The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-02
LOVER BOX RIGHT.

down the street Once within the hotel
portal. ne glanced searchingly about the
office There was sort OF wistful look
II John kentss eyes. He was looking
yearningly for a familiar face.
John hents skin was tanned almost 70
a mahogany color. He had hunted and
fought ia Africa; he had pursued big
game in the Himaiayas; he had explored
the islands OF the seas; he had threaded
the Brazilian forests and had ridden over
the Patagorian plains with the giant
savages Of that country. II was ten
years since John Kent had seen Chi
cago.
Ten years. Then he was IS. and this
day ne was IS. While his face had been
darzened with exposure TO the climates
o. 4 score Of countries. his hair had
whitened about the temples. Time is less
kindly than the sun. John Kent went
L his hotel dinner in evening dress. The
clothes were new. had made the pur-
chase on landing in New York. 1t was
the first time in ten years that he had
y orn evening dress. He had fought shy
o. civilization IN every land he had visited
IL. ten years wandering.
John Kent had barely finished his soup
when the head waiter piloted another
hotel guest 10 the table where Kent sat,
ard gave him a char SO that he was OPP
posite the returned traveller. Kent saw
SOLirti-ltG ialll4ldI III the man ; ldEc- Ilt
turned his memory inward, and the
thought brought him knowledge OF his
neighbor. Billy Blair" he said abruptly,
Don't you know me-"
His vis-a-vis looked at him fun in the
face for moment. My soul. it's JOnn
Kent" he said, and then the two clasped
hands over the snowy table. I've heard
o. you during the last ten years" Blair
continued. only as a mighty hunter and
4sa,~ in Co 1a-ar,
places. 7 haven't seen you since the
year after we left college. for l did not
come 10 Chicago until six months after
you hads left And so now you're back
in civilization. Well, let me give you /
taste Of it tonight. l have tickets for
Strong's theater; good play. opening
night and lots of fashionables there.
You'll know some Of them. doubtless.
though q younger generation has come
into the swim since you left / have
three seats; Jim Chids is going with US.
Charlie Grannis was to 60, but couldn't
SO you'D have his seat You remember
jim Childs don't you? Good fellow that.
and hell be glad to see you
John Kent and his friends. Childs and
Blair. sat next the aisle four rows from
the front in Strong's theater The first
act was over Childs had suggested a
trip to the smoking-rocm. Let's sit
here, jim, said Blair, and let Jack look
around a little. He a. probably see some
faces he knows
There was a little stir in lower box at
the right of the stage. A man in evening
dress with a sparkling. decoration sus-
pended from a red ribbon and showing
strikingly against the white Of his shirt
bosom, entered the Dox. The eyes of the
men in the aisle seats of the fifth row
we're directed toward the newcomer. AS
they looked, a woman who had been sit
ting back in the box. leaned forward 10
greet the man with the decoration. She
was a beautiful creature. with a touch of
something in her face that amounted al
most TO sadness. there was a rustling
throughout the entire house. People lean
eG forward more anxious TO obtain a
glimpse OF this woman than they were to
see the foreign looking stranger.
You may possibly remember Margaret
Rainsford, Jack" said Bailey. Il think
she was in society when you left here,
and that's ten years ago. She's 80 now,
but more beautiful than ever. The sieges
nat have been undertaken for the cap
ture Of her heart are in number greater
than those Of any ten war campaigns OF
history. She's managed to remain single
oil these years, nevertheless. About nine
years ago German nobieman killed HIM
self for love Of this woman. it was no
fault Of hers, for she gave him no en-
enlargement. As for local suitors, there
hasn't been one of rs who al some time
other has not hoped In his silly heart
that he might win. Suitors. Jackg There
have been scores of them. Margaret
Eainsf0rd has been kindness itself to Us
all-this is quite a Confession for a man
II make about himself. isn't it, She
gave US all to understand il was no use,
and somehow or other it was just her
manner Of doing the things that kept
US from breaking our hearts and going
Of ike the German and shooting our
selves in Lincoln Park.
You see, Jack. there's something of
story back of this. Possibly YOU went
away before the thing happened. We've
only heard Of it here in whispers. and OF
course there's no telling whether we
have IL just right or not but II is said
that this unapproachable beauty once
loved a man. that she heard something
concerning him and was given what she
considered positive proof Of the truth Of
the story.
We've heard that she sent Tor him
and gave him no chance 10 explain threw
4 ring at his feet as though it were a
fetter. and told him 70 80. He was as
proud as she lie attempted no cxplana-
tion but left her and went away with
the rose of his life IN the dust.
well YOU know this part Of the story
were certain about After a year or so
she found chat some one had led to her
and that she had Wr0nGed the man she
loved. She wrote him a letter that I am
told should have touched q heart. though
had the temper Of steel. Il was a
prayer for forgiveness and
'Ycu say she wrote Bily?"
Yes. Jack. What g0ing2'
Yes he's going. and gone. said jim
Childs- y heard your yarn, Billy. What
cid il mean2
'It meant that 7 knew the reason for
Jack Kerts wanderings Tor ten wears
mong cannibals and wild beasts. Jim
he's heading straight for the box We'll !
my boy. It's sli right bur can't say I
e1ty that beiewcled foreigner leaning
over Margaret Rainsford s. chair Hes
likely TO follow the example Of certain
l--I.M c-ur Lr.-rl.n - l--crH 2 Gil