The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-24
STOLEN INTERVIEWS.


transparent grapes Yet somehow no one
was ever jealous of the warm hearted,
beautiful young widow. For was she not
always ready to help the helpless, care for
the careless and think for the thoughtlesss
You couldn't help wondering what people
did in the benighted times before Mrs.
Nelly came on to the stage of life, SO in
dispensable did she seem to human COM
fort.
So, of course, the evening of the day
that Mildred Wilton became engaged to
Henry Forrest she came up through the
evening twilight, with incense of flowers
scattered on her path and tiny FREELY
lamps hung in all the bushes to illume her
way, to tell Nelly about it. 1t was just as
natural as thinking aloud.
I'm love, you dear, foolish thing!" said
Nelly laughingly, imprisoning both Mil
dred's fluttering hands ''Well, every
woman must come sooner or later to the
place where some great six footer becomes
glori1ed in her sight and his words are
like the law and the prophets May you
never awake from the blissful dream,
love!''
''He is so changed, somehow
The moon, which had been a marrow
slit of pearl when Henry Forrest first
whispered his love into Mildred's willing
car, was in its siekly gibbous now, and
shoulder.
.How, dearestq'' said Nelly, stroking
the dark, disheveled locks.
''He is so grave and self absorbed-and
when he looks at me it is with such pity
ing glance, and two or three times some
unspoken sentence has quivered on his
lips. Nelly, do you suppose-can it be
possible that he has ceased to love me?'
''Not a bit of it, love. Don't distress
will oil
right, am sure You know that fnan-
cial affairs are in critical state just now,
and all business men are necessarily anx-
ious''
do you think that is all?'' murmured
Mildred, gradually hushing her sobs and
drawing closer % her comforter, as child
distressed by sorrowful dreams clings to
its soothing nurse.
''Of course it is, and now, love- it is
growing late, and must send you home.
Go by the willow PATH Mildred; it is less
damp than the road along the river side. "
What possessed her to set out by the
river road, in spite of Nelly's warning?
Perhaps because that way was the nearest,
perhaps because the finger of fate was in
the thing
For, as she approached dense mass of
silver birch woods that skirted the road
the sound of low voices made her start be-
ness that she was not alone. The tones
came nearer, and as the speakers emerged
into the uncertain moonlight from the
Swallowed place where the road wound
through deep glen her heart stood still
with chill, sick horror. She knew the
promenaders well. Was this the reason
that Nelly had desired her to go by the
willow pathf
NELLY, you are an angel What should
I 10 without ~ no h0oTd him
they paused at the path that led to Mrs.
Archer's home. Nelly shook her head
laughingly.
mind, she said, mot word of this
to Aildred-poor little DIildredi'
There are times when minute seems tc
compress into it's seconds all the bitter
ness of years, and you may judge how
long that night was to Mildred.
By morning, however. her resolves were
all taken. She would release Forrest from
his troth, though her own heartstrings
parted, but she never would see Nelly
Archer more. All, why had she not sus-
pected this double dealing before?
"Why, Mildred you don't seem bit
glad to see me this morning!''
Forrest playfully pulled away the hand
that shaded AIildreds tear stained eyes
and looked lovingly into her face.
''Why, what's the matter? You have
ask any questions. I came, little one, to
ask you if you would allow me to fix
Thursday week for our wedding day."
My wedding day will never come, For
rest said Mildred, controlling her agita-
ton by a strong effort. 81 release you
| from our engagement"
What do you mean? Release me?
won't be released!'
"Do not let US proIong this interview, -
cold Mild-pd t-a1o7IoTcIv wac aeoi-
dentally in the river road last night
"Well, what of it?''
Nothing faltered Mildred almost in
| audibly, "only if had sooner known that
your affections were transferred from me
| to Mrs. Archer should sooner have set
| you free
She broke down here and burst into a
| passion of tears.
"My darling said Henry, as if a sud
den light had broken in on his perplexity,
will you hear my explanations Nelly
made me promise secrecy, bpt she never
| could have fOreseen these circumstances.
My affections have been securely placed
/ ever since saw one Mildred Wilton. l
never dreamed of transferring them and
couldn't if L were to try. But, dearest,
! since our engagement / have become a
! comparatively poor man through the fail
ure of men with whom l was indirectly
|
my duty to ask you to wait years. or even
! to give you up. For could not ask you
! to marry a beggar. But Mrs. Archer 50
earnestly desired the marriage to go on
that she has placed a large portion of her
wealth in my hands, as loan, to enable
me to begin the world once more. For
| tune, thanks to her, is beginning to smile
on me once more, and I come to claim
you
''Then Nelly does not love youY' MUIR
| INJURED Mildred.
''Love ne? 1 should think not, but /
can tell you whom she does love-your
tall brother Ashley, who is nearly as ieal-
Gus of our business interviews as your lit
| tie self They are over now, and shouldn t
wonder if we had two weddings one Of
these daysl''
Mildred cried again, upon her lovers
| manly breast, but they were not bitter