Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-04-26
muttered


Here the two minds, looking out o.
mutual darkness, while the wind roar
ed and the diligence shook and swung
above the precipices, cav both the
same scene. An English garden In
the flush of June, high yew hedges
with banks of brilliant flowers heaped
against them.
There was girl in the white dress,
in a whittier heat os passion, and man
who had accused her of coquetry,
standing a little away from her with
quiet eyes and a determined mouth,
Manifestly it was lovers quarrel
with the ending that Is usual wen
the love is only on one side and the
other belligerent has the advantage OF
being without heart. Each of the
minds in the coach summed up the
evidence in this manner and arrievd
at an identical conclusion.
"And your cousin who has just got
! his jacket in the Horse Artillery
said the man. Has he worn the
jacket much?"
Jim has distinguished himself In
Africa" said Elizabeth. mot your
part of Africa" she added with a
/ ollSUllY Wlthtu VI oSOi IL NhiSh
| she knew to be unjust.
81 understand, by-the-way, in my
long absence many changes among
friends may have taken place. have
perhaps blundered in addressing you
by your maiden name"
81 have encountered myself with no
new styles or titles. And Tou-for ]
am not a reader of the papers Ca fib,
for had she not read every review OF
his book!)-you remind me that 1t is
probable that you are no longer a
bachelor"
Writing a book in Central Africa
does not run to wooing."
But the savages who are above the
average of the civilized? You may
never meet with such another oppor-
tunity."
Il intend to return to that society
I have only made a flying visit home
to arrange with my publishers.
The conversation tagged; so did the
storm. A blaze of stars lit up the
heavens and made CLEAN even with
| in the coach uy which the travellers
could jointly discern each other
Elizabeth sat well bac kin her corner,
The man presently made an effort to
carry on the conversation.
Il know something of the Princess
Pompila-an agreeable woman. You
will find the Italians cf that class in.
teresting people. You are particularly
fortunate"
"You think | might write a book
about them. versus the savages,' said
Elizabeth. But here rosy light APP
peared behind the velvety blackness OF
the pines.
The travellers were clearly visible
to each other as the morning radiance
penctrater into the interior of the dill.
gence. Each stole a long investigat-
Ing look at the opposite face and fig
ure. The woman found that the man
had grown bronzed and older, and
| that his mouth had got harder lines
The man saw the woman like the pale
and spiritualized sister Of blooming
girl who had pllghted her troth tcI
him three or four years ago. He
noticed that her dress was black, OF
that particular degree of sombreness
which denotes the deepest mourning.
"She had no one but father" he
thought.
But just then the diligence came VI
with a rush to the doc" of the hote
on the summit of the Pass, and stop
ped there.
win you allow me = assist you tc
alight. Miss Yethered? VIII you give
me your hand?"
Elizabeth put out her hand-a long
slim hand, every line Of which he
knew. He took it and held it as cold
ly as he was able. They stood in the
open dawn, with carna .ion-tinted
glaciers above their heads, and the
heavy green and purple draperies OF
the huge pines looming up out of the
abysses of the earth-shadows that still
hung on the lower valleys.
You look cold and i'll. Come In
and rest while | order your coffee
Put your feet to this stove. Let ms
take your heavy hat. | see you have
no maid with you. Bear with my
clumsy attentions"
They had breakfast together, talk.
ing carefully as people will talk who
are both anxious to avoid painful
subject present to both minds The
hour for the starting of the diligence
drew near
The man looked at his watch. "Our
ways part here" he said. aye have
half an hour still And now, Eliza.
beth, as we may never meet again |
will you tell me-you who were sc
kind to perishing traveller thinking
him a stranger-tell me that you for.
give me for writing you that abjec
letter"
Elizabeth opened her eyes wide and
gazed at him wonderingly.
What abject letter?'
"The letter | wrote you the day af
ter we parted"
81 never got letter from you since
that evening"
You never got that letter."
Never. assuredly. What"
She checked herself.
What did | say in it, Elizabeth;
Only that | loved you-that | was
ashamed of my Jealous words. and
prayed You to forgive me. got nc
answer | thought you could not for.
give, had never loved me. And you
81 thought the same" murmured
Elizabeth. "You went from me angry
and / knew no more"
The half hour was too short to hold
the words that followed, but the fel.
low travellers finished the journey to.
gether, and the Princess Pompilia Is