The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-24
A CHANCE MEETING.

''well of all things,'
Alice
'George,"
ITO think of meeting you here.'
And you, Why. It's been an age
Has it? Shopping, 1 SUPPOSE
"A little-but you, what are you doing2'
"Gcing through pleasure and business.
Just stopped over 70 see the friends OF ten
years ago"
How thoughtful of you. And-I sup
pose you are married and settled down.
Married, /? Why-ha, ha. hai-dont
look comparatively free from distress?''
Yes, of course, but it's been 50 long a
Since you and I were in the choir to-
gether. singing duets TO the accompani-
ment OF an organ that sputtered like a
punctured tire,"
And so many things have happened"
Yes"
And the world is so big
''Sa little. you mean-so little that
couldn't avoid meeting you. not that
cared TO avoid you. but that well. you
know. people bump up against each other
so-confeund it. what in the deuce am 1
trying to say?"
Really. I don't know: but something
irrational, surely.
If it is irrational to remark that you
are as pretty as ever
No fiattery. please
And as sweet as ever. and as full Of
roses that blossom on your pretty
cheeks"
Come, let US sit down in this corner
ceuced kind OF these department stores To
provide such little conveniences Now tell
me all about yourself and what you have
been doing and how you have been liy-
ing"
''Well-er-to begin with. were In the
same old house. over on the hill
Where the wild rose vine twine;h and
the honeysuckle blooneth and the hum
ming bird singetl- and all that sort Of
thing?'
of course. and where the old swing -
"Ah! that old swing! do you remember
the night. Alice when you and didn't go
to prayer meeting and you sat for two
hours in the old swing and LEI me hang
onto the rope and say sweet things2'
Really. Mr. FallowsI"
And you said you wouldn't. and l said
you must, and you said papa wouldn't
hear of it, and l said damn papa
George. don't be so profane,
well, l did. didn't 1? And you didn't
say so out loud. but you went so far as to
admit that # papa bro.,e any of my bones
the whole family. didn't you?"
why, if you must insist
And when l got hold OF your hand
somehow or other and squeezed il a num-
Der of times-I think FIVE or siX-and you
squeezed back-and then / bent over you
and caught the delicious odor of roses
from your hair-and you blushed so that
night was banished and holy radiance lit
up your beautiful eyes
George, you must STOP There are rea-
sons
"Why, 1 should bring my soul out of the
ashes of the past and lay il again at your
feet. Alice! Alice. mine, You loved me
then. because you said you did, and you
registered a Vow before high heaven that
your love should be mine, and mine only,
as long as life should last. Darling!"--
George, for heavens sake stop
Not al the threats of hell of entreaties
of angels could stop me now, sweet one!
l love you-with all my heart, with the
consuming warmth of my being. dove
you, You have no right
81 must Soi Oh, George, for mercys
sake, stop. Let go my hand. Let co.
Not until it is mine absolutely. COM
pletely, irrevocably I hold it now-I
clasp your waist in my strong arm. SOL
] press you close. loved one, here where
we are alone-here where none can shame
the soul of love. i beg you to give me
but one smile as in the long ago, Alice.
Alice. Alicei''
George, release me Instantly
mo, ALICE See, Our love is born
anew! 1t is voice from the past that
speaks-I love you. See kiss you'll kiss
your hair. your pretty eyes, your full lips,
your velvet cheek-I have you, loved one
p
George. you tear my heart, my soul,
thought you dead! / did not know-Ohl
George, l did not know-but release me,
darling. husband of my soul! See,-some
one is comingi'
Intruder"
"Hush-sh-sh, Ah-Mr. Fallows. my hus-
band, DIR. Staunton. Mr.. Fallows is an
old friend of NINE husband, and l met
him here while you We're gone to the
druggists for me- And just think. Mr..
talIows, The doctor and / havebeen mar
ried five years.
''Ah Indeed? I did not know it was so
long. But you must excuse me Mrs.
Stanton; 1 am in something of a hurry"
And why this rush Mr.. Fallows2 Won't
you come home with us TO dine?"
We'll. really. L would enjoy it; but you
see-I-that is. left Mrs. Falows and the
baby down at the corner while 1 stepped
up here TO make purchase. and"--
'Oh. That's different. Henry Edward
Warner in n. Y. Herald.