Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-10-19
A DOUBLE DECEPTION
BY BLANCHE EARDLEY.
z Z < I: 5E;s
NV GU have apartments to let 1 be

NV GU have apartments to let, / be-
lieve? l shall be so glad If you
can let me stay herei"
And pair of wistful blue eyes gaZed
into the good-natured face of the home
ly woman who had opened the door
Of the farmhouse.
We'll, MISS" the woman answered,
hesitatingly, 81 ave two rooms va
cant; but there's a gentleman staying
with me for is 'ealth, and e made me
promise not to take any one else, so
that there would be perfect quiet for
im."
20, but l would make no difference,
really" pleaded the girl, in a sweet,
low voice, that penetrated, however,
into the sitting room, the window of
which was wide open, and the sound of
that plaintive voice made the man in
side put down his book and listen I'M
consciously.
You see," the girl went on, II shall
be quiet, as l am just to rest for few
weeks, by order of the doctor, and
thought farmhouse would be the
place for me. | can assure you that
your other ledger would not know l
was in the house"
Just then the sitting room door was
dung open, and man, with a pale,
Intellectual face, appeared in the wide,
Old-fashioned hall
That's all right, Mrs. jerks I
shall not object in the least to your
taking in another lodger. My mandate
was concerning large families of chill
hren. l don't think you will be trou-
blesome neighbor," he said, as he ap-
preached the girl.
Then, with bow, he retreated into
the den-not before he had caught a
glimpse Of a simply dressed girl, with
demure, sweet face, from which the
dark hair was brushed severely away,
revealing low, creamy brow of Ma
donna like purity.
The blue eyes that met his for a
moment were like flash of southern
skies, but they were averted shyly as
he eagerly sought for another glance.
Once installed in the second best
@parlor," that looked out on to tangle
Of fresh smelling flowers and a wide
expanse Of meadows and sweet, sleepy
looking pastures, Mrs. jerks new
Iodger flung her neat straw hat on an
Dld-fashioned horsehair couch, and
with her two white hands ruffied the
Primly dressed head until the rebellious
eurls tumbled about her brow.
There she whispered, that's like
my old self once more! Ugh! What
I school miss L did feel in that mon
Ttrous pancake! But have come, and
have seen his lordship-and before l
return to town l shall have conquered
and become engaged to marry his lord
bhip!" She laughed gleefully. "Hes
not so bad looking, either, in spite OF
what Dick said-and already he ap-
proves Of my sweet simplicity"
Then she sat down at the cottage
piano. and presently the strains OF
Annie Laurie" sung in a pretty, girl
lsh voice, reached the ears of Mrs
jerks gentleman lodger.
What sweet voice." he murmured
Sand what a wistful, desolate little
foul she seemed when she stood beg
ging to be allowed to stay! Probably
bhe is some hard working governess
come down from town for her annual
holiday"
Then he took up his hat and went
out for stroll before dinner-for Mrs
yenkS looked after her liberal guest as
well as though he were in his OWL
house. 1t must have been chance that
ed his steps past the window of the
sitting room the singer occupied, hi:
Get scrunching the gravel noisily;
and perhaps 1t was also chance tha
made him send swift glance at the
window. where a neat, dark head wa:
oending over some needlework, appar
Intly oblivious to his presence, though
her window was open.
The heat was causing q thin blu,
Eapor to hover over the distant fields
and the voice of nature was so husheC
that the silence seemed full of tina
suppressed intensity that so often pre-
eedes a storm A few soft-eyed cow
waded knee deep in a stagnant pond
and lowed invitingly to their compan
Ions to join them. A sleepy bumbl
bee buzzed Ianguidiy on q half deaG