The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-22
AFTER MANY YEARS.

left them was that of bitter poverty. |
Their only relative, an uncle, because of |
former zenmity with his brother, refused |
to aid chem.
So, with childish pride, taking the |
small portion remaining to them, they !
went into the world alone. But slowly |
their slender purse grew lighter and light |
er and would have totally collapsed were
it not that Max Marsden came forward
with kindly offers of assistance. He was |
only "a struggling, unsuccessful journal |
ist but he was an old friend of the fani-
", and they looked up to him and trusted
him accordingly.
Many the little comfort which found
its way from his hands to this upper story
room. Cora got work painting porcelain
for a city house. Often after offering to
deliver it she would cry out in surprise at
the ample pay her friend brought back.
'.They had a customer who was willing
to pay good price for suitable work, "
Max would answer gravely.
That night they went to the opera, and
on the way home Cora exclaimed:
Il did not know how dearly loved
Verdi I shall never hear bar of his
music without recalling my first opera,
Max-without remembering you
You will not forget me? 1 am glad of
that. I am going to test your promise
sooner than you think, dear am going
away tonight
'sGoing away?'
The young voice was sharp with a
quick, constrained pain new to it.
Yes l have obtained on trial the po-
sition went to New York to procure. I
sail for England on Tuesday. And now
here is a piece of good news to counterfeit
the other. I went to see your uncle today
and had a long talk with him. He is not
such grim, hard man as they say. He
i,x oil oh He
ises all luxury, all kindness, if you will
both go to him and be his own chill
dren. Seeing him as 1 do with unpre
diced eyes, think he regrets his past
heartless conduct
But, Max
'sMy child, know all you would say,
but Cedric is not strong enough to work,
and cannot go away leaving you so lone
ly and helpless. Besides it is not wholly
dependence. In his hands is some money
of his fathers on which you have morally
claim. Believe me, it is for the BEST
He went into the house and shook hands
with Cedric. Then he stopped to Cora
and reverently touched her forehead with
bearded lips. A moment more and the
great shabby figure had burst out of the
room and was striding rapidly away I'M
der the blue, star studded sky.
She stood and watched him out of sight
with eyes growing strangely dim. Once
he paused and looked backward. She was
still standing there, slim, dark figure
against that patch of light.
''Oh, my love, God bless youl'' he whis-
pered TREMENDOUSLY.
Five years later The curtain at tho
Grand Opera House in Paris rose on as
fine an audience as had ever assembled
within its walls. In one of the boxes on
the grand tier sat three gentlemen. One,
a tall, -bronzed, soldierly man, noticing
many glasses being leveled at an opposite
box, lifted his lorgnette and looked across
the stage.
A lady with a little coterie of admirers
i had just entered. She wore some soft,
! silken dress, all aquamarine and silver.
| There were water lilies in the golden hair
and emeralds on the white neck. A child
ish face, for all its pride, and that peculiar
poise of the head; a face with luminous
blue eyes, a snowy, stately throat and
! checks just dashed with roses.
WHO is she?'' Max Marsden questioned
! breathlessly.
Ma foir' cried a vivacious little French
| man. lyon do not know? She is COM
patriot of yours-la belle Americana. Her
name is Lester-Mlle. Lester
''Ah!" And then, after a pause, "Who
is that gentleman leaning over her chair?''
s'Ah, that is Savagneau, answered
Comte de Savagneau. He is heir to half
dozen princely estates and is mademoi-
selles devoted slave. But she will have
none of him. She is beauty and an heir
ess, and half Paris is mad about her, but
one might as we'll adore statue. No
| marble is colder than She
Max Marsden, the celebrated journalist,
the literary lion of the day, looked with
keen eyes across to that dainty vision with
| wafer lilies in her hair
| During the last act she arose and gath
cred her rich wrap around her
Half an hour later Max Marsden stood
! in her hotel
'sWhen Mile. Lester arrives, say that an
| old friend Graves a moments audience"
Mademoiselle, trailing her sheeny silks
and laces along the corridor, paused in
amazement at the message. Then she
bowed YEARLY and passed on to the grand
SALON.
MAXI she cried ''Maxr'
Her face was TRANSPORTED. She held out
both hands in her old frank fearless way.
He caught them tightly in his own. All
his soul was in his eyes as he looked on
| the lovely lifted face. just one glance, and
over brow and cheek and white throat
famed a rich color.
Cora still holding her little hands in
his own and speaking hoarsely, tonight
has recalled the other night-when I left
you for your own sake-because L dared
not stay. Perhaps the music has made me
mad for 1 am daring, oh, my love, TO
bring you now the tribute could not offer
five years ago!''
For one moment she was silent Then
she lifted those truthful eyes of hers.
MAX, l think that night my soul
awoke, for since then''-ah, me, the wom-
anly shyness that crimsoned her cheeks!
for since then 1 have been waitingH'
-Waverly Magazine.
Gold Coins In q Beam.
Some time ago two brothers, who were
builders in a small way of business in
Herefordshire, estimated TO pull down and
rebuild some very old premises. Their es-