The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-01
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4 MODERN LOCKNIVAR
For the Sunday Eagle.

March had blown itself out, chatterlnt
and chill, and with as great violence az
1t had been ushered in. Spring was late
that year for Louisiana. For three weeks
April shivered, and then when finally she
sought TO wipe away with copious tears
winters last sad trace, knew not where
to stop. May came; then. one night. the
moon, no longer obscured. looked down
in a modest way upon the earth and told
creatures here below that spring had
come. And with spring also drifted in a
young man. Evidently he was from the
west. He was good looking, and possess
ed Of that ease ard manner denoting that
he was accustomed to having his way in
all things; opposition being but an addi-
tional incentive to renewed activity.
They were sitting on the old-fashioned
balcony, looking at each other and the
dreamy expanse of an almost deserted
avenue. Far down the avenue the statue
of that greatest of rebel chieftains cast
its distorted shadow. An electric car,
with grating wheels. shot round the curve
of track at the statues base, and disap-
peared in a neghboring street. Factory
giris and men and boys, homeward bound,
come into view only to be lost in the net
work of narrow streets, terminating at
the monument base. Few working peo-
pie found it convenient TO pass down that
aristocratfc avenue.
$50 tomorrow night you are to be mar
Red" said Mr.. Page, pleasantly, but with
a teil-tale CULVER at the end of the state
merit (for it was not spoken as a ques-
i0rA hot fad tic VIII n
the speaker The lady hid her face in her
hands end hurst into tears, but nodded her
head in the affirmative 1t was evident
that she was not entirely reconciled to this
new arrangement of her future. lie stoop-
ed over from his seat on the balcony rail
and gently taking her hand in his, mas
terfully compelled her to look him in the
eyes. She. read there love. deep. COM
manding, determined alteration, which
was lost the next moment in a merry
twinkle
And" said he Il have came to bid
you to my Wedding" and then he laughed;
land it to be tomorrow, too" he added
The girls eyes dried as if by magic. and
her face went white. and the little hands
trer1bled in his grasp.
''But-but," she stammered, II did not
krow-that isl thought you didn't care
for any of the girls in manageable
way, and-and you just said you came to
New Orleans to see me and me alone
Il will tell You. Irene. of my little ro-
nance, and then you may judge whether
1 came to see YOU and-what crying
again and a day like this he broke off.
Struggling his shapcly shoulders and drop
pins the girls hands.
Sorry for anything on a day when Ma
ture and Cupid and Fate united run the
gamut of all that's ravishly sweet and
divinely sublime?"
lis 40 time to be sad. little girl.
What Vegret is it that makes you sorry?
Is not the Engiishman absent, and have
mt you mc?"
She looked up at him with dumb agony;
and he half turned his face away. 1t
wasn't wei that she should see: twas
best for her to suffer. 1t would aid her
in the part he was determined she should
play at the coming nuptials. How he
suffered
"Well, to come back to that little TO-
nance of mine" Here he paused to |
light cigar. It's no use drawing it out |
and wasting words. 1 was hard hit when
j was here. a boy, six years ago. And |
then that young Englishman came. and /
you-that is, she-favored him and 1 went
away determined to forget. And ] worked, /
Oh how / worked. and 1 forgot all at
last but her, and she did wonders for me
Trying to forget her, / worked so hard
that L made money. Thinking of her, | |
couldn't get angry, and the two com
bined have made me the junior partner
OF a concern whose assets are up in the
third figure Of the thousands. When |
left she was a slender slip of a girl, with
dark hair and brown eyes She knew
Wagner from ragtime. could dance like a
fairy, and was altogether the most ador-
able girl ! ever knew. And. of course.
it wasn't her fault the fellows all madly
loved her. Neither was it rieht nor
proper that she should at that tender
age show Partially to any one. She
trested us ali alike. hut we. stupid we. did
not have sense enough To see it. and mis-
took justice for partiality"
While he was talking her mother came
out 1t was plain she was not pleased
with the guest; but he arose. bowling
pleasantly, murmured something ratter-
ing and offered her one Of the large. com
Portable chairs. and then took one be-
tween herself and daughter-just the
thing she came to prevent But his ad-
dress evidently pleased her. 1t was shown
by the slight flush that mantled her
cheeks, and the covert look of admiration
and regret she cast. when. with partly
averted face he spoke to the daughter
This young man plainly had once been
favorite. and it seemed that he had not
altogether lost his hold
Ever think of your daughter leaving
going abroad" he said at length.
The mother squeezed her hands to-
yether in her lap. but said nothing.
Doesn't surprise me bit" said he.
I'd feel Just that way
myself if had daughter like Miss
Irene. But it wouldn't be so bad if she
we're 70 remain in this country" he add
ed. insinuatinely
A servant came to the door with a re-
quest, and the mother got up hastily !
Ind followed her
If any one had told ME last night" ,
ne resumed. drawing his chair a fraction
near the girls, that the little girl that
has been In my heart all these years
vas 10 be married l should not have left
he depot. but gone back west on the !
next train. Why. At the time / had not |
wen contemplated matrimony. l thought {
was a confirmed bachelor. and sloriei Z
II the fact But ROW. that / have come '
ma seen that little woman. and about !
o be married ut that. why I've decided /
o be the man She is To marry That is.
you want me. Irene Here he heaved (,
! prodisious sigh. and. getting up. gently '