The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-31
IN A TOMATO HOUSE.

A white shawl was wrapped around her
head, making her face look very ohildlike.
An utter listlessness was in every line of
her unbeautiful figure as she sat ON the
log stool in the tomato house.
He came in so quietly that she did not
notice his entrance. He was used to com
ing and going when be liked and under
stood the peculiarities of the stiff old lock.
Thus he saw her as she really was, not
as she would be if she knew that the eyes
of spectator we're upon her-saw the
true nature in all it's naked transparency,
freed from the cramping, cumberson vest
ments of coventionality.
He had seen her hundreds of times, ever
since she was IL years old. Now she was
one and twenty.
He had followed every stage in her de-
velopment, watched every unfolding of
her mental powers, noticed every budding
tendency and predicted its poisoning into
action.
He had fattered himself he knew her.
Now 1t was proved to him that he did not.
In the frail, dropping heap before him
he could not recognize his friend and critic,
calm, intellectual and strong, with a
strength that made him SILVER when he
felt it and wrung from him the cry of in
stinotive masculine distaste:
''Strong? Yes, too strong for a woman I''
The sweet. unselflsh sympathy and
ready, eager interest he knew SO well and
had grown to look for as a matter of
course, where were they?
The deep, unfathomabIe smile of those
dark, luminous eyes-that was not rove
lation of feeling, but screen. Gone!
The quick alertRess that spoke of fiercely
burning vitality departed utterly.
Her profile, he had told himself over and
over again, was too heavy. What? 1t
was almost transparent in the delicacy of
its outline.
Her mouth was too firm. Firm? 1t
trembled with u weary, hopeless, down
ward curve.
Her hair was dark and lusterless and
straight. Unlovely quite.
1t chung to head that was wonderfully
nodded and poised, throwing out the ut
ter whiteness of a skin SO fine that the
purple blood veins showed plainly under
meath
She put her hand up YEARLY to smooth
back stray strand of hair. The move
ment, slight as it was, brought a pink
flush to her cheek, her hand fell. She was
conscious of no change.
But he was. For nine years he had
known, admired, esteemed, revered, con-
suited, scolded, chaffed and tortured her.
What her splendid honesty, her wonder
full clear sightedness, her intellectual face,
her absolute unaffectedness, her pure soul,
her deep sympathy could never do that
glance of womanly weakness did.
He loved her.
Till then he had held his breath, but as
the knowledge came upon him he gave
deep, long drawn gasp, that was half won
der, half joy.
She stirred slightly, raised her heavy,
fringed lids and their eyes met.
His was full of light, but they drew no
answering flash from hers.
Perhaps he never noticed that. If he
did, it caused him no uneasiness.
10 caf dor So how fhaO oil 10rp
and because he was impetuous by nature
and never waited for a favorable season,
but acted as the impulse urged him, and
because he was too truthful to soften the
edges of fact or clothe it in more words
than decency, he looked at her and said in
tones that were monotonous from restrain
ed emotion:
HAnnie, love you"
For moment she made no sign of
movement, gave no hint that she had
heard or understood.
Then she calmly looked at him and said;
81 am very sorry"
Out burst the full food of horror stricken
protest, fervent vows and hum bic prayers.
She heard it all, unchanged, unmoved.
He begged, he coaxed, he commanded.
He failed to arouse her.
Then love made him wise, and he said
calmly and confidently:
"You loved me once know you did. "
in crimson tide. Then, not to be outdone
in truthfulness, she answered:
Yes, did once. do now
His cry of Joy was checked by the sight
of her sunlit eyes and the sound of her IN
moved voice.
He felt a chill seize his heart. He fall
tered, "Then why do you act so Strangely
She stopped down and slowly Ioosened a
tomato plant from the box of seedlings by
her side, drawing it out root and all, and
she held it in the hollow of her hand.
He watched her in silent wonder.
eff that had grown all it's life in the
dark, what would it have been like?'' she
asked.
"white and weak and puny and nearly
Hfeless,' be answered, still wondering
yes" she said, with her strange, be-
wildering smile. II am like that. My
love grew in the dark eight years. 1t is
white and feeble now"
/"The plant would grow green if put in
the light. 1t isn't too late even now," he
pleaded. 1.-THE power is there and the sun
shine is ready and warm"
eyes, it is there" she answered, -"but
from darkness to fierce sunlight, what
happens? a short struggle, a quick DEATH
My darlingl This is nonsensef' he
cried, taking her in his arms. 81 have
been mad fool, the past is gone and moth
ing can give US back its wasted hours, but
the present and future are still ours to
live. Nature can make such foolish laws
will break them, and he bent and kissed
her lips
came quick, her color famed, her love
sprang into perfect life. She kissed him.
Lady.
To Make q Good Whitewash.
For good whitewash for your bedroom