The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-05
STORY OF A HEART.

fireplace Maxwell Leith, tutor to the
house Of Graham, seated writing at CEN
ter table. Heads of the house dining out.
Time, $50 p. m.
She drumming iTnpatiently on the
mantelpiece and glancing in his direction)
You don't seem to care that this is my
last evening; that / am going away to-
morrow; that I shant be back at Arden
yohr for months.
He-1e would be generally supposed
that you are to be envied. You are going
out into the world. You have life before
you with all its possibilities.
She with an infection of asperity in
her voice)-I wish you would not speak SO
like a copybook What you say may be
true enough. L have box full of new
clothes up stairs most girls would covet,
and yet-yet (dinging herself impatieEtly
into a chair and glancing coTertly at him)
I would a Thousand times rather be put
ting on nay old sarge gown and be sitting
down to Horace.
He (stiIl writing)-That feeling will
wear of. You will enjoy the novelty OF
the new life. You will get fresh interests.
You will be admired.
She (pouting)-I don't want fresh in
terests. 1 don't care significantly for
the admiration of the multitude.
Silence, except for the scratching Of his
pen.
She (rising and going to the table near
him)-What are you writing?
He-Somo Latin verse Of your brothers..
I am correcting it.
She (watching him)-It seems fuller Of
mistakes than usual. with a burst Of
irritation) Can't you leave it tonight I
don suppose you care how miserable [
am. I dare say with dry sob) you will
just so on when 1 am away as if nothing
had happened, only with this difference,
that you won't be bothered with my mis-
takes.
He (paling visibly and pushing away bis
writing)-You are depressed tonight. TO
morrow things will look brighter
She cher eyes full of reproaeh) You are
very unkind. (Her head goes down on
her hands ON the table.)
He (agitated, rises and PAGES the room;
stops near her and lays his hand on her
bowed head; speaks rather unsteadily)-
Do you know how hard you make things
for me? Do you know I would willingly
give this right hand to save you unhappi-
nessf
She Cooking up with quivering 1ips)-
Is that all you have to say to me?
He Cunning his head away)-It is all
dare say. There are things in this world
you don't know about that come before
inclination.
She (desperately)-I don't understand
about such things. I don't care about
them. I only know that I am miserable
Billiard room in Continental hotel.
Robert Stuart Graham, Maxwell Leith,
tutor, occupants.
Robert Stuart-Graham (reading The
Position my soul, Nab has stolen a
march upon US and no mistake!
Maxwell Leith (testily chalking a cue
with a hand that shakes slightly)-What
are you talking about? Pray be more ex-
plicit.
Robert Stuart Graham-Listen to thisl
Breads aloud) "a marriage has been ar
ranged and will take place shortly between
Major the Hon. Haig Eimslie, younger of
Mount Elmslie, Royal Scots Fusiliers,
and Mabel, only daughter Of Robert Stu
art-GrahaTn of Ardenvohr Argyllshire,
n. b. Good old MabI Made all tho
running in her first season, and it was
only yesterday that she had her hair down
her back and her frooks up to her knees.
(Thrcws down the newspaper and lights
cigar.) Wonder what sort of fellow he
is. Hope he has moor and keeps yacht.
l say, Leith, can you picture Nab in the
capacity of lady OF the manor?
Maxwell Lelth (Tepiaees cue in the stand
and makes somewhat abruptly for the
door)-The suns coming out, after all
Much loo fine q day to spend cooped up
indoors. I believe L shall so for a stroll.
Robert Stuart Graham Cleft alone,
yawns and throws himself on a seat and
picks up the fallen paper)--I don't know
what the fellow calls fine It's as
black as thunder over there. He's as ca
! PRECIOUS as the weather itself. l wish he
had known his mind before Higgins made
up his golf foursorne for this afternoon
| without me.
Drawing room in Mayfair Major
| Elmslie and Mabel StuaFt-Grahan occu-
| pants.
He (holding her hand and toying with a
| diamond ring on the third finger of the
/ left hand}-And SO you are leaving me to-
morrow, and you have only this paltry
! ring to remind you that you belong to me?
She (blushing and smiling)-I hardly
! think 1 shall need a reminder. Ardenvohr
! is as unexciting as a convent. You speak
rs If were going to be swallowed up in q
| succession of festivities.
He Gealously)-J am suspicious OF these
/ quiet retreats. They have way of pro-
dueing unattached men, if it be nothing
more than 4 good looking parson or even
an arbitrary, self confident country doc
tor.
She (archly)-You need not agitate
| yourself. The parson is nearsighted and
has only one lung, and the doctor has a
wife and six children.
He extraordinarily you have really been
wasting your sweetness on these unappre-
ciative rustics up till now? What deadly
| dull time of it you must have hadi
She "a shade uneasily by reason of GER
! tain unwelcome mental "reminiscences }
Not exactly deadly dull At least
did not think it SO then. dare say now
should find the things and people that
amused me before rather-well, just a
1 triae wanting in favor. But-but (shyly)
/ you will come down and relieve the mo-
notony as soon as you can, won't you?
| He-Need you ask? The very first mo-
ment d uty, in the shape of Colonel Saun-
ders, makes it possible. Meantime / shall
| live only for the pleasures of hope. Black
| and White
| Poppy Oil.
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