The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-20

should hear about it.
When the crucial moment came and he
saw her. cloaked and expectant. tiptoeing
down the narrow. dark stairs that led
from the stage 10 the alley. he didn't
hrow what TO Go. He had a carriage at
the end of the alley and its presence had
served to reassure him till now. Suddenly
I he felt that she might resent this hint Of
Il desire for privacy. His arm trembled
when she touched IT, and they walked
away. The wise driver saved him from
the necessity of speech. for the door OF
the carriage CAPPED for them as they
emerged into the street light. and she
hoped in like a scared dove into its cote
He didn't remember much of anything
then until they were at supper but he
was hugely conscious of an indescriba-
bic. awod and yet giorifed sense Of joy
that amounted TO ecstasy She was all
and more than all that he had ever
dreamed of angelic wOmanhOod. He had
asked her to order the supper. and she
lad proved her taste. her patrician hab-
its her aristOcratic breeding. ne thought
by rafting Off Instructions that seemed
t include everything that was fine and
tcothsome and dainty. She called him
Mister Humphreys and was the en-
bcdiment of grace, decorum, vivacity. in
teIiiEence and wit. When he had left her
entranced and looked in the glass at his
pale cmrl-shaped face, he could hardly
realize the sublimated glory OF his expert
erce of the past few hours. Perhaps it
was that sauterne. but he was no longer
sure of what he had said. He only knew
that she was divine-his divinity. He re-
called vaguely that he had asked perrlis-
sion to send her n little present. token
q his deep and undying regard" before
she left the city, and he was quite sure
Of what she had said.
Il have a few friends men whom I like
o. admire. but I never take their pres
erts. They serd them often but / always
s. nd them back ] think it is not right 10
take gifts. unless"
That was as far as Re could remember
hut the glance which she gave him
would not scorn his present. She would
grant him but two interviews after that
first blissful evening. lie bought the
present the day before she and the com
psny left for New York Ii was a ring
ef course. Serious honest. high-minded
lovers always send a ring. Humphreys
knew that much. and the bauhle was
beauty not worthy of her. but yet
fine present. He dreaded and yet yearned
for the hour TO come when he was to see
her of al the station. II she returned
the ring he would die He was sure OF
that II she kept it-2 He was al the
station an hour too soon. At last they
Ceme. She was walking with a coarse
looking. heavy. red-haired man. but when
she saw Humphreys she disengs ged her
arm and came up 70 him. They walked
away into the shadows of waiting train.
she would write 70 him. certainly.
Your present Frank. il was splendid
beautiful HoH his heart swelled al the
sound OF his name Franz II shall
never forget you. ! do1't know how 70
thank YOU I'll write. III" Her voice
trembied and he squeezed her hand. An
aboard" yelled the conductor. She turn
eu suddenly and raised her vcil. And then
b. kissed her She was gone
The following Moadsy as he walked
past Eiseihorn's jewelry store the pro-
p-ietor. standing in the doorway hailed
Eir. re went IN, and the man who had
sold him Jones ring. said.
Vel. Your sister didn't like t. no2"
b. mean the ring2 asked Hum
hrs feeling wan Didn't she. dian
u IS Montaeg Ike it,
'Ach. no. She brought Il back and said
you'd CONE IL later ard order won FOR her.
she your sister. al ght aint ite
oh. yes ehes my sister. gasged Hum
Thrers. .-that IS. rhe's
Ach veli then It's Az right Because
Z save Ae- hack The In-neY when her hrs-
band ss.d DC vuaf sent yau fer it fsecause
IL couldot cor1e Gsr Tes your
hfu8er-in-lav. thas fet. red-het man.
ssfe him back the money. It's ~ right.
ain'd
aOh. ves. it's al right slr- EfkeIhoru.
said Frank l7gurhr ard now he
zuows-fehn = lZsftrF