Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-10-12
After Ten Years
By MRS. MOSES p. HANDY

Copyrighted. 1900. Daily Story Pub. Coz
Never, during the three years for
which she had been in that lady's
service, had Miss Lorimer's maid found
her mistress so hard to please as this
night. Her hair had to be dressed and
re-dressed, her choice Of gown was
difficult and the last touches were put
to her toilet after the carriage had
reached the door. Yet the occasion was
only little dinner at the house OF an
intimate friend.
Miss Lorimer had her own reasons
for such unusual care of her appear
ance. A belle and beauty, acknowl-
edged leader in society, people won
dered that, at 35 years Of age, she
was unmarried. Man after man Tor
whom other women angled anxiousiy
had laid his heart and fortune at her
feet, but Miss Lorimer was Miss Lori
mer still. OF late there had come
sutton whom she was reluctant to re-
ject, while at the same time she hesl-
tated to accept his Offer A brilliant
and successful man, she admired and
liked him and felt herself fit to be
his helpmeet in his distinguished ca
reer.
But-there was a but-she honored
her lover too much to bring him a d.
vided heart Years before she had be-
lieved herself in love with the cousin
of her most intimate friend. When he
asked her to marry him she refused.
Not many months later she received
the announcement of his marriage 10
another woman, and thanked heaven
that she had not said yes to so tickle
a sutton. But the sting entered her
heart, and thereafter Miss Lorimer was
Unconditional and unromantic.
Tonight she was to meet for the
first time after ten years the man
whose memory fingered with her still,
and she felt nervously anxious. She
wanted to see if the old fascination
was enduring; If the old pain was
healed.
The dinner was at the house OF a
friend and cousin. DR.. Burton had
AASSAA w SAuihChSC uo q oui 6OOhb NANN
was in town professionally, having been
summoned for difficult operation in
the family Of millionaire.
Miss Lorimer had barely entered the
drawing-room and shaken hands with
her hostess when the dinner was an
nounced. She recognized the doctor
at once. The years had marked him;
there were deep lines on his brow and
touches of gray in his hair, but she
told herself she would have known him
anywhere. AS the guest Of the even
ing, DR.. Burton took the hostess in to
dinner, and Miss Lorimer smiled at
Mary's diplomacy when she found her.
self assigned to a distinguished ex-
jurist who was deaf and confirmed
gourmand, and placed at table with
the doctor on the other hand.
Conversation. with the lawyer was
difficult, not to say impossible. She I'M
folded her napkin in silence, but the
guests were scarcely seated before DR..
Burton accosted her.
"And so you are Miss Lorimer still?
Do you know, that surprised me?"
Indeed? l have never held it wom-
ans chief end to- be married"
LAS know, to my cost. Seriously,
think you treated me badly. l thought
then, as do now, that you encour-
aged me-" They were talking almost
in whispers.
did your Well, I may as well tell
you the truth. / was undecided, and
said no to test you. / believed firmly
in your persistence, but not in your
sincerity; moreover, l suspected that