The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-30
The eIRL He MARRIED IN SECRET


difficulty that it seemed every momeni
as il her wearied frame would collapse
ana she would sink 10 the ground. never
10 rise again She was poorly but neatly
clad, and q casual glance would not have
I suggested extreme poverty, but second
look at the hollow. wasted cheeks. the
/ wild eyes, the shaking hands Indicated
only too clearly the demon OF hunger and
/ utter exhaustion.
She was ~. sick almost 70 death, bur
with her chin slightly poised in the air,
! with a Kind of dumb resolution 70 strug-
sic forward somewhere. she half clung 10
/ the low wooden fence which ran along
/ by the public road It seemed as If she
had exhausted her little stock OF endur-
ance. Where she had come from. where
she was going 10, she had almost for
! gotten She was conscious OF a dun.
/ gnawing pain, which was hunger for
/ food, without the pleasure Of appetite.
/ and an overmastering desire 70 lie down
! and sleep.
! Presently the dull crunch OF carriage
/ wheels and the thud OF q pair of high
/ stepping horses were heard on the road.
/ bat the lonely woman seemed not to
hear. In the course of the day she had
! encountered hundreds of wayfarers but
/ no one had noticed her plight, or. at any
rate, offered to help. Some had glanced
at her almost win repulsion; others had
This carriage caught her up as others
had done II contained a young lady. Of
about the same age, perhaps, of herself,
who was dressed in furs, who sat up
straight in her carriage, the very type
or unbending aristocratic pride. The car
riage passed her as all others had done
and the occupant glanced around at the
bent figure on the path-panting. totter-
ing, stumbling along. Then clear, sharp
voice said. Stop
That one word made all the difference.
1t was only spoken in an impulse, half Of
kindness. half of curiosity, but no human
. being VIII ever know how much influence
IL had upon more than one life. The lady
alighted from the carriage and picked her
way daintily and carefully through the
mud, with her petticoats lifted so as TO
avoid all possibility OF contamination.
and stood by the girls side. Where are
are YOU going. my good woman?" she
inquired, somewhat severely.
In reply the young woman looked at
her with lack luster eyes. Her senses
were numbered, and she could find no
answer. Where was she going2 How
could she tell2 The only ideas her mind
retained We're food, sleep rest"
Mrs. Stanton frOwned Evidently the
creature had been drinking. and she half
turned in disgust. A second thought
prompted her. however. 10 try again.
can do anything for your she asked.
7 feel bad. said the girl in a low voice.
and she clung to the fence a little tighter.
Are YOU trying to get to Stowbridge ?"
she asked.
The girl nodded. She had no Idea where
StOwbridge was but it would serve as
well as any other place.
The footman had jumped off his seat
and stood by his mistress side. STOW
bridge is seven miles away, IS it not?"
inquired Mrs Stanton.
Yes. ma am" said the man touching
his hat.
I'm afraid YOU will scarcely be able
to reach the town she said IN perplex-
ity, turning to the girl. In reply. she
gave short gasp and sank 70 the
ground in a heap. This seemed. on the
whole, TO prove the truth Of Mrs. Stan
toms words, and she looked more per
picked than ever.
There was perhaps half a minutes 81
lence; then she said: Help me put her
in the carriage"
The man seemed to be surprised. for no
one knew better than her servants Mrs.
Stanton's cold, Unconditional nature.
Together they lifted the semi-conscious
girl into the luxurious victoria Mrs.
stanton took her seat. and the footman
stood waiting for Instructions
Where to, ma amp he asked.
Home" came the answer in a quick.
clear voice.
"Rummy go. amt it?' he whispered to
the coachman.
'The rummiest go ever saw" said
that fu~ 1+ionary, gravely.
" Ow do you account for it2'' whls-
pered the footman, as if he were discuss
ing new form of influenza.
Don't know. I'm sure; I've noticed
wonderful change ever since the captain
went to the war. Seems as if the missis
had got bit more human like
A few minutes later and the carriage
swept up the handsome avenue that led
70 Newark house.
Mrs Stant9n's orders were, as usual
both prompt and decided The house /
keeper was to see the young woman put
comfortably to bed. She herself fetched I
brandy for her. The footman was 10
ride of for Or. Langfield and. if possible. /
bring him back
All this was carried out with the swift /
ness that money can procure. The doctor 1
after visiting his queer patient who had (
not spoken a word since being installed in /
her comfortable quarters. pursed his lips I
curiousiy This young woman IS very (
IN. Mrs. Stanton" he said. i recommend I
you to send her to the workhouse at +
once.
Mrs Stanton frowned slightly Would 4
il be safe TO move her2" she asked
Weller hardly" said the medical /
man. But If you don't get rid OF her I
you may have her on your hands for a
month or two"
For moment Mrs. Stanton hesitated.
Il cannot help it," she said. with sudden
decision. Here she is. and here she
must remain
The doctor shrugged his shoulders and
smiled cvuicany. You know nothing
about her. my dear Mrs. Stanton he
said. Isn't II rather eccentric TO take
q strange woman from q road into your
house like this? Why do you DO it2~
Il hardly know, said Mrs Stanton.
Perhaps il was q mad impulse. perhaps
Z was an Inspiration. I was wondering
what Fred was doing now. whether he
was in any danger Then / began TO I
lum the 'Ahsent-Minded BegTar. and
loT don't laugh. doctor. because I feel
very serious about it-just IS ] got 70 the
inc The girl be married in secret. my
.yes Zen on that poor ziTi and I thought
90 myself. suppose she is the wife q some
loor Tommy. and isn't on the strength
2 the regiment: and somehow couldnt
lelp bringing her home
The doctor looked rather amused. But
when Airs. Stanton suddenly burst into
ears. he pronounced il hysterfa ana rev
lulrlended port wine and quinine
However. the unknown wanderer was
enderly nursed and cared for and a Few
weeks iater another little life wss born
nto the world. arc with much dreuity
lourished and coaxed into active ex.st-
Then III last the Whitehead woman
old her story.
s1e was. in fact. the wife 81 q .eTrrn-
ny and in dumb f.itnfuin=ss. which
vas foolish and pathetic enough sfe ned
selieve6 she ought 20 keep her marriage
sc~et unfl Private John Little claimed
er before an the world. To ne sure. She
'oor creature could hlve rad heip fran