The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-11

crushed heart 81 the girl us it a
prophesy?" And she read the conclud-
ing verses with a bitter heart
But my whole life seemed as the swift years
More hollow ana vain to. be
Fame s bosom At best. is hard ana eoia
Poor heart!
Ihanklessly breaking for me
"Sick with lonrings. and fears ana dread.
she had wasted as though with GRIEF, they
Poor enid. poor ehldi and vas long since
All she q5ed for ms. love of me
Broken so vainly FOR me-
''Eyeished down BY load TOO heavy to hold,
She had died fundamentally.
And 7, remorSeful and unconsOled,
dreamed OF She wasted days 81 old,
Ana the heart thar was broken for me
Broken. and valniy for me
"And my soul cries out, in its bitter pain
OF the bliss THAI can never pc,
FOR fhe sweet youns life that his lived Ia vain,
And the heart that was broken for me-
Dead-and 0uried-for me -
AS Theda Grey read the words
which she had written. a look of reso-
luton settled down over her face.
II viii not die for any mans love
she said, decisively- 81 have por-
trayed a weak minded heroine in NV
first attempt at verse writing. Z viii
live-an live for my art as well as
hei Let Alaric Langley 90 to Europe
and become a great artist 4 viii stay
at home and be a poett"
She kept her word, for the poetic
germ was there. and needed only cul-
tivation. Alaric sailed with his artist
friends for Italy.
Theda held his hands and kissed his
lips al parting, but when he asked her
to wait for him. she would make no
promise.
'.Remember the poem" she said,
softly.
His face flushed.
You wrong me bitterly if you
imagine me that cold and heartlessi"
he cried indignantly.
"A nd SO they parted.
Time went by. The name of Theda
Grey was becoming a household word
Her poems, so weet and tender and
pathetic. comforted many a sorrow
ing soul
For herself, she had simply swept
love aside. and within her inmost
heart. am bition reigned instead.
year went by Alaric was fast
becoming famous. But he was living
a wild sort of life among dissipated
artists. and slowly but surely he be-
gan TO yield to mptation. Gradually
be descended After the first down
ward step, man goes with d rush into
Avernus. Five years did the work
for him; FIVE years suhieed to wreck
his constitution and to ruin his fame
Then, one day, lie woke to reaIiza-
ton Of the truth. He was in despair.
What a harvest of tares I have
sownr' he exclaimed, bitterly. And
my crop remains to be gathered
will 70 home and turn over a new
leaf Even the prodigal Of old was
allowed a chance to retrieve his past
I viii 60 back to mother and-and
Theda. Dear, gentle little Thedai
The heart lat was breaking for me-
remem Der it all. Heaven bless her.
She viii forgive me and take me back.
With Theda for my wife, I viii be
strong once more to fight the worlds
battlel"
He sailed for home that very day
Alas. Where were the laurels he con-
hdently expected to lay at Theda's
feet when he had tired OF the wild,
fast life of the studio and saloon9
A worn. weary man, pale and bag
gard with the marks Of dissipation
upon his once handsome safe, Alaric
Langley entered her presence once
more.
She looked like a tall, white lily in
her clinging gown of snowy cashmere.
"a look of peace had found its way
into the calm eyes, no longer troubled
now. For Theda Grey no longer
loved She had killed all that, and
she was welded to her art And SO
she told him, gently but firmly while
ne knelt at her feet weeping. praying.
beseeching her to give him once more
the old, sweet love and trust.
III cannot lit Is impossi ble,'' she
repeated. in answer to his beseech-
ing-his mad imp oring. II said that
1 would live without love since it
alone has caused all the sorrow of my
life / swore to be strong and brave
I swore that would be no soft
hearted woman 10 die for the affection
that was denied me / loved y0u
"a laric. with all my heart and soul
You were my king-in my eyes a
demi-god. But your GOODNESS and
selhshness killed all that, and I do
not love you now. can never love
any man-never on earthl"
He arose and left her He went
back to his studio and a hard life of
toll, determined to retrieve his past.
And she-she says that she is happy
ia her lonely life-her busy work
But Fame's bosom at best, is hard and
cold. And a woman cannot stihe the
voice Of love until she has first
crucihed her heart
Apples and Piums.