The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-11
A Feast of Resurrection.

Fate had turned against Arthur Ha-
zleton strongly. hen he sat down to
Mrs. Kingford's pretty dinner table it
was with the bitter feeling that this
was probably his last appearance IN
the gay world of society," since he
was practically a bankrupt in everything
save health. Fortune, hope, ideals, al
else had vanished. And a woman hal
been responsible for the bitterest part
of all. Another woman. kind. loyal Patty
kingsford, who was unfailingiy. faithful
to those she called her friends, was re-
sponsible for his appearance at her tabla
that evening He had only accepted the
invitation because he wished to please
her.
The girl who sat at his side was as
sweet and cheerful and optimistic as he
was gloomy and forbidding. A year or
two ago, before that other woman had
enchanted, enslaved, and tossed him
aside like a sucked orange or a withered
flower, he had admired her so greatly
that he had dreamed of asking her 10
be his wife Tonight she of all the COM
pany, Mrs. Kingsford excepted, had
greeted him in just her usual manner.
Ashamed to recall the sight he had put
upon her, Haxeton had offered her his
arm in grim silence. and the fish was
being disposed of before a word was
passed between them.
The table was all in white, cleaning,
glitterng, spotless white from the snowy
condlesticks to the odorous roses in the
center. The girl indicated it by a nod of
her pretty head.
Lovely. isn't it?" she said. What
does it make you think of, all this
whiteness?"
Death" he answered brusquely
She stared and looked at him graveIy.
''It makes me think of resurrection"
she murmured.
do you believe in resurrection he
questioned.
Certainly" she responded. with
smile. ut is the law of nature"
Even for human beings?" was his
next query
Most of all for them" she answer
ed. Our best possibilities may always
be resurrected, even from seeming
death. We always may be what we
might have BEEN you know"
You are inexperienced he told her,
smiling bitterly.
Not SO much as you think" she said
quietly. 81 am well and happy and
prosperous now, it is true. but I have
known almost every kind of trouble
which can befan woman-save only
disgrace-in my time. I have known
bitter poverty, sorrow, even a broken
heart. But I have always held" he
fancied she spoke meaningly, that ev-
cry human soul owes it to its own dig
nifty and existence to have courage al
ways. whatever happens, and to make
the best of even the cruel things of
life"
Your friends have not failed you, per-
haps," and his tone was bitter
mot my friends" was her quiet an
swer, but some people I had counted
such. On the other hand-as you viii
discover also-I found. when trouble as
sailed me, that I had many more real
true and devoted friends than I had
believed or epected.'
But you have never failed your
friends. I am sure"
mo, hope not, so far, but, being hui
man, I fear 1 must have disappointed
them many times. 1 am not good
enough" with a little smile, ito sit in
Judgment on my fellows in any respect"
you have not sinned-as I have" and
his voice was so low she could scarcely
hear It.
Women seldom sin as men do, per-
haps because they are seldom tempted
she told him; 'but-is there no sueh
thing as repentance? And where real
love-I mean friendship" hurriedly and
even TREMENDOUSLY now, sis there no such
thing as forgiveness?"
81 hope you have had a pleasant even
ing, dear boy said kind little Patty
Kingsford, smiling up at her tall guest,
as, later in the evening, he escorted
Elizabeth Trueland to her carriage. He
smiled down at her tenderly
Indeed, yes, dear friend" was his
joyous and yet solemnly uttered answer
This evening has been a time of resur-
rection for me-"