The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-21
DOROTHY'S PRIDE.

Despite his fine qualities Culbertson was
= very modest fellow, and no word of his
love for Dorothy had ever passed his lips.
He was no coxcomb, and though he was
conscious of his ability to hold his own
among men he saw in himself no quality
&c attract women. So when the proud
Miss Preston treated him with even less
consideration than she bestowed on her
other admirers he accepted it all only
what was due him and went his way in
silence.
Meanwhile Dorothy Preston chafed and
groaned in spirit under the sting of wound
ed pride She refused to see what was
patent to every one else-that Fred Gull
bertson loved her-and only knew that she
had, after struggle, given her heart to a
man who had never spoken an affection
ate word to her.
1t was after ball one night that her
position first came sostrongly home to her
mind. She had long tried to deny to her
self this passion of her heart, but now it
rose strong, full blown love and clamored
to be heard. She clasped her hands, and
with flushed face admitted to herself that
she loved Ned Culbertson.
'Shame, shame upon 1nel' she cried
81 love him, and he has never given me
word, and they call me proud too' Her
lips curled, and she half laughed.
wei, Will De PROUD. VIII De GOO
proud to let it be known that have given
my heart unsought to Q man who
She did not finish the sentence, but the
blood famed up into her cheeks and over
her forehead, the tears came into her eyes,
and she clinched her hands sharply to-
gether.
From that time on if Ned Culbertson had
any faint CLEANS of hope they must have
been entirely extinguished, for Dorothy
Preston's manners toward him were
revelation of frigid disdain. Did she touch
his hand in the dance, it was shrinking
~, as if she abhorred the slight contact.
Did she speak to him, it was with such
distant hauteur that his blood froze. And
SO it continued until he was in despair.
Alone in his Office one evening during
busy week he was trying to finish some
complicated designs for the interior of a
church which was soon to be erected
| Could one have peeped at him as he sat
| with bent head over his work, drawing
| hard at a cigar, one would have said that
he was all absorbed in the labor before
! him. But any such thought would have
| been efficiently routed when he suddenly
! sprang to his feet, and dashing his pencil
into corner exclaimed: Il can't do it,
( confound it'll I can'tl With that girls
! face before my eyes constantly I am get
ting as incapable of thought or perform
|
amount to? She looks at me as If she
would like to walk over me, and when
she speaks it's like pouring ice water over
| my head. / can't do anything this way.
! Rather than endure this suspense would
| tell her and have her freeze me with
glance or show me the door. Maybe that
would put me on my feet anyhow, and
infuse little spirit into me, if it were
only the spirit of resentment
n re Mr. ar9 mi.
bertson was a quick thinking and prompt
acting man, and in ten minutes he had
| determined on a plan of action. A note
! left on the desk of his first assistant told
| that gentleman that his superior was sud-
denly called away and might not be back
for month and left the work Of the Office
in his hands.
He would see Miss Preston, tell his story
and then go away for month to forget.
When the plan was once settled upon,
it was but short work to hasten home,
pack a satchel and then dress for the pro-
posed call.
When he entered the Preston drawing
room, he thought that Dorothy had never
looked so lovely to him before in all his life.
He could hardly follow the comm n
places that introduced the conversat IN
for looking at her. And then, more /. le
the rude swain than the polished beau,
almost before the greetings were over he
had plunged ''in medals res.''
The girl listened to him, speechless with
SURPRISE as he poured out his story Of love.
She could not check him, nor did he give
her time to say word.
Miss Dorothy" he concluded, after
telling his story, 81 cannot sufficiently
thank you for listening to me. was a
mailman to think that you would, but I
felt that I must tell you how / loved you.
/ do not ask for your answer, for I am too
sure what it will be. I suppose I'm a
fool, ut''-and there was tremor in his
voice-tI can't help it, you know. And
now goodbyl 1--we got to catch that
1905 for-ah-I'm going away for a little
while for change of scene and forgetful-
ness, as the novelists put it. "
He smiled mirthlessly as mechanically
she gave him her hand, and before she
had recovered from the shock he had gone
To woman sofa pillow is a very sympa-
thetic article and certain lowered sill
one in Miss Dorothy Preston's room that
night received her tears, laughter and in
coherent words of joy. Then the same
sofa pillow was pushed back into its place
in rather unfriendly manner, hardly con-
sistent with the confidence it had just re-
ceived, as the proud Miss Preston rose to
her feet, exclaiming:
HE said the 1905. I have time yetI''
1t was just three minutes past 10 when
a woman approached Ned Culbertson at
the Grand Central station, where he
pacing back and forth impatiently av it
ing his train. She touched his shoulder.
"Dorothyi'' he cried.
MED, don't go. II want you, " and
then her voice broke He led her quickly
away, for people were beginning to observe
them. And once without the station he
kissed her and then put of her clinging
hands to tear up his INSTANTANEOUS
felloWi
He went home with Dorothy in blissful
dreams. Then he sought his Office, took
the note off the desk of his first assistant
and tore that up too.-Chicago News.
The Armenian and Catholic Church.