The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-28
IndeScreet Miss Sands.
[From the Commercial A~dvertiser.l

IFrom the Commercial Advertiser.1
Soon after our engagement was an
bounced and people had begun to invite
us to dinner to see if we really cared
for each other, Bess received an Urgent
message from her mother who was ta-
ken suddenly i'll in London while pre-
pairing to return home. And on a May
morning I stood Beside Bess on the deck
of the steamer and said foolish and in
coherent things; for the lady of my
choice was hysterica1, and people pass
ed at inopportune moments.
How absurd, and-and horrid it is to
| stand round, saying good-by," gurgled
Bess, hitting me in the face for the fifth
time with a bunch of American beauties
someone else had sent; Il know 1 shall
be sick Can't you come, too?" I shook
my head dismally, glaring at the man
who ordered me ashore.
"Good-by, Bess; nobody's looking.
| h do you care,
She rave me a peck on the cheek be-
hind the roses, and 1 called her a prude.
Then l was hustled ashore. where I
waved my handkerchief until a white,
r~eproachful face was carried away be-
fore I realized that L had behaved very
badly. And thrusting my handkerchief
into my pocket, l turned round abrupt
ly, treading heavily on the toes of a
I young woman. | apologized confusedIy,
but she only looked at me with a tear
running down the end of her nose.
Pm very. very sorry said 1.
L DOESN'T matter IN the least Sne
replied. and / knew she had no idea
what she was saying; and on observing
her more closely 1 recognized her as one
of the prettiest debutantes his sea-
son.
Miss Sands?" aid I. raising my
hat.
"Ohi' she gasped, and strove for self
possession; she evidently regarded me
as a strange and horribly familiar man,
who had somehow learned her name.
and was taking advantage of her I'M
c~haperoned state.
Mr. Adams said I; you don't re-
member me. but l was at your coming
out dance Can | be of any assistance?
You seem to be in trouble?"
Il don't know what to do" she re-
peated helplessly; Il don't know
to do"
Have you a cab?"
Il sent it away" she fa1tered, be
cause-oh, L can't explaini"
Don't, / beg" | answered hastily,
and assisted her to a hanson into which
she climbed passively, while 1 stood
waiting for the address But as h sat
staring into space. told the man to
drive to the park, and sat beside her
until she should collect herself.
Nov, Miss Sands" said |, as we roll
! ed along. IF you will tell me where to
Never. 1 hate the thought of theml''
was her reply; tell him to drive to the
Waldorf. 1 won't go backi I WON'T"
Certainly said 1, and CAV the nee
essary orders.
MY uncle is there" she continued,
land he'll take care of me-" I vega to
be interested; but the girl ssh2 nothing
more until we reached the hotel, where
the clerk informed us that uncle had
| gone to Ardsley early that morning, and
would not return till night. l feared
| Miss Sands would begin to cry again.
but she bit her lips pluckily. A happy
thought occurred to me-
Il don't wonder you're upset" said /,
you haven't had any breakfast"
How did you know?" she cried, star
ing at me with big, tired eyes. But
I'm not hungry she added, land 1
| don't care if / never eat"
-Oh, nonsense!" said 7. and, leading
her to the dining rom, gave orders for
a most artistic and substantial repast
She did eat after one or two attempts.
| A pretty color came INTO her cheeks, and
she laughed almost gayly-
You must think me crazy h said,
but I couldn't help it."
It's natural / sighed.
Il knew you would understand. But
I was too late, after all. And now-oh,
deari" I murmured something, sympa-
thetically.
.Win you promise not to tell? You
ought to know, and you've been awfully
kind. You see, mother thought I was
too young. and T-oh, / won't be treated
like a child! Why, 1 said I would-you
know
I bowed.
"And when I told mother I was going
to marry Tom shAshe wrote him that
l. FAo ~ JOaAAo5 CAA1o 10 NOA0 49, ttAA0
Tom never came near me, though /
waited and waited. And yesterday his
sister wrote that he was going TO
Europe today. TO be gone a year, and
that I treated him shamefully. I cried
all night, and this morning I ran down
to tell him it was all a mistake, and
that / loved him, but l couldn't find him,
and now he'll never know; and Uncle
Dick always took my part, but, now he's
gone, L don't know What to do.
Tt would give me great pleasure"
cof6 T f<fa foIrn ora of Won until 7rrT1-
uncle returns. If you are willing we
can pass the day very charmingly, and
you really shouldn't wander about by
yourself"
No" she confessed, 81 never did be-
fore. But mother will be awfully wor-
ried- I ran away. you see. But" with
a very becoming blush, I'm afraid it's
not right to keep you from business,
and, besides, you don't look fatherly
enough"
II am an engaged man" I explained
but your fancee won't like it"
"She is a very sensible young woman,
and will sympathize, or would, if she
were here" L concluded, m~ournfuIly,
but she's on her way to rop
meet Tom-Mr. Pinkney."
"Pinkney, the artist? I know him very
we'll So does Miss Weston"
"Oh," Miss Sands mouth dropped a
little, I've heard of her. She's very
attractive" She paused and drew de-
signs on the tablecloth with her fork,
then looked at me with an enchanting
smile. you may take care of me to-
day, if you will. It's very Kind of you.
But mother may discover me. Mother
is awfully lever.
Il don't think she will unless any one
saw you on the dock" 1 answered, turn
ing around carelessly in search of pos
sibly interested friends. Near by sat a
plain-faced young woman with sharp
black eyes. Her repaSt consisted of tea
and a piece of bread which she was
crumbling. I did not like the looks of
her at all. nor the glance she gave me
Her face was also strangely familiar. I
f11rnod- Ia Mis-. San6S NTH ruhaf RaSS