The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-11
A Dangerous Game,


! he did not love her, half-pleadingly, as
if she longed for him TO contradict her
warmly.
Carl Langlois Redeemed under her gaze.
What nonsense. Mildred, of course
love you Why else would l come hun
dred miles to spend an evening with
you?" ne replied a trifle npatiently.
Then, why"-Mildred began bravely.
but she in turn colored and looked EN-
/ barrasscd. Surely Carl knew that she
| lorged TO ask him why he had twice post
poned their marriage, and or this visit,
when she had expected him TO ask her
to set the day for the ceremony, he had
not done So True, be had brought her
a beautiful bracelet and had seemed at
fectionate and loving; yet somehow Nil
| dred felt that there was something lack
! ing N his casesses, and the fact that
! lie did not breach the subject which she
! had hoped he would settle on this visit
vaguely alarmed her. For she loved Carl
! deeply and was unhappy in the home of
relative upon whom she was partly
| dependent and longed to have a home of
| her own.
Carl had said, the last time he had Wis
| tied her, that they would arrange their
! plans for the future when he next came,
but when Mildred had made the remark
| that she did not believe he really loved
| her. he was on the verge of departure
| and still had not asked her to name the
! day which would make them husband and
| wife. He must have known what the
question was she wished to ask, yet he
{ did not help her out, and so the question
died, unasked, upon her lips. Instead
| ne turned suddenly 10 the clock. I'll
| have just time to make my train" he
said. hurriedly, 80 good-by, my sweet
heart. Give me a kiss and take good
care of yourself for my sake go tender
! ~ that for a time all doubts as 10 MS
| fidelity were dismissed from Mildred's
heart. Only for a time however for
while his farewell kiss was still warm
on her lips the question returned TO her
mind:
why does not Carl, if he really loves
me and wants me to be his wife. claim
me for his own? Perhaps he is growing
to love some one else. l believe / am
strong enough to bear it if it is true
better to know now than when it is too
late-and uncertainty is hard to bear
must find out, and if 1t is true that he
no longer loves me as he did 1 will re-
lease him. But If 1 have wronged him
by my doubts, l will atone by giving
him added love and Affection
Carts mother had often sent her kind
messages, and had also sent by Carl
some very beautiful table linen FOR Nil
dred to embroider for use after her mar
rage. She knew that Mrs. Langlois was
her friend, although they mad never met
and determined to go to see her and dis
cover whether Carl had confded In her
any change in his desire to marry Mil
dred. She shrark from the trial yet felt
it must be made for the sake of her ftl-
ture happiness. Accordingly, d few days
after Carts visit she took trip to his
home, arriving there. as she had planned
when Carl was absent at HE business.
When she introduced herself to Mrs
Langlois she was warmly greeted, but
when she told the object of her visit her
host was visibly surprised and discon-
certed.
My dear child she exclaimed, there
must be a mistake somewhere. Carl as
sured me only yesterday that you kept
putting him off whenever he mentioned
your marriage. 1 cannot understand it."
II can, Mrs. Langlois," said Mildred
proudly. Your son has grown tired Of
me and is seeking in some way to free
himself. But, thank heaven, his letters
are not yet riveted, and are easily bro
ken. 7 Will release him from an engage
ment which is no longer a pleasure to
him.
MY dear, dear Mildred" begged his
L
am sure there is some n1isunderstand-
ing"
Mildred had turned very pale, and an
overwhelming conviction that Carl was
false to her came upon her with crush
ing force, but she summoned up coura &c
to face the truth.
1--WE must find OUT sch said, very
gently, for the mothers distress was
very great, whether he is attentive to
some one else. Have you ever noticed his
taking pleasure in the society of any girl
here?"
oh no. Mrs. Langiois replied, hasti-
ly, but suddenly her face changed. Sure
ly," she said, as If to herself, "he cannot
care for Marion Reed? And yet, now
that my mind is drawn to 1t, I have no.
ticed him often with her. But Marion
is such a gay little fiirt, and then she
knew Of Carls engagement
"Ah!' Mildred said quickly, that is
not enough to keep some girls from try
ing to win away a mans love It NAV
be that she has drawn him away from
me- But we must make sure, my dear
friend-for l feel that you are my friend
and If it is true 1 will willingly give
him up to her if it is for his happiness"
They arranged it that Mildreds pres
ence in the house should be kept a Sc
cret from Carl and that his mother at
meal-time should question him IN a way
not to arouse his suspicious; so. as the
two sat alone at dinner, Mrs LangIois
carelessly said:
What a charming girl Marion Reed is,
Carlr'
Isn't she, motherY' he cried enthusiast
tcally. DO you know she quite fascl-
mates me?"
Carl" his mother said gravely, that
& na
married 10 another woman"
''Pshaw. mother!" Carl exclaimed. i'm
patiently. you know I told you Mildred
would never set the day, and we NAV
never be married at all
You are right. Mr.. LanElois." said
Mildred. who had been unable TO resist
the temptation of listening unseen; ''vo,
are right. We viii never De married.
You are quite welcome 10 ask the fasc;-
mating Miss Reed 20 be your wife, for
I am henceforth a stranger TO YOU"
Before Carl could recover from mis- as
constituent she was gone, and as her
train was just ready to depart she was
out of his reach, and the passionate pro-
tests of affection which he was PREPARED
TO make, the promises OF future fidelity.
were never uttered
Now that he had lost her. Mildred an
peared to Carl as precious treasure
which he would give anything 20 possess.
The attractions OF Marion Reed paled
into insignifcance and ne took the next
train IN pursuit OF Mildred, hoping that
he could win her back
But once assured OF the flaws in he-
IDOL Mildred lad east him out of her
heart. ana though * was sore e was nor
broken. becaUee she realized MS u1z-orth-
mess. She refused - see Carl ard r.
turned his letters unread. Tf-hia a week
mortified at MS rejection, he had offered
hIrusei. 70 Marion Reed
Why. you're going % marry soma ri-l
IN Lawrence she reolted c7e-f-z -