Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-17


Then he cantered on and the inmates
OF the carriage leaned back again.
Poor Colonel Thomas" commented
Mrs. Gourlay. Il recollect when he
was the first young man in the county.
He has gone all to pieces In the last
year. He was rather high once, but
Amanda was too much for him. Sam
calls her 'Petruchio in petticoats.'"
Her tones smote her listeners ears
as sounds coming from afar. Poor
Colonel Thomas! Had he ever been,in
love with that sharp-voiced woman?
How terrible for a woman to have
upon her conscience the wreck Of al
mans life. II Robert should ever
come to wear that bowed look-if In.
stead OF the proud confidence thatl
well became his comely Saxon fea.
lures, he should show in sunken eyes
and itful flush the marks Of that illl
remedy that promises but never
brings "surcease OF sorrow" i
But he was too strong, too sane: mis-
cry could never drive him to dissipa.
ton. al hough II might drive him toI
desperation Of another sort. Her
.uick fancy began to picture Robert
estrangHd from the woman he loved.
Mentally she saw him growing cold.
gloomy and reserved-their intimacy
gone as If 1t had never been, and they
two, bound by unmistakable ties.
aging in sight Of each other. their
lives dragging on in way that might
come to end in mutual aversion and
disgust She knew that Robert would
construe her going away to-day, after
their cold parting, into a determine
ton to assert herself against him and.
still worse, to seek abroad sympathy
for that which she was bound as al
loving wife to bear In silence and toI
forget.
The proud Fitzhugh blood famed in
her cheeks and her head flung up uni
consciously. But at the same instant
there came into her mind. as a bugle
note sounds amid the horrid discord
OF battle, sentence Robert had ut
tered to her once in the early days OF
their love, when he had inadvertently
offended her by careless remark: "A
man Is not judged by one word, but by
all the acts Of his life"
And as II In her mental struggle she
had been seeking some maxim as a
guide, she fastened upon this and
repeated II over and over to her.
self.
All this time she had been mechan-
ically giving outward attention to Mrs.
Gourlay, although that shrewd wom-
an, comprehending her absent glance,
made small exaetions upon her for re-
ply.
Louise" Mrs. Meeks finally said.
In an imperative understone, tell
John to come back and take me home.
| must 90 back this minute. II you
think anything Of me-" she added
hastily, interposing against remon.
STRANGE, do as | ask"
Now, Linda, listen to reason. II
you've made up your mind to 20
back and eat humble pie-excuse the
truth-at least wait till after dinner
and John shall drive you back. n
would be absurd to turn back now"
"Louise-you don't understand my
feelings. was wrong to come. Rob
ert was to come home early this svsa-
ing and bring an old friend Just from
England with him to stay a few
days. Think how Notifying to and
me gone away"
1T would look badly. still-ssrvs
him right"
mo, was cross myself this morn.
ing-probably. ! didn't mean to tell
you our Quarrel-our half quarrel. But
never mind talking about II, only,
please take me back. Or else let me
walk? | can walk; It's not far"
Linda Ftzhugh! Well, then-John,
Mrs. Meeks has forgotten an inpor.
tant engagement and we must take
her straight home again"
Mrs. Gourlay glanced at her watch
and said resignedly: You always
have you own way with me, Linda
wish you were half as spunky a.
somebody else"
At the porch they parted with a
warmer kiss than usual. Linda could
not help feeling that she had cast her
self adrift to swim alone henceforth
In waters that might be cold and
sullen. She went into the house and
took on her hat half reluctantly. The
next few hours dragged on in un-
broken darkness About four O'Clock
the bay horses dashed up and Mr..
Meeks alighted from his buggy fol-
lowed by a fine-looking, gray-haired
man, who was in the midst of REL
marks evidently admiring and compli1
mentary in their nature.
Mrs. Meeks stood on the veranda
her eyes a trifle brighter than usual.
her cheeks a trifle warmer; her head
was held unconsciously a little high.
but otherwise there was no criticism
to be made upon the gracious sweet
ness with which she greeted her hus.
band and his guest.
i was in a measure prepared toI
meet you" said the suave Briton.
"Meeks has been treating me toI