The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-22
MAKE ME STEADFAST

Every one said that it was an absurd
engagement. Every one pointed out with
the air of having made the discovery him
self that Laura Clayton and John Baxter
were totally unsuited to each other. Old
Mrs Baxter spoke of it to her son with
conviction, and Mrs. Clayton suggested it
to her daughter delicately, as her manner
was
''What on earth would your father have
said, John?" demanded his mother fierce
1y. sis she intended for a country minis
ter's wife? Look at the way she dressesl
Look at her hair, done in the latest waves
and knotsl Look at her hands, I don't
want to say anything against your happi-
ness, John, out she's a butterfly She has
no stability of characterI I'm even afraid
that when the first glamour
Then John interposed with a few re-
marks which sent his mother from his
study moro than ever inclined to find fault
with Laura Clayton.
What Mrs. Clayton said was:
Darling, 1 don't wonder you are in
love with John. He is the dearest boy and
the best-sO stanch, so true-I shall never
worry about you. At least not so far as
John is concerned
II see,'' laughed Laura. you're
afraid that I'll long for the feshpots of
Egypt, aren't you? And that I'll be the
one to grow tired? When I'm the most
constant person on earth, too, mammal"
''Solid as ocean foam, quoted Mrs.
Clayton, smiling and signing a little.
Laura, dearest child, 1 don't want to
croak, but are you sure you know your
own heart? The ClaytOns-well''-she
sighed again-''the Claytons are not cut
out of granite And you're thorough
Clayton, dear
So it was that even their own households
had doubts about the engagement of the
young people. Every one knew that John
Baxter stood for Puritan high mindedness
and singleness of aim and heart, and ev-
cry one knew that Laura Clayton with all
her charm was dancing sunbeam-nev-
er long still-that is, every one except
John. Laura knew it. She felt her own
unwOrthiness keenly enough without be
ing told of it as frequently as she was.
She humbled herself in her praying and
asked daily to be made steadfast and good
"like him. her petitions ran. Meantime
there. were those who We're willing to wa
ger on the breaking of the engagement be
fore the end of the year, for John was to
go to his first parish in a small town in
another state, and the skeptical smiled at
the thought of Laura Clayton's remaining
of the same mind for a year.
At first the young woman behaved ad
mirably. She eschewed gayety, and al
most her only designations We're afternoon
musicales and teas. She wrote to John ev-
cry day, and she slept with his latest let
ter beneath her pillow every night. She
continued to pray for steadfastness and
goodness like his" Then, at the end of
two months. Laura suddenly plunged in
to gayety again.
my dearest mother she said to her re-
monstrating parent, 81 am not a Hindoo
ip6 I
am, shall do exactly as John wishes.
Meantime I shall not drive myself to sui.
eide by never having any fun. You know
L never see a mani
ono" said Mrs. Clayton sweetly, car
thur Holbrooke is rather a boy"
Tive known him since was baby"
F'With the exception Of the last four
years, during which he has been away
do you mean to say you think I'm
flirting? Doesnt Arthur know of my en-
gagemen1? Doesn't John know every time
! see Arthur? You are horrid to me, NAM
ma
my dear" sighed poor Mrs. Clayton,
az bey your pardon for seeming to inter
fere. only want you to do nothing that
J you'll re yret. -
Whereupon Miss Laura hounced out Of
the room aud wept over Johns fortunate
" glass inGased photograph for awhile
Then she went to walk with Arthur Hol-
brooke and told him her theories concern
/ ing friendship between men and women
Meantime Mrs. Baxter wrote letters.
The more Laura found companionshir
of one sort and another essential to he1
happiness the more she despised the light
nature she had always been credited with
and the more ardently she desired those
severe. Spartan virtues which her lover
possessed. She grew morbid in the desire
to be like him. She distrusted her most
fieeting interests, her most cursory fancies
She strove with all the force of her undis
ciplined nature to make herself a person
of one idea. and failing signally she con
demned herself Her letters to John wer'
strange, self Sccusatory affairs which, add
ed to his mothers epistles, destroyed tn
young mans pence of mind most effectu
4 ally Relying on his own strength O
! character, never doubling for an lnstan
the unshalxable nature of his regard 10
Laura, he began going for temporary com
fort to one Miss DorOthea CRANKY, mem
INer of his altar guild and a girl rattle
given to wearing silver crosses and othe
ecclesiastical jewelry.
''Why doesn't Arthur Holbrooke com
here any longer?'' demanded Mrs. Clayto
of her daughter ne day
Lau "a looked up strangely white an
weary.
81 Sc Mt him away, - she said Indifferent
ly.
"My ttear! Then it came to that9"
eyes" ~
care you regretting it, Laura, dear?
asked her mother gently.
'FNo"
"You didn't care for him?'
ssNo"
81 am so glad Poor boy!'' remarked
Mrs. Clayton, ''But, darling, you mus
not send him away cut of mistaken
sense of loyalty. 1t would be wrong t,
John, you know
"Don't,' - cried Laura, burying her fac
in her hands, and then she handed he
mother letter.
John released her from the engagement