
to be his friend and awaited the appear
ance Of the Judge.
you wish to see me, Mr.. Hartley?''
''Yec, sir. I came to ask you for the
hand of your daughter-your little Lizzie
love her more than my life. Judge Ray"
you cannot have her! No, sir! look
for something higher for hy daughter
than a cnfdential clerk. If that is all 1
bid You good evening
Next night the judge rode slowly home
to dinner, feeling a presentiment Of evil
Where is Lizzie?" he inquired OF
Blanche, as he entered the cozy dining
room.
I'm her room, suppose, mourning after
her dear clerk"
well. call her to dinner, child"
Blanche went, but returned immediate
ly, with pale frightened face.
''She is not there, papa, but this note
lay on her table,
The judge broke the seal and read. with
a face that had grown suddenly pale:
"By the time that you read these words,
dearest papa your little Lizzie Will be an
others. I shall be married to Mr. Hart
ley. I hope it is not wrong, for, indeed,
do love him very much''
As he folded the note, with stern fea-
lures. light step crossed the Threshold.
and Lizzies arms were around his neck;
the confidential clerk standing at the door.
with face where pride and indomitable |
resolution struggled for the mastery.
Papa. forgive us!''
"Tn see you hanged f1rstr' roarde the |
old gentleman "Begone, both Of you!
Beg, starve, but never come to me for as
sistance"
80, papa" pleaded Lizzie. 81 want to
explain
II won't hear you"
''Be it So" said the clerk "Come, little |
wife. we have each other left. you know" |
and they went from the house.
Blanche was just coming out OF hyster- |
les, when there came a ring at the bell, |
and a gentleman bearing foreign-look- |
ing bag was ushered in.
rs this Mr.. Ray?"
The judge bowed.
as Mr.. st. Leon here?"
Mr.. st. Leon, sir, is In Paranham, Bra |
zil."
'I think you are mistaken, sir. as |
have been informed he is at this moment |
in his native village"
Herbert St. Leon at home and not send /
word TO me, his agent? I must go to the |
hall Immediately"
The aights glimmered brilliantly from |
the gothic windows OF the hall and winked |
defiance at the clustering storm without /
as the Judge rang the bell at the great |
front door.
''AIr. ST. Leon-has he arrived?''
The servant bowed and ushered him in2
to a room whose superbly arranged furni- |
ture struck Mr.. Ray with an indefinite /
idea of luxury
Lizzie was standing by q tall alahaster
vase. that stood in the bay window, ar
ranging the tropic vines that curled /
around its standard. and the light from
the coiored lamps shown down on the
curly head so dear to the judges heart
The confidential clerk stood near.
Il wish sto see your master, young
man"
II am at your service. sir"
You are! Who the mischief cares
whether you are or not? I wish TO see
Mr.. St. Leon"
Herbert ST. Leon IS my name. sir"
You? Why. I thought you were the
confidential clerk
Il never told YOU was. You took that
for granted As the confidential clerk /
wooed and won your daughter AS Her
bert ST. Leon ! could have gained no great /
treasure. New York Daily News.
Great Old English sea Dog.
When the feet which Great Britain is
-
there will be IN all 10 frst-clsss war vsS-