Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-01-04

missed him with a present of six
months pay, had given the news.
papers the story-or, rather, his YER
sion OF the story-of my efforts to
educate myself in the "arts and graces
OF a gentleman"
Mr.. Monson says he wishes to see
you particularly, sir" said he.
"Well-I'll see him." said |. | de-
splsed him too much to dislike him.
and thought he might possibly be in
want But that notion vanished the
instant set eyes upon him. He was
obviously at the very top of the wave.
Hello, Monson," was my greeting, in
it no reminder Of his treachery.
"Howdy, Blackjack" said he. i've
come on a little errand for Mrs. Lang.
dom Then, with that nasty grin of
his: "You know, I'm looking after
things for her since the bust-up."
No, l didn't know" said l CURLY,
suppressing my instant curiosity.
What does Mrs. Langdon want?"
ITO see you-for just a few minutes
whenever it is convenient"
IF Mrs. Langdon has business with
me, I'll see her at my Office" said l.
She was one of the fashionables that
had got herself into my black books
by her treatment of Anita since the
break with the Ellerslys.
she wishes TO come to you here
this afternoon, if you are to be at
home. She asked me to say that her
business is important-and very pri-
vate."
hesitated, but / could think of no
good excuse for refusing. I'll be
here an hour" said |. Good day."
He gave me no time to change my
mind. Something-perhaps it was
his curious expression as he took him.
self of-made me begin to regret
The more l thought of the matter,
the less l thought of my having made
any civil concession to woman who
had acted so badly toward Anita and
myself. He had not been gone a
quarter of an hour before | went to
Anita in her sitting room. Always,
the instant | entered the outer door
of her part Of our house, that power
full, intoxicating fascination that she
had for me began to take possession
Of my senses. 1t was in every gar
ment she wore. It seemed to linger
in any place where she had been, for |
a long time after she left It, She
was at a small desk by the window,
was writing letters.
May interrupt" said |. "Monson
was here a few minutes ago-from
Mrs. Langdon. She wants to see me.
| told him would see her here. Then
it occurred to me that perhaps | had
been too good-natured. What do you
think"
| could not see her face. but only
the back of her head, and the loose
coils of magnetic hair and the white
nape of her graceful neck. As | be.
gan to speak, she stopped writing, her
pen suspended over the sheet Of
paper. After l ended there was /
long silence.
I'll not see her." said I. 81 don't
quite understand why yielded" And
| turned to go.
"Wait-please," came from her alb
ruptly.
Another long silence. Then I: If
she comes here, think the only per.
son who can properly receive her is
you"
"No-you must see her." said Anita
at last And she turned round in her
chair until she was facing me. Her
expression-I can not describe it. |
can only say that 1t gave me a sense
OF impending calamity.
I'D rather not-much rather not"
said I.
Il particularly wish you to see her."
she replied, and she turned back to
her writing. | saw her pen poised as
II she were about to begin; but she
did not begin-and l felt that she
would not. With my mind Swallowed
with vague dread, left that mysteri.
GUS stiffness. and went back to the
library.
1t was not long before Mrs. Lang.
don was announced. There are some
women to whom haggard look is be-
coming; she is one of them. She was
much thinner than when I last saw
her; instead Of her former restless
petulant, suspicious expression, she
now looked tragically sad. May I
trouble you to close the door," said
she, when the servant had withdrawn.
l closed the door.
I've come" she began, without
seating herself. TO make you as I'm.
happy, fearf as am. I've hesitated
long before coming. But am desper-
ate. The one hope have left is that
you and l between us may be able
to-to-that you and may be able to
help each other"
I waited.
i suppose there are people," she
went on, who have never known what
1t was to-really to care for some one
else. They would despise me Tor
clinging to a man after he has shown
me that-that his love has ceased"
Pardon me. Mrs. Langdon,- in.
terrupted. You Apparently th;pk