The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-31
Just a Hint or Two.

Mrs. Weston, widow of q years, was
seated upon the piazza OF her pretty
summer cottage, reading.
iAe afternoon was warm, and she was
attired in dainty white muslin 'iress.
She was a very pretty widow. Her htss-
band Colonel Weston, had been dead rno
years, and she had just returned from an
extended trip abroad.
People remarked that she did not fret
much about her loss.
Why should she? Not likely the pretty
schoolgirl of IS married the millionaire
colonel for love-
The front door-bell rang, and she had
barely time 20 twist her hair up when
Paulette, the French housemaid, an
nounced Walter Courtenay.
She turned to greet him VITA eyes
sparkling and cheeks aglow.
'Oh, WaIteri' she exclaimed, raptur-
oHsly. Il am so glad 10 see you. Be
seated" He grasped both her hands and
pressed kiss upon her fair forehead.
walter she .cried. you forget I am
no longer schoolgirl. You must not do
such a thing again.
He was a tall, handsome fellow. He
and Mrs. Weston Constance Keith were
born and bred in the old town of Lynne,
and although he was the son of an earl
and she only a wears daughter, they
had always had very friendly feeling
toward each other. She often recalled
the many happy times they had together,
when he in boyish admiration told her
she was the most beautiful girl under the
sun and the only girl he could make his
wife. But when he was sent to college,
and old Colonel Weston, who had al
ways admired her, asked her TO become
his wife, she forgot all about Walter
and accepted the colonel. But Walter
did not appear to fret much, for 1t soon
became known that he was engaged 10
Fiji Clark a star opera singer. So
there was still that friendly feeling be-
tween them.
Pardon me, Connie" he said, seating
himself in coy rocker, but I was go
delighted 10 see you I could not help
it. It's about year since last saw you.
I think
"a year and two months" corrected
Connie. do you think have changed::''
you are prettier, if possible
Silly as ever; tell me about yourself
and everyone. You are my first visitor
since 1 returned home. Are you Nor
RED to Fiji yet?' NO; let US change
the subject. Do you think 1 look weu?"
ITO tell the truth, you don't look veil"
Nor don't feel WELL either. You see,
Connie, +" His voice quivered, his
face flushed.
She took both his hands in hers and
said gently: Come. now, Walter, you
must tell me all. You know you CO n
trust your old sehoolmate, your tr,leet
friend
"Oh. it's nothing. Con, only-well-heart
trouble" Yes" said Connie, smiling.
II underestimate woman "Oh, hang it!
If you must know, the fact is I've tcen
Tilted" by Fifie?" Yes" How did Il
happen?" ''She found out I had little
money and threw me over for a million
aire Chicago pork packer. My folks are
delighted, but 1 shall not survive it," ne
said mournfully. You really loved her?'
Il adore her" "Still?' said Constance.
Yes, and always will The light is all
gone out of my life now. 1 shall never
be happy again. rs there no one else
you could ever learn to love?" she asked,
hopefully. mo. there is no one else"
She swallowed the lump that arose In
her throat, and said: 1T was real cruel
of Fiji" She's like all other women:
it's money they are AFTER he said
gloomily. "Oh, indeed!'' said Constance,
with pout.
Forgive me, Connie; mean all except
ing you" Il wish l could comfort you,
Walter, but are you sure this love you
speak Of is naught but a temporary in
fatuation, and when the girl who loves
you for your own true self somes along
you'll forget all about Fifii?" II think
not, Connie; but no such girl will ever
come along" why. there are lots Of
girls, Walter" Name some" mo. 1
shan't, but I have one in mind who loves
you for your own true self" You're
joking, Con-" You know 1 never soke,
Walter. l shall tell you her name in a
month";
"A month"; cried Walter. Eyes, a
month from today. 1 shall give you that
time to think what girl of all your
friends has seemed to think very highly
of you; one who has known you many
years; one who is not after money OF
course you viii think of the one 1 have
in mind, then go and propose to her. and
I'll wager she'll tell you she has loved
you many months
Has she ever spoken well of me to
you?" asked the unsuspecting young
man. ''She has told me that she loved
you; that you were her ideal of perfec-
ton in man, and the only person she
could ever make her husband
Then, my happiness is not a thing Of
the past he said. 1.-The future win
tell she answered. as she rich. CONF"
"She Is far from being a beggar."
People call her very pretty
Then, my happiness is complete On
~ for you, Connie. I'm afraid I'd be-
come rusty old bachelor" and, as he
babe her good afternoon" he was so
happy he looked as If he would have
liked to repeat his former offense of
kissing her, but ne dare not-yet
When he had gone Mrs. Weston leaned
back in her chair and laughed merriIy
IT'S not leap year, but then had to
give him hint or two she told her.
self
A mouth later Constance sits in her
luxurious drawing groom waiting to re-
ceive him. She wears pale blue dress
and a single Jack rose (his favoriJe
fiower) in her hair.
She hears his step up the pathway;
the bell rings, aud he stands before her.
We'll" he exelaims after A minute, Il
give it up, Con. I find there is no one
I can ever learn TO love as I dld Fiji un-
less-dont laugh al me. Con-it's you
yourself "'Of course it's me, you dear
old goose
And It was not for hours afterward that
Courtenay discovered what fool he had
been-Eyeyn Mae Corbett in the Boston
Post.
Newspaper Waifs.
Mrs. Bingo-"You must b careful what