Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-08-31

thanked her.
You're great What would your
terms be by the year,
Myrtle had started toward the house,
| but Janet detained her by u gesture
'.Oh, Ralph she remarked in confu-
sion, but added to Janet: You're right.
l am a lucky girl-and q happy one
| too
Janet, entering into the spirit of the
occasion. serious in tone and solemn in
voice, but with Il twinkle in her eye
and with the mannerisms of a lawyer
arguing his points before the learned
court, began:
Behold the model young man. only
son and heir of the famous DR.. Wood
hurst, Brought up by his father in the
habits He neither smokes, drinks nor
CANDLES. If he has any faults what
soever''-
THAT will do. Janet I'm no better
than any other fellow
DO you smoker
NO"
do you drink?'
NO"
do you gambler"
No, of course notl'
Then my point is proved. Behold
| the model young man.'
please don't, Janet IL don't like it"
Under this cross examination Ralph
had become extremely nervous. al
though he concealed his feelings from
his fancee. Other boys i'll the neigh
borhood attended the races and made
small wagers, at first among them
selves and later with the bool1makerS.
Living near the track, meeting the
ployees almost from boyhood, it be-
came very easy for him to overcome
any conscientious scruples which his
father might have inculcated in his
mind. Like all boys who seek to con-
ceal petty bad habits, he had fallen in
with some of the worst patrons of the
racing game. Had he been allowed to
attend the races openly or even to go
into the betting ring he would have
chosen friends of his own sort; but,
forced by circumstances to conceal his
actions, he could only associate with
those whom his natural companions
could not meet
Myrtle however, saved him from fur
Their annoyance or regret by changing
the subject to her sister AS she re-
sumed her seat on the bench she said
to Janet:
.tAnd to think that l owe it all to her.
How good she has been to me,''
Janet stepped to AIyrtle's side and,
patting her on the cheek, said, II think
Henrietta Darlington is about the best
sister in the world.
Myrtle pressed Janet'S hand and
spoke with loving emphasis:
Il know she is. ! was quite little
| girl when father died. and she took
no hos for
me ever since. Till the death of her
husband, about a year ago, 1 had
! everything that heart could wish for.
| I've had it since then, too. but at
| times I've thought that Henrietta de-
| prived herself to give to me-
| Il hardly think that. dear. Mrs. Bar
| rington has been just splendid to you
we all know that-but her husband
was quite a wealthy man and must
have left her well provided for re-
piled Ralph
| The thought of her sisters sacrifice
for her sobered Myrtle for a moment.
! The cloud passed away when Ralph
reassured her
Every one says the same thing, so
| l suppose ! have just imagined it"
I She smiled at Ralph rs she spoke, He
+ patted her hand and said. of course
l you have
| The blatant blare of an automobile
| horn disturbed the charm and peace
1 of the afternoon. Sweeping past the
house. it disappeared around the bend
1 of the road in i whirl of dust.
| Janet followed it with her eyes until
it was lost TO view Turning to Myrtle.
she said:
There goes another of those beastly
automobiles Beastly things, l call
/ them
Ralph remarked carelessiy. .Proba-
| bly, taking some owner down to the
\ track
1 Through the trees one could catch a
| glimpse of the red roof of the club
house Faint echoes of the band could
/ be heard in the afternoons during the
| season
| There was u slight pause in the con-
versation- Each was thinking of the
track and the invaders it brought to
the neiGhborhood of the harrington
home Myrtle broke the silence. Speak
| ing with 4 touch of bitterness, she de-
| clared.
Il Just hate that track
Janet was rather surprised at the
| feeling displayed by Myrtle and asked
her why she felt so strongly.