Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-10-14

ences. or else some families cloaked
the ugly facts with polite illusion
Prescott was stunned to find that he
had had illusions after all The sor-
didness of the Wards shocked him.
He found himself rushing back to the
Office II was still early; perhaps he
could bury himself in work
He was afraid he had committed
himself. that he could not honorably
withdraw from his suit OF course 1t
was possible to go elsewhere That
would be better than wounded conceit
He might have to break away by de-
grees. to avoid explanations He felt
hunted. hu-niliated as he dashed into
his Office srd stopped suddenly on the
threshold -e door swinging behind
him.
He remained quite still and looked
at his stenographer. The desk light
was on and it turned her dark hair
into golden aura and shed the subtle
shadows of a cameo over her delicate
profile The click of her machine had
drowned the noise of his arrival and
she sat quite unconscious of his pres
ence. trifle dropped with WEAKNESS.
simply gsrlish and appealingly sweet
Prescott had never really seen her be-
fore He had always stopped at her
left ear
He walked over to her desk and
stood looking down at her
"Oh, why don't you go?" he asked.
and felt strangely stirred that she
was startled. and then treasured to
find it was he who spoke.
Il can't" she said. It'll get these
letters out"
Couldn't you leave them till tomor-
row." he asked. drawing up a chair.
There will be others tomorrow"
Her eyes met his for a moment pleas
antly and he discovered they were
blue as Miss Wards violets. daily sent
at his expense. They gave him
thought. He leaned over fntently
''Why do you work." he demanded.
Her gaze f1uctuated for a moment
and then came back to him steadied-
81 have to-" she replied, simply.
with those eyes?" He was sorry
the moment 1t slipped out flush
swept over her, and her hands trem-
bled.
"I like to-" she added, with quiet
dignity.
He leaned forward and his voice was
almost reverent
I'm glad you do. Don't ever get
over that idea" Then gayly: What
do you do with your magnificent sal
airy? Buy gold mines? Or just furbe-
lQYs?" y
No, I'm buying house.
"a housed" Prescott sat up as II
some one had turned on an electric
current. "On fifteen per? Where?"
"Out at Inglewood. And we have
kitchen garden and flowers and
mushrooms and spring and a fire
stopped GREATNESS. her face aglow
with the householder's pride of pos
session.
"Great snakesi'' said Prescott awe
struck I'm coming out to see it,
"Oh, yes. do! And mother will make
one of her cream pies for you and if
you just wait long enough we'll have
fried chicken"
mo, 1 won't wait, either. Don't you
know it'll take those chickens weeks
to grow up? I'm coming out Sunday
and hoe In the garden. Say. put on
your hat and I'll run you out there in
the car. I'm crazy to see that place.
Well take out steak and things and
cook our own dinner. Whoopeei"
-
f1ated household expenses. would have
groaned over the tragedy of extremes
could she have seen Prescott, swathed
in Bingham, cavorting in a spotless
kitchen and slapping a thick steak up
and down in boyish glee. while his
>stenographer washed the vegetables
and an impoverished gentlewoman
laid the table. The whole family
groaned when Prescott's engagement
was announced two weeks before the
wedding, and some cutting things
were said about the present tendency
of young men to marry beneath them.
Prescott, himself. had nothing but
gratitude for the Wards.
They at last showed me, dear,
what love was not he conf1ded to. his
bride. And until then did not know
that I had been falling in love with
you for a year. Let me look at that
adorable left ear of yours again.