The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-06
MRS. IUSHINGTOn'S LOVER

ows on Miss Virginia Lushington's US
uaily sallow cheeks. flushed now with
excitement as she wrote sheet after sheet,
her. pen stumbling over the words in her
haste to tell the tale. She was writing TO
her sister AS rule they had little in
common, for Lucie was a poor sort OF
creature. with no spirit of her own, but
in the great crisis of life any confidante
is better than none. and Miss Virginia
felt that she was approaching a great
crisis in hers.
$50 you must not be surprised, my
dear Lucie. if you hear before long OF a
great change in my life. ] am thankful
to say / feel quite a different creature,
thanks to the skill of DR.. Blandley, of
whose great kindness and really par
ticuiar attentions l have told you be-
fore. He'-here the pen, common,
boarding house sort of article, snapped
short with an agonizing shrek, letting
an extinguishing blot fall on the inter
esting pronoun. Miss Virginia uttered
an exclamation of annoyance, carefully
mopped up the offending ink, and then
her train OF thought interrupted, leaned
back in her chair with sigh, not of sor-
Outside in the gardens the band was
playing, groups of smartly gowned wom-
en- lowering about. their gay parasols
contrasting with the white caps of the
nurses in charge of patients; for the Bux-
ton season was beginning with its ming
Hing OF, pleasure-seeking visitors and in
valids In search of health. But few
days ago Miss Virginia would have found
II hard to decide in which category to
dress herself. There was no doubt in her
mind now
Dear fellow" she murmured, smooth
ing her grace gown with meditative fin
gers. Dear Yellow; what tenderness
what comprehension, He OWNED my
case at once. 1t was not so much the
poor material body which suffered
though indeed my headaches were excru-
ciating-no; it was my soul which wan
dered lonely through the wilderness OF
this world! How he admires my poems,
His own verses are little crude, but one
can not expect les bellies letters from
man of science; enough that he under
stands and appreciates them and-me.'
She glanced at the little timepiece Half
past four; his usual hour Of calling.
Good gracious she exclaimed, with
sudden alarm. Il forgot my tabIoids az
ter lunch. And / had two helpings of
lobster casarolle and charlotte russo. /
shall be tormented. How could / be so
forgetful? 1t was writing to poor Lucie
! suppose. All. poor Lucie; how sur
prised she will be, and three years young
er than I. But what could she expect,
shutting herself up in that pokey coun-
try house"
She hunted abSent-mindedly for her
tabloids, taking three in succession be-
fore she recalled herself Dear me,
feel quite unnervedi 1t will be today,
] feel quite sure. Yesterday when he
was here he said he wished he knew
how TO frame very delicate question.
What could he mean by that? If only
the tiresome maid had not entered just
then to clear away the tea ! feel sure
he would have spoken. Or perhaps he
viii write? Yes, on second thought, L
think 1 would prefer his writing. 1t
would be so embarrassing were any one
to interrupt just IS he was proposing.
In q boarding house one can never be
sure, though l have given particular
BE disturbed when Dr. Blandley is here
Five o'clock chimed from that frivo-
lous little timepiece-5 o'clock. Surely
there was some mistake-no professional
engagement would withhold him at such
q time, She walked restlessly to the
window, drew up the blind, then let it
fall again. so trying for the complex
ion," she murmured, with the faintest
sigh.
Miss Addison announced the maid.
finging open the door. Miss Virginia
turned, with an amount of self-posses-
sion which, under the circumstances was
little short of heroic. How kind of you
TO CALL" she said Il thought all the |
world was in the gardens this afternoon" |
Yes, l have been strolling there my
more news there in half an hour than in
a week IN any other place"
And what is the special news this af- |
ternoon?" asked Miss Virginia, trying to |
assume a civic interest.
Miss Addison laughed. "A little bird |
has been whispering thai there is a great |
blow in store for some of DR.. Blandley's |
patients IN this change he Is contemplat- |
Ing. but, of course, dear Miss Virgiani, |
this is no news to you
Miss Virginia colored and cast down |
her eyes.
well ratified the visitor. ones loss |
Is another's gain, though l fear some will |
ind that hard to accept But always |
aid say that it was their own fault. Just |
look at Miss De Travers: every one |
ton. 1 think that she is quite rightly |
served, though it will be dear lesson to |
her."
Il never could bear Miss De Travers.'
nurmured Miss Virginia, feeling right |
" confused by this flood of talk
II should think not, 1t was not to be |
expected. And is it true that it is TO be !
bath? They say the 18TH
sI-we-that isl am not sure" stam-
nered Miss Virginia.
'.Oh. i am sure l am right! Wen one |
watering place is much like another. and |
& win be change of scene for him, but |
hardly of society Well" rising, Il must
say good-by. No. no tea for me. please. /
have lost my appetite wondering what
sort of p. p. c. cards DR. Blandley will |
send In l never was a very devoted ad-'
herent of his. you know, so / hope to be
let down lightly" %
Mss Virginia heaved a sigh Of relief
rs her visitor departed. Il think that
las, remark was in decidedly bad taste"
she murmured. But suppose one must
make allowances. though I do think l
would not wear my heart on my sleeve. IL
were she. But how people do talk. to
be sure! Fancy their fixing the actual /
late! And Bath. TOO, 1t would be a