The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-06
Doris Destiny

I
prejudice 10 keep you from doing char
table act I know you are good TO the
| poor, and Berwyn is in great need
| 30, fudge and Miss Doris DrUmmond
threw down the unfinished letter and
got up and walked across the room 10
the window. Why can't his friends
take care Of him without thrusting The
| burden on strangers?' She turned and
| looked deiantly around the vacant
room. 90 we'll I don't care. anyway.
With which comment she went back to
the letter and then discovered there was
| one inclosed from the said brother. She
| opened II and read:
My Dear Miss Drummond: Pardon
my presumption in addressing you 50
| informally, but my sister was so kind
as to send me a letter you wrote 10
her, and I wish to humbly ask per
| mission to have ore for myself. Yours
;'BERwYN ACKRoN."
What arrant nonsense! I shall do
nothing of the kind, and Grace ought TO
have known as much" She took a seat
and ruminated. 20, no; it is impossible,
What! Write to a man ! have never
seen; why, what shall ! say?' Still she
sat and thought about IT,
"Oh, well, what are the odds. anyway
she queried, and drawing chair TO her
desk dashed off the following:
Mr. Ackron-Dear Sir: I had a very
strange epistle from your sister beseech-
ing me to write to you, also inclosing
one from yourself asking the same IA
vor. Now, I do not see why you should
be thrust into my life or l into yours,
nor why destiny should assign me such
an unwelcome role; but out of regard
for your sister, who represented you in
the last stage of human endurance,
though what lam to help you to endure
l have no idea, 1 comply with the de-
mand made upon me. So, if in due
course of time 1 send in my bill for SER
vices rendered or swindle you out of a
few thousand dollars, you viii bear wit
ness it was none OF my seeking and you
must exonerate me from all blame Now.
what can I DO for you? In what direc
ton do your tastes lie? Shall I discourse
upon the prize ring or the grand opera?
1t is little difficult, I think, to know
just how to approach a perfect stranger;
nevertheless, give me the cue and I shall
attempt it though l fail"
'There-if he can derive any enjoyment
from that trash he must be an angel"
After the letter had gone she felt cha
grined and would have recalled it. AS
she dwelt upon what she had written,
zen, while she had only meant to be hu-
morous. It caused her a great deal Of
uneasiress and humiliation, for her na-
ture was mild and gentle, and she was
afraid she might unwariy have hurt
fellow mortal She had hoped when she
wrote that her letter would have the
effect of sfienclpsi -Mr. 5Ackron; but now
since her own III advised reply worried
her. sch found herself looking almost
eagerly forward to an answer which
would set at rest her doubts as TO
whether she had offended him. When at
last one did come, she was astonished
TO find how great the strain had been.
He seemed to have taken her letter In
the same spirit 1T was written and if he
had been her most intimate friend ap-
parently could not have understood her
better. After that it was easier to write
to him. and she carried on the CORE
spondence with no lack of interest, and
presently found herself anticipating his
letters with a pleasure that was akin to
pain.
AT length the climax was reached,
when a letter came with an offer of
marriage She was not wholly unpre-
pared for 1t, though had dreaded lest it
come to pass, at the same time almost
longing for II. She was not quite sure
of herself; she loved the personality as
expressed through his letters, but how
about the man himself? SO she told him
how she felt and accepted him with the
reservation pending such time as they
should meet to ratify the compact
His answer showed his disappointment,
but he agreed TO the conditions she I'M
posed, and the correspondence continued
with renewed interest as time went on.
Doris grew ashamed of her doubts, but
al
ditionally. One day a letter from Ber-
wynn announced that his partner was
coming East and ne was sending a let
ter of Introduction to her by him, as he
intended passing a few weeks in her city,
and after MS return Berwyn woulds him
self come on and claim the fulfllment
Of her pledge.
The stranger, Mr.. Forester. arrived
soon after the letter; Doris received him
with a little flutter OF embarrassment, as
the friend OF her betrolhed. It did not
take long for her shyness TO wear off.
however. for his manner put her perfect
" at ease, ana before the interview was
over they felt on quite friendly terms.
But ali things come TO an end and her
suspense. though seemingly intermina-
bic. was lifted the next evening. In the
interim she had not seen Forester, and
when word was brought that Mr.. Ackron
was awaiting her in the draWing-room,
she braced herself TO meet some great
crisis. She silently turned the handle
of the door of the room where he was
awaiting her. and noiselessly glided IN
She could not bring herself to look at
aim. she felt that her fault was insGr-
mountable She approached him with
downcast eyes and humble mien; her li7s
were sealed and she felt ike one under
q ban.
Some one came forward TO meet her
and she felt herself ciasped IN close
embrace.
AT last you are mine" came 70 her in
smothered accents.
She struggled 10 free herself. She must
speak: at last she gained control OF her
ser and said:
1T Is al q mistake. ! love your
friend" she sismne-ed and hated.
..WeHg" ne said. she made no answer. /
.'Do YOU? I am very glad 10 hzar E.
he vent on, "xhy don't you marry I
hlm7v
Il am sorry cannot accommodate /
YOU" she began, rather rsrcsstica 81. /
th~ovs.ns back her head 2roualy.
''but-" tnen she found he-seif looking F.
into the eyes q the mar SIC loved vso 1
was gazing down 81 her with conss5e-a- +
BE amusement. and sha was struck dumb z
WITH astouis1ment.
go Won really love nv frlen37''
Your frisnd7-' Then g. suddenly rush 4
e upon Aer that sch had confessed 20 I
Mr.. Forester nat he was the c7e sae
loved. md instantly she wss covered i
win confusion '-TseT t5id me BerEEa 1
was here szs fs1lers5 AID ta~slsnta- (
-ily she looked ~ ire ezTd tAat s1e ST 1
held IN her hand
Yes Be-zyz Forester Acsro1." -
replied. sruisEE.
%. 49, "a vaa Dc - To teu- rzsr"