Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-12-04
Five Lost Years
of Happiness -
By p. Z. SYMES

Professional call, and stepped into his
| club.
Two men whom he knew leaned
against the writing table, by which he
aurriedly sat down. The yourger-an
.mbryo NJ. D.-owing much of what &C
less he had attained to DR.. Keith and
standing consequently not a little in
1--WE OF him, was laughing with his COM
,anion, who just then exclaimed:
You're an awful scoundrel, Joycei"
80, come, Mountfort! That's big
vord: it's only a joke, you know.
haven't the least idea who she may be. -
Show it to Keith" and before Joyce
:ould demonstrate Mountfort, handing
photograph across the table. said:
Look at that. Keith: perhaps you
tnow the original? Joyce got it to-day
n answer to matrimonial humbug. l
ell him he is an awful cad"
In silence, with a heart like stone IN
ais breast, Dudley Keith devoured every
ineament of the grave, sweet face Of the
girl he had met and loved two months
ago-he, the guest OF Col. Norton, and
she the orphan companion of the
colonel's nearest neighbor, Mrs. Annes-
ey. The girl from whom he had parted
one month since under the mutual I'M
ierstanding that he would claim an an
;wer to that, as yet informally spoken
question, when he returned, as he meant
to do now, in a few days time.
Risinug to his feet he confronted the
two wondering men.
"You are right" he said, between his
teeth. None but cad would play
such a low, dishonorab1e game! Sit
down." he continued to young Joyce,
pointing to the writing materials; in
close and return that at once!"
And, awed by that tone of authority,
the shame-stricken Joyce did his bid
ding, and then, still under that stern
eye, dropped the letter into the club let
ter box and went on his way anathema-
thing his weakness in letting that dom
tneering fellow dictate to him.
And Dudley Keith drove home to his
handsome house, within the shadow OF
the gray pile of the solemn abbey, in a
whirl Of anger, scorn, and wounded love.
He had thought her so pure, SO womanlyi
But she was like the rest, ready to sell
herself-whether in joke or in earnest
l. mattered nothing.
Half an hour later, with fiercely pas
sionate gesture, he flung open his desk,
and rapidly wrote letter to Col. Nor
ton, excusing himself from accepting his
proffered hospitality for the next week,
blind to the fact that the substance Of
that curt note was weighted with cruel
force to crush the sensitive pride and
TO destroy the sweet dreams of q gen.
81 In Il
longed-for tomorrow. i,
It is Mrs. Arnold's sat home" five
years later. Her gardens are gay with
the brilliant colOrs of nature and Of
fashion. She herself-the gayest Of all
rests a moment from her duties as
hostess. with her intimate friend. Harry
Joyce. now a qualified M. D.
Il am surprised to see Keith here" he
was saying. ''He is such recluse, and
a veritable misogynist as we'll"
Really! Nevertheless, once knew
him to pay marked attentions to the
companion of an aunt of mine, but he
failed. unaccounatbly, to put in an ap-
pearance when expected. My aunt told
me the story. She was quite disappoint-
never married. though, to my knowl-
edge. she had two good offers"
You don't say so! I should never
have suspected Keith guilty of a fir
tation. I recollect, some years ago, he
gave me the greatest taking down I
ever had in my life in connection with
an unknown lady"
And Harry joyce related the episode
Of the photograph.
What was it like?" Mrs. Arnold
gasped, as she paled with fear before
sudden thought.
20. an awfully nice looking girl in
white, holding violin. Why, what's
the matter?''
80. what shall 1 do?' family articu-
lated Mrs. Arnold. "It was sent it,!
never thought of harmi"
And hastily she told how. to enliven
the dizziness of country visit. she had
taken from her aunt's album the pho
tograph of her companion" and posted
1t in reply to an advertisement
Just in fun. you know. 1t was be-
fore I met Mr.. Arnold, and was rather
wild. / only wanted to see what answer
l would get. but none came. The photo
graph was returned at once, without a
line-as, Of course, you know. o, what
can dog"
Its awfully awkward" muttered
Harry Joyce, but of course you must
give square account of the thing
there's no doubt of that
you mean-tell DIR. Keith? O.
Must I?''
That's 1t, I'm afraid. You see 1t
looks as if 1t had worked mischief. OF
course Keith concluded the girl had
sent 1t herself. and the fellows awfully
changed since"