The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26
Divided Paths.

| she was little thing with a dainty air
and she looked particularly dainty JUS
at that particular moment. she was
standing near the mantel shelf with one
OF her little Blite-slippered feet resting
on the fender Of the fireplace. There
was a perplexed. far-away look on hel
lace. She was evidently in deep thought
over some unpleasant matter. Her hands
were loosely cIasped and hung Hstlessiy
down before her, resting upon the soft
white folds of the girlish evening dress
that she wore. The only light in the room
came from a single gas jet in the chan
I deller, and il was only half flame a.
that. 1t was enough. however, TO bring
out the red gold OF her hair, which shone
almost as bright as the fame itself The
room in which she stood was furnished in
that peculiar style which suggests the
traveller. Rugs and bric-a-brac from al
parts Of the world were scattered around
in delightful and artistic confusion
Her reyerie was evidently deep one
| for a sharp ring at the door-bell failed to
arouse her. a few moments later youth
entered the room. He was apparently Il
or 20 years Of age. probably year her
| senior. He also was in evening attire. The
silence was unbroken for moment or
| two. Then she suddenly became aware
that pair of eyes were intently fixed
upon her.
Why when did you come in, John?''
she exclaimed, going forward TO meet
! him
Just this moment" he answered. but
| you were soaring away so far in the
realms of thought that you did not no.
tice my entrance OF what were you
! thinking just now, Marian?' he asked.
30, John, haven't you heard the news?
but of course you have not How silly
IT, = -
| end myself-are to leave in a few days for
England. Isn't it too bad? L declare I
think it is simply awful, for 1 was just
! beginning to feel at home"
You don't mean to say that you are
going right back to England? Why, Ma
rian, you haven't been at home two
months. Surely you are joking, for it
seems impossible
mo, no; 1 am not joking. o, 1 only
wish that I was. To some girls the idea
of travelling abroad would be actual bliss.
But as for me hate the idea of il. Just
think. Ever since I have been able to
appreciate a home, 1 cannot remember
having had one. 1t is true look on this
as home; but 1 have spent so little time
here 1 can hardy call it such. My whole
life has been spent in journeying around
this blessed globe of ours. l have been
dragged across countless countries. until
the mere idea of travel makes me misera-
BILE. Papa, you know, was 10 join US
next month here in New York, and we
were to live here for a while; but some
thing has happened to cause him to change
his plans, and so mamma and l are to
go back and meet him in London. The
fates alone know where or what next.
viii you miss me, John?" she asked,
archly.
ar1d n irl1 nxrn of1A
therefore said some foolish things. Later,
Marian drew her wraps about her, and the
two, laughing and talking and making
plans for the future, went out into the
night.
Two days later, on the deck of an ocean
steamer. stood the girl by her mothers
side, waving a last farewell TO her friends
on shore. Apart from the crowd and well
in view of the girl stood the boy waving
his handkerchief to her. Both were smil-
ing, though there. were tears in the eyes
OF the girl, and the boy felt a great lump
in his throat. And so the two strained
their eyes watching each other until the
forms of both had been blurred in the dis
lance.
After twenty years.
Il am sorry. madam" the nurse said,
deferentially, but firmly, but 1 cannot
permit you to see him. My instructions
from thel doctor were that under no cir
cumstances should he be disturbed until
the arrival of his wife, who will be here
almost at any moment. He has only
short while to live, and he must be saved
until she comes
90 but I must see him. the woman in
sisted; IF it is only for moment. 1t
was my child he saved, and 1 feel that
i'm Lot MI
for a moment"
The appeal was .piteous. and the nurse
wavered.
1T must be for only a second, and you
must be careful not to disturb him." she
said
The woman passed in and went toward
the bed. Her tread was noseless. but there
was a frou frou of silk and feminine dra-
peries that reached the ear of the wound
ed man. He half smiled with closed eyes
as he heard it. The sound seemed to
give him pleasure, yet he failed to realize
its source There is something about the
swish of a womans dress that causes an
thrill Of pleasure in the mind
of a man. So it was now with the man on
the bed. The woman crept up to the
bedside. The mans back was turned to-
ward her.
She gazed down at him with a mingled
look of pity, gratitude. and sorrow One
of his hands lay listlessly at his side. and
as she leaned over him she lifted it al
most unconsciously in her two dainty
ones. With soft caress, more as one |
would stroke a big Newfoundland dog. she |
said in low tone: Poor fellow, poor |
fellow"
1t was so low that it was unheard by |
the nurse, who was standing near. pre- |
fr7ry of
man, however, from the torpor into which 1
he had fallen. He half turned mis- head |
upon the pillow, and slowly opening his !
eyes looked up at the woman. She look /
ed frightened and bewildered. She had |
not meant TO awaken him. and the gaze /
Of his big brown eyes somehow Hurried /
her.
She got no further During the few
words uttered in a nervous formal tone |
the nurse had been gestculsting wildly |
TO her from across the bed but she paid 1
no heed to her There was a strange light |
in the mans eyes that had caused her to |
pause SO suddenly. 1t was recognition
His lips labored for moment: then
speech came TO him.
Il am glad the child is safe. Marian"
be said
20. John. II is you" she gasped.
For a moment both were silent. They
were looking back through the vista OF
years down the paths of their two lives
to q point where both paths were one
There was a slight commOtion in the hail !
outside the room. The door opened. and
he mans wife entered. The woman lin
yered for one short moment ar the bed
side Of the dying man, while the wife
Historically.
''GoOd-by." she said huskily.
Good -Iy - ha 81 Ened feenlv
Then she turned with haIf-stihed sob. |