Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-07-04


after this. as I've been doing, Sara
Don't be silly! OF course you can
This will blow over"
BLOW over?" he almost gasped.
Il mean the first effects. Try being
a martyr for a while, Leslie 1t isn't
a bad plan, can assure you 1t may
interest you to know that Challis pro-
posed to me three times before
accepted him, and yet II loved him
from the beginning"
by Jovei" he exclaimed, coming
to his feet with a new light in his
eyes, The hollows in his cheeks
seemed to fill out perceptibiy.
Good night"
Il say, Sara. dear. you1l-youu help
me bit. won't you? 1 mean you'll talk
it over with her and"
My sympathy Is entirely with
Miss Castleton," she said from the
doorway. His jaw dropped.
He was still Eliminating over the
callousness of the world in respect to
lovers when she mounted the stairs
and tapped firmly on Hetty's door.
Hetty Castleton was standing in
the middle of her room when Sara
entered. From her position it was
evident that she had stopped short in
her nervous, excited pacing of the
floor. She was very pale, but there
was a logged, set expression about
her mouth.
Come in. dear" she said, IN a
manner that showed she had been
expecting the visit. Have you seen
him ?"
Sara closed the door, and then stood
with her back against it, regarding
her agitated friend with serious, COM
passionate eyes.
Yes. He is terribly upset. 1t was
blow to him, Hetty.''
Il am sorry for him, Sara He was
SO dreadfully in earnest. But, thank
God, it is overt" She threw back
her head and breathed deeply. THAT
horrible, horrible nightmare is ended.
suppose it had to be- But the mock
cry of it-think of it, Sara!-the
damnable mockery of itI'
Poor Lesliei" sighed the other
Poor old Leslie
Hettys eyes filled with tears. "Oh
am sorry for him. He didn't deserve
it. God in heaven, If he really knew
everything! If he knew why 1 could
not listen to him, why 1 almost
screamed whens he held my hands in
his and begge11 actually begged me
to oh, it was CHASTITY, Sara!"
She covered her face with her
hands, and swayed as If about to fall.
Sara came quickly to her side. Put
ting an arm about the Quivering
shoulders, she led the girl to the
broad window seat and threw open
the blinds.
Don't speak of 1t, dearest-don't
think of that. Sit here quietly in the
air and pull yourself together. Let
me talk to you Let me tell you how
deeply distressed 1 am, not only on
your account, but his
They were silent for a long time,
the girl lying still and almost breath
less against the others shoulders. She
was still wearing the delicate blue
dinner gown, but in her fingers was
the exquisite pearl necklace Sara had
given her for Christmas. She had
taken it off and had forgotten to drop
it in her jewel box.
81 suppose he will go up to the city
early" she said monotonously.
Leslie is a better loser than you
think, my dear" said Sara, looking out
over the tops OF the cedars. He will
not run away"
Hetty looked up in alarm. You
mean he will persist INN his atten-
TONS" she cried.
"Oh, no. 1 don't believe you will
find him to be the bugbear you imag-
inc. He can take defeat like a man.
He is devoted to you, he is devoted
to me. Your decision no doubt wrecks
his fondest hopes In life, but 1t doesn't
make a weakling of him."
81 don't quite understand"
He is sustained by the belief that
he has paid you the highest honor a
man can pay to a woman There is
no reason why he should turn his back
on you, as a sulky boy might do. No,
my dear, / think you may count on
him as your best, most loyal friend
from this night on He has Just said
to me that his greatest pain lies in
the fear that you may not be willing
to accept him as simple, honest. un-
presuming friend since"
"Oh, Sara, IL he win only be that
and nothing more!" cried the girl won
| deringly.
Sara smiled confidently. ct fancy
you haven't much to fear in that direc-
ton, my dear. 1t isn't in Leslie Wran-
da1l's makeup to court a second re-
pulse He is all pride. The blow ii
suffered tonight can't be repeatedHat
least, not by the same person"
Il am SO sorry ii had to be Leslie, u
| murmured Hetty.
BE nice to him. Hetty. He deserves
4