Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-06-07

It's the truth I'm teiiinB you'
hasn't he gone and forgotten his ouiu
friends. while he's afther courtin' tne
maid he loves?"
Once she met him In the street IL
was q miserable foggy evening anu
she was coming home from an unsuc-
'cessful visit 10 an editorial sanctum'
you've no business to be out In this
fog alone!" he said. brusquely.
81 am on my way home" she said'
coidly.
He said nothing. She remembered
that he was always more prone to act
than TO talk. Anyway the next mo-
ment she found herself In q cab. with
him beside her.
When he spoke his voice was harsh
what have you been doing to your
SELF" he said.
"N-nothing."
81 suppose you are overworking ana
undertaking. It's absurd. You're
tired to DEATH"
my things-haven't had much luck
lately" she said.
"All editors are FOOLS" the energy
Of his tones brought an odd sense OF
comfort to her. -.
Sometimes It's the contributors
she said, with little laugh.
mot in your case." with firm convic-
ton.
"I'd bow, only it's so dark"
She talked on gayly. and then sud
denly they we're almost there. She
gave a little breathles gasp: Mars
ton, why haven't you been to see me!'
Why didn't he answer? oh. why
had she said II? Yet It didn't seem
much to do for old friendships sake.
81 couldn't" he said. quietly.
The unhealthy close weather had
changed; there was frost In the morn
ings now.
at is bitterly cold out. Mind You
nut your thick things on" said Marian
one morning as she hurried away.
Soon after Sheila slipped into her
thick coat obediently. Marston had
once approved of It; he had said the
manliness Of It on her was delightful.
She put her hand absently into one
Of the pockets, and drew out an enve-
lone. Looking down at 1t the dreami-
ness in her eyes slowly gave place
to a bewildered wonder. 1t was adj
dressed in her own writing to Marston
Hughes!
Slowly, with cold fingers that trem-
bled and fumbled aggravatingly. she
opened the envelope and took out the
sheet Of paper inside.
Dear Marston," she read. how does
a young man propose at all?"
Suddenly she gave little strangled
sort of cry-a sob and laugh mingled
in II. She sat down suddenly on the
nearest chair; she trembled so that
the sheet Of note-paper shook In her
hand. Then with rush the Joy and
color came back to her face; she rose
unsteadily and. going across to her
writing.table, she unlocked q drawer
and. taking from It piece OF note
paper scrawIed over with thick smudgy
writing, went back to her chair and
read It through.
"It's mine." she whispered; mine
all mine" She gave little happy soft
laugh and, leaning back, rested her
cheek against the paper.
Then she dashed of an incoherent
note:
81 want to see you at once. Oh.
am so sorry. Please come, Marston-
do come at once.
"SHEILA."
He came about half-past three.
"You wanted to see me?" he said.
The cold courtesy of his tone braced
her. When she answered her voice
was as steady as his.
81 want to explain something" she
said.
"Yes?"
There was q pause.
"I-you see-the editor Of The
rescent'-he-he-I mean / sent
short story to him and he liked 1t, but
-he-he said"
She stopped and drew deep breath.
ale said-my hero's love-making-
was not real-and-and-specially-
the-the letter he wrote-proposing-"
Across the silence this time his
words cut sharply.
"I hope I helped you there"
Suddenly her fortitude gave way.
A despairing little cry broke from her:
"oh, Marston. you're making 1t SO
hard for mel"
He was beside her in moment. He
took her hands in his.
"rm sorry" he said, remorsefully;
come and sit down"
He settled her gently into chair
mt a cushion behind her head, then
spoke softly:
"Now tell me, Sheila."
81 wrote to you'll asked you to
write-see, here Is the letter"
He took It and read 1t through, then
glanced back to the date.
go on" he said. "You didn't post
this. Why?"
His face was as white as hers now.
81 thought I had. took 1t to the
post-it was In my pocket-i-l 70