The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-16
An Unfair adya ntage.
Quoth he: Sweetheart. thou art young
and fair,
And thy story has Just begun;
But I am as old
%,Y. ALL

and fair,
And thy story has Just begun;
But / am as old
AS a tale that's told,
And the days of my youth are donep
Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler.
Two at the piano were singing some
songs-trying over some new ones. Gene
Danforth listened 10 then-a queer sense
of working in the muscles of his breast
He shouldn't care. What reason had he
TO care. He'd been coming to the house
for Ave years-ever since Dorothy grad
uated. And he had been p racticing law
o, long before that!
But TO have this young Bhipper-srap
per Of a fellow come in and sing love
songs with her in the delicious gloaming
of the Octoher tviiight-veli. there was
a limit to all things. Six months ago
he had not known the family. And sup
posing he had written a score which had
caught on" Was that any reason for
his effrontery? Not-again-that he,
Gene Danforth, had any right to OBJ
iect
Il wish to God I had"' he said Bit
terly.
And then he wondered what had wrung
the words from him. Nataha-Natalie
was only ls-came up and sat near him.
Don't you like TO hear Dolly and
Richard sing together" she questioned.
81 do. Their voices blend so WELL"
Yes he said.
She looked at him curiously. Have
you been working hard Of late?" she
asked.
Something in his tone had struck her
as strange.
every hard, Nat. why?'
"O-no why! Listen-isn't that sweet ?
It's old, but I like it."
1t was old-but Miss Natalie was
young enough to like anything senti-
mental.
o, summer time is ended,
1t will come no more, 1 know,
But love you, o. I love youi
And 1 cannot let you go,
1--WE met mfr. Allyn at Bar Harbor this
summer explained Natalie. There was
plaintiveness in the young voice which
Danforth noticed. I'VE liked him 50
much. Do you-you're such an old friend,
you know-do you think he-he cares for
-for-Dolly?"
How should I known Danforth coun-
ter-questioned, savagely.
Natalie slipped her hand under his ire
proachable coat sleeve. 20. Gene!" tshe
said.
Instantly the mans soul was illumi-
mated. Dear little grill" he whispered
Lear nltle girl! You care-and I-Wnat
cross purposesv'
Don't you think Dolly is taking an
unfair advantage? He-he adored me
before ne found out that she loved mu-
sic. too I'm not musical, but"
A vast wave Of moral courage surged
over Gene Danforth In that instant
We're a pair of fools, Nat! Musical
nothing! Cengenisl-nothing! There
ISN'T anything that counts for the man
and woman who love each other except
the fact that they do That's the only
thing that counts. He may sing songs
with Dorothy till dooms-day, and won't
believe but that
Hush! They're done-you dear dear
old Gene!' she said
Half an hour later. out under the chill
October moonlight, Danforth said to
Richard Willard, There is something
want TO ask you
Willard wheeled around. ASK away"
Whom are you going to see at the
Wards'-Miss WARRIOR Miss Natalie?"
why, Natalie, of coursel She's the
sweetest girl! Miss Ward only cares for
musicr'
Danforth gripped Richards hand at
parting.
"Good-nightP' he said heartily. you've
got a treasurer
YES responded Willard rather
vaguely. He had doubts of the sanity
of this old friend of the Ward family.
But Dorothy had no room left for
doubts when Gene came to see her next
day.
"Dick-Nataliers she said. "Indeed. I
hope so! He Is such a clever young
composer And they are so much in
love with each other! But as for-O,
you foolish fellow. I've been waiting
five years for you to say this-fve-