Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-01-11


vertisement breathlessly.
FOR RENT-One up.to.date cottage.
live rooms and bath. Can be leased
to right party. Situated corner Ninth
avenue and Maple street. Apply next
door
Their house. The girls eyes filled
suddenly with burning tears, After
three years he had at last consented
then to let the place to a stranger
anyone who might prove respectable
enough to be the right party" Had
he forgotten licensed TO care? There
was only one answer or he would
never have been willing to take this
step. 1t couldn't be lack of money.
she knew that: the truth came to her
Ike knife.thrust: he was done with
the past forever.
How many times had she passed
and repassed the little groin house
into which had been wrought all their
hopes, and thanked heaven from the
bottom OF her heart that II was still
vacant, still sacred to him. Every
shingle and rafter stood for heart.
throb; every tree and flower had been
planted with loving hands. And now?
1t was all Francesca could do to keep
her self-control. Visions surged into
her bEain-visions of the old. dear
days. James Langdons face was the
center Of them all. So distinct was 1t,
she almost felt that she could have
put out her hand and touched 1t. She
Etrangled little sob and dashed
away the tears. What fool she was
20 be going TO pieces like this on ac'
count of man who had found it so
easy to forget! Gradually a change
came over her feelings. In place OF
the old wearying ache. hot rebellion,
famed into her heart. She rose. tossed
aside the paper she had been reading
and crossed the room TO her mirror.
Her eyes, sparkling defiantly. looked
back at her with new purpose in
their gold.brown depths. She, too.
would-forget!
Robert Thayer's letter still lay un.
answered in her desk She reopened
g. with fingers unsteady from excite
,ns.,t. The lines danced before her
eyes for an instant: then her gaze
s;eadied and she read:
Dear: May. come to you to-mor'
rw night? There is something |
'. ant to tell you. to ask you. won't
be patient any longer. Say that you
viii be expecting me at eight.
Sincerely.
bob"
Francesca seated herself unhesltat-
jngly at the desk and scratched
] asty reply
Dear Bob: Come by all means. I'm
ways glad 70 see you:' YOU know
that. shall be looking for you at the
appointed hour.
Cordially.
FRANCESCA"
She had Just sealed the note when
her brother entered the room. little
flushed. an expression OF anxiety on
his face. Yielding to a sudden i'm
pulse, she thrust the envelop quickly
into a drawer and locked 1t.
bad news. Kid" he said, dropping
into chair.
The girl turned with startled
glance, an unspoken question on her
Iips. Young Graham anticipated her
and said abruptly:
-"Got to move out in a week. own
ers have sold the place-whlch signi'
fies move on for US"
Francesca sat and stared at him
blankly. A terrible feeling OF home
sickness swept over her. We've been
here so long!" she said wistfully.
That's it. knew you'd feel all
cut ND about 1t, just as | do. But
there's no help for II, grille. Wen
have to be looking around at once"
where will we look?" she ques'
toned helplessly.
Get the papers-that's all. And in
the meantime I shall have to make
run down to Washington for four or
five days. That leaves the job to
YOU. I'm sorry, but it's unavoidable"
But the girl scarcely heard his last
words. A sudden. wild thought had
darted into her brain; her blood was
racing riotously through her veins. 1t
.centered all at once In two crimson
spots In her cheeks.
DON'T bother. Jack" she said. Qul.
city 81 shan't have any trouble. Leave
n ali to me. III think l already know
= MACE we can get" She was devout-
'lv thankful that her brother had been
OF at college during her betrothal
days and the building Of the house. He
need never know the truth.
They talked things over for a little.
after which young Graham got up and
went out again. Francesca swallowed
a Gun of tea and hurried upstairs to
dress. In half an hour she was speed
inc toward Ninth avenue and Maple
street. every nerve a-tlngle with vary
ing emotions.
She stepped out on the pavement
and stood for a second looking about
nor "Apply next door," There was
onIv one house next door, on the other
SIde was q park. and she made her
nav toward the small, weather-beaten
structure. A little old lady with sold
Glasses. her head covered with silver
vhI,e NUTS. answered her ring.