The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-21


dies, I can never read this passage without
my blood boiling declared Miss Sharpe,
with distinct irritation in her voice, adj
dressing her class in Latin.
He began by losing his estimable wife
in the confusion of his flight from Troy,
and 1 have no doubt it was an Intentional
loss, and he considered it good radiance,
for here we have him, later on, to be sure,
but not long enough for him to have re-
covered from any deep grief he may have
felt, making desperate love to Dido. How
does he reward her love and hospitality?
By sailing away and leaving the poor,
weak fool heartbroken. Consequently she
commits suicide, as we might expect.
Young ladies, this is an opportunity I
cannot neglect. I must warn you to be-
ware Of man-perfidious man-for if he
does not, like the pious Eneas, win your
heart and sail gayly away, he will, if you
join your destiny to his, make life mis-
cry and a burden to you
t'Do you speak from personal expert
ence, dear Miss Sharper asked miss
of II.
The latter turned with flashing eyes.
'tWhen you have lived as long as r.
she began, then interrupted herself, for
she never referred voluntarily to her age
"that is, when you have seen as much of
life as have, you will learn that what I
say is true. There is nothing a man en-
joys more than winning woman's heart
and then breaking it"
The teachers words fell for the most
part on stony ground, but found fertile
soil in Estelle Pardeau's heart. If men
were all so false, might not Dick Hol-
stead, who seemed truth itself, prove IN
faithful to her? She was to marry Dick
as soon as school was over, and the house
they had planned together was even then
nearing completion. But what of that?
Estelle fingered after the other girls had
gone, and she had an earnest talk with Miss
Sharpe.
t'Estelle,' said the teacher taking the
young girls hand, 81 meant all said.
I, who have learned these bitter truths
through experience, am fitted to tell them.
When I was your age, Albert Hands asked
me to marry him, vowing eternal love and
constancy. Igave my young heart to him
unreservedly, and what was my rewardf
In few months time he tired of me and
deserted me for a better looking woman.
Have 1 not the right to say that men are
false?''
but must all men-must Dick-be the
came? None OF them true?" asked EstelIe
nnxiously.
81 could tell you, dear child, of a thou
sand such cases. Dick might be faithful,
but how can you tellP All, my dear, it is
a terrible riskI' And Miss Sharpe sighed
heavily.
The result of this interview was that the
engagement Of Estele and Dick was bro
ken, and they went no more together to
visit the new home and watch the progress
made on it, Dick, angry and sorely
wounded, declared all women false and
tickle and would have forever abjured the
whole sex had 1t not been for sweet, pretty
In IIof&s 7 L1l -
fed feelings and ministered to his injured
vanity so kindly and successfully that at
the end of the month Miss Hottie was
wearing his ring and had promised to be
the mistress of the new house on the hill,
for Dick was a parti.
When she heard the news, Estelle wept
and walled and called Dick all the most
uncomplimentary names she could think
Of in the privacy of her own room. She
forgot the truth of the old saying "Many
heart is caught in the rebound and
vowed that she would never put trust in
|. mortal man again as long as she lived.
She told Miss Sharpe she could never
thank her enough for her escape, as she
termed it, and vowed that she was CRATE
full with all her heart that she had listened
to her warning in time. But Just the
same, deep down in that same little heart
there was very sore spot, which ached
and panied very sharply whenever she saw
Dick and Hettie vending their way to-
ward their prospective dwelling together.
But it ached worst of oil the night that
these two were welded. OF course Estelle
would not stay away, for people would
talk and perhaps say she was repenting
in sackcloth and ashes, while she did not
care bit-no, really not q bit. she assured
herself over and over feverishly as she
dressed in her bravest fnery and added a
touch of rouge to each cheek SO she would
not look pale.
Dear Miss Sharpe, how much thank
you'' she Inurmured to herself as she tried
to get to sleep that night, but small
voice seemed to answer:
''Liar If you could have Dick back, all
the Miss Shapes in the world might be
cast into the sea, with millstones about
their necks."
School was over, and Estelle took to
reading, but all her reading seemed tc
have the Same trend. She took particular
delight in hunting out cases of women
who were made to suffer through theh
love for men, and before the summer was
over, so strange is human nature, she re
| garded herself as a woman whose loveI
had deliberately forsaken her, and fully
agreed with the song that this would be c
! happy world ''if the men were all trans
| ported far beyond the northern sea-
| So time passed on, and Estelle grew
more bitter in her attitude toward the
lords of creation, who now heartily re
turned her regard. In the autumn she re
ceived a letter from her dear Miss Sharpe
which she felt ere she opened the envelope
would be comfort to her.
my sweet child, - it ran, 'tyou do no
know how often have thought of you O.
late. have, dear Estelle, confession tt
make to you. I am married. Do moi
start from me, dear one, and cry 'Impos
sibleP for indeed it is true, and I am 81
| happy. Albert Hands returned to me anC
| threw himself as it were, at my feet.
find he has loved me always, although hi
has been married three times, fearing aftei
each bereavement to beg my pardon anC
a renewal of love. And so 1 find it, Els
telle, the tenderest thing in all the world