The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-09-03

efforts and his bright prospects or sue
cess, and she was very glad. Bat Rich
ard Burton was not there TO talk about
himself Slowly but steadily Nc ap.
preached his subject. lie was at los5
for words now and then, and he made
many pauses, but finally she understood
the purpose that had brought him all
these weary miles.
She was silent lltsie while. And
then she told him gently and kindly
that she felt greatly honored by his pro.
posal, and that she was very fond Of
him, but not, she was quite sure, in the
way he desired She had never thought
OF him as anything but dear friend.
No, she could give him no hope. She
paused, but Richard was silent.
"And you came all the way from
Mexico to ask me that?" she said, and
looked at him euriously.
Come" she added, stay here and
dine with me and we Will recall the
dear old days"
Then he arose and thanked her He
must go back to his hotel He would
try to call again.
"Yes. do said Agnes cordially, and
gave him her slim hand. Then she
looked at him sharply. "Im afraid you
are not WELL" she said.
Yes he was quite well, and so gocdby.
And Richa ard bowed himself o.. ami
heard the door close behind him
But he did not go far. The Skrgins
waves OF heat beat down upon his
throbbiEg brJA There was red hue
t. the atmosphere and the air was very
close and hard 10 breathe. There was q
tightness about his temples, and he pu,
his hand up in an uncertain way and
pushed his hat from his head. Then a
strange feeling Of weakness came over
him ard he sank down upon the step
Littls gusts Of giddiness whirled
through him-ihen everything swan In
a rosy sea and ais head dropped back.
A moment later the outer door open
ed and Agnes Harper looked out she
was worrying about Richards appear
Rnce. He certainly was III. 1t was
wrong for her to let him go. H5 had
come all that long journey on her ac
account little flush stole into her
cheeks And she had let him go In such
an unfeeling way. And scarcely know
ing why she did so--perhaps to resssure
neighborllood, perhaps 10 hopes inat hs
was, and that she could call him back
she opened the outer door. Then she
saw Richard and flung the door vide.
"Oh, oh" she cried. and ran to him
and got her strong arms and sr his
armpits and half carried, ha's drew him
by degrees across the porch and into the
hall He was a much lighter burden
than she feared he would be, and she
had him lying on the rugs in the hals
darkened room In a very few seconds
Then she ran through an inner door and
quickly returned with cloths and brok-
en- ice, and deity packed the after
about Richardss head When this was
done she hurried TO the telephone
Richard Burton. lying In a half-con-
scious state, had 4 series oi strange
visions. Sometimes they were separated
by long blanks like the tedious waits or
a tirst performance; sometimes they tol
lowed close together like the pictures Of
q ibosraph. But they were always hazy
and intangible and slipped away one
after another into nolhingnoss.
And then one day came the strangest
vision of all He haa opened his eyes
very slowly, because the light iAzzled
them a little, ana then he saw some
thing that dazzled him still more II
was a eomely young woman sitting be-
side his bed, bending her dainty head
above a bit OF sewing. And the young
woman was Agnes
Richard Burton lay very still He
was afraid that the vision would vanish
like ali the other visions. But It was
wonderful how real that seemed. Gould
that riny curl on Agnes snowy neck be
a thing Of Imagination? And taep she
suddenly looked up and caught his eye
She drew little nearer. she put her
cool hand on his forehead. How real i
seemed. Then she smiled down at him.
Have you come back she softly
said. and sank on her knees beside the