The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-06
Caught in an Elevator.

I frame OF Tnl1C as ne pf6Sscd lLe
| button on his Office floor in the Clinton
Building to summon the elevator, about
p. m. He had quarreled with Mabel
| Hillman, his fiancee, the preceding even
ing, and she had returned him his engage
| ment ring and told him you'll be nc
! husband OF mine" in a manner that
would admit Of no double construction
and consequently Scott, as his intimates
called him. felt correspordingly depressed
and disgruntled. and his clerks had been
made to suffer for it.
The elevator rapidly appeared. and Scott
| stepped in. Just as the boy pulled the
| lever forward to go down the bell rams
for call to the ninth floor. With a
swift interrogative look the boy glanced
| at Scott as if to ask him if he were in
a hurry. 'Oh. go ahead up" he snapped
I'm in no hurry
Up ment the elevator TO the call and
| the boy swung back the door TO let IN
Mabel Hillman.
Scott stared. Miss Hillman saw him,
] and paused for moment, half in, half
out, as if uncertain what TO do; then, bow
| ing frigidly, which bow Scott as Jelly de-
turned, walked in and stood in the oppo-
! site corner. Back swung the door, and the
! boy pulled the lever quickly; but the ele-
/ Vator did not respond as promptly az
usual. 1t started down slowly, and then
| Jerkily, finally stopping about midway be-
! tween the fourth and fifth floors. Miss
| Hillman and the boy looked scared. Scott,
/ Who had been closely watching his late
! fiancee for any further sign or token of
recognition, awoke to the situation and
| sharply demanded of the boy, What is
| the matter?'
81 don't know, SIR" said he, unless the
steam has given out. You see, being Sat
| urday, I stop running at o'clock, and
was just closing up when you rang the
bell, so l thought I would answer the call
and the engineer has probably shut off
the steam, and so we are stuck"
''Oh, it won't drop. will it?" said Miss
Hillman, who appeared to be gettin more
and more alarmed. What shall 1 dol
And mamma waiting for me in Down
ing's" And while she appeared to be
speaking to the boy, glanced half appear
ingly toward Scott, whose heart gave a
bound as he realized that here was a pos
sibIe chance of reinstating himself in his
Mabeps good graces.
Scott looked around the elevator and
locating its exact position, found that by
climbing on the boys stool he could Just
open the door of the fifth floor by put
ting his arm between the roof of the
cage" and the door itself He lifted the
latch, and pushing the door back, exposed
an opening about two feet wide, thus max
ing some sort of an outlet.
Charlie" he said, turning to the boy,
you can climb through there If 1 push
you up, can't you? Then go down and find
the engineer and tell him how we are
situated, and that he must get US out"
The boy willingly acquiesced, and without
great deal of effort was pushed through
and started downstairs.
Scott got off the stool, brushed himself
where the boyl's shoes had marked his
clothes, and then looked furtively toward
Miss Hillman, who now, at the prospect
Of near exit, had recovered somewhat
from the alarm she had felt and stood
coldly, silently waiting-looking out on
the side farthest away from Scott
They both stood silent for a few min
utes; then Scott, suddesly realizing that,
as time was precious, he must act at
once If he was to gain anything by this
advantage fate had thus given him, said
in a low voice: Miss Hillman-Mabelr'
She took no notice, but beat a soft
tattoo on the bars, as though to drown the
sound Of his voice. This made him feel
desperate, and nerving himself once more
to the attack, he spoke louder and in a
tone which she could not fail to hear:
Miss Hillman-Mabell Mabel!
She turned on him sharply. why do
to you, and it is an impertinece on your
part to speak TO me! And my name is
not Mabel" she flashed out at him. but
Miss Hillman!''
Poor Scott gasped with dismay, and
then, looking very contrite, stepped over
toward her, and said very quietly. look
ing her full in the eyes: but II is
Mabel-and Mabel won't you -" mo,
1 WON'T and she pushed him back from
her. And 1 won't listen to you, either"
But you will" he said, land you must"
this last vehemently. do you suppose
/ will let you wreck your happiness and
mine, for you do love me, whatever you
may say now to the contrary, for the sake
Of few paltry words, and because I
made fool Of myself? No. don't speak"
he continued, 81 was too quick and had
no right to speak to you as I did, and
oh, Mabel, please forgive mel! and he
seized her hand and looked imploringly
UP in her face.
But you had no right to be Jealous Of
my brother"
your brother?"
eyes. my brother; you knew had one
out West. He surprised us yesterday
morning; was going to New York on bus
mess last night, and was kissing me good
by when you saw him. I wanted to in
troduce you TO him, but he was in hurry,
and went out the one door as you stood
in the other-and then you turned on me
as you had no right to do before 1 could
explain" And the last words quivered
on her lips and the tears came into her
eyes.
What brute 1 have been. Mabel
Don't say have sinned past forgiveness.
And what a hasty fool. too; why, I might
have guessed it. When will he be back"
And, man-like, he tried TO pass IT of and
make her forget the poor light he had
shown himself in
That's all you care" she said. And
now you think have forgotten and for
given it all, and will again.
mo" ne said, gravely. mo, Mabel, but
it has taught me TO appreciate you the
better, and to know that a man may, FOR
the most trivial cause. and sometimes I'm
agination alone, lose a woman who is ev-
erything to him, but who may not be so
forgiving and tolerant as you" and he
kissed her. She smiled sweetly, and then,
looking around. said, "Oh, Scott, can't we
get out now?''
''Now7" he said "Now?" smilingly ac-
centing the word. well, T am willing TO.
now" Stepping over to the lever, he gent
" reversed Ii, and the elevator, to their
mutual satisfaction, Immediately started
down. Just as they reached the ground
floor the boy and the engineer came up
from the basement Thanking them both.
and incidentally tipping them. Scott ard
his newly recovered bride-to-be passed
down the passage 20 the street Going
down the steps she turned 10 him ard
lauEhingly remarked: 4 hope / shall