The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-19
THEIR TWO STORIES.

SOEDeO IN G06T occupation were GnGg Oh
there in the library that even mine host
appeared oblivious of the important fact
that the portals of his mansion were aboub
to be thrown open to receive the guests
who had been hidden to dine at Haw-
throne that evening.
''Of course you will understand it all
much better when you have seen her,
said Nelson. ''In relating the story to
you in advance do not feel that have
betrayed her confidence, since you are so
entirely out of our little world. And it is
great luck, he went on, ''that you come
upon us in this opportune way. Why, it
could not have been better if it had all
been arranged"
Here Nelson looked at his watch. ''We
have little time. I must tell you the
rest. The story, - he said, twas written
at a desk literally heaped with evidences
of her hopeless penury, for the morning 8
mail had brought demands for immediate
payment from more points than a COM
pass could possibly indicate. OF course
this environment was responsible for her
very desperate thoughts, but she found
herself regretting for the first time the loss
of an opportunity for averting all this
financial disaster, an opportunity then
half dozen years beyond recall -
He fairly shuddered at the thought.
''You see, Jack, I cannot bear to think
even of her miraculous escape from that
temptation.
1.-The passionate outburst of feeling
found expression in her pen, and she wrote
her own story-told how man who was
a great power in his community, who had
position, wealth, influence and, above all,
a fascination and magnetism that made
him difficult to resist, had offered them all
to her. He had been married many years
and was about to sail for Europe with his
family. His imPortunings continued up
to the very night before sailing, and while
his family were actually on board the
steamer he was 100 miles away risking
everything for one moment more with
which to use his powers of elOquence to
persuade her to join her fate to his. He
would have cast everything he possessed
to the winds, have dishOnored his family,
sacrificed his professional standing, if Bar
bara had not been an impregnable rock Of
virtue.
ut took few years only to exhaust the
slender resources which her father had left
to his widow and daughter. Financial
troubles had really caused his death. And
so one day after looking at her mothers
pitiful condition-in and comfortless and
harassed by the knowledge of their penni-
less state-she betook herself to the man
who had proffered her more than the half
of his kingdom.
''Alone she would never have appealed
to him. For her mothers sake she had no
choice.
1T will seem incredible to you, know,
that any man could resist such an appeal,
but most of all the one whose fate had
been in her hands but few brief years
before. He said in very dignified style
something about his 'life's wOrk'-it con-
sisted, believe, of securing endOwments
for universities in various parts of the
country-about the Importance of such
work because it would endure, while his
principles would not permit him to touch
personal matters they having only an
ephemeral existence.
Jack, there may be demons, but
think that mans revenge fitted him for
the lowest depths of hades, don't you?
"Oh, must tell you that the story was
a success at once-that is, it was accepted
by the managing editor of newspaper,
ordered into print and when measured by
the yardstick in the cashiers department
duly paid for with strict regard to the
quantity under consideration. That was
not a great amount. But one day she was
informed that check for $40, 600 had been
sent to the office of the newspaper for the
writer of that story
Happy the man who had the privilege
of sending that money to Barbara Floyd,
moaned Jack Speiser.
Nelson looked up a little startled at the
interruption. ooh, yes. I did tell you
her name, did not? Well, when she asked
my advice about accepting it, we decided
to take it as loan. I happened to be
making a successful venture for myself at
the time, and her $4,000 was easily in
creased tenfold.
when the loan, as we called it, was re-
turned to her benefactor. it was with the
full assurance that it had made her rich,
and the desire was added that it should be
passed on, to do still more good work. -
The curtain was pushed aside, and vi
sion appeared there which might have
turned many heads besides the very level
one that had been placed on Henry Neil
son. stalwar5 shoulders. 1t was much too
dark in the room for Barbara, coming as
she did out of the stronger light to dis
tinguish the features of either of the men,
SO she merely said in her own sweet way
that she was intruding with a message
from Mrs. Nelson, who begged Mr.. Neil
son to join them Immediately in the draw
ing room.
The vision, or something unaccountable
evidently had turned the head of the cole
brated DR.. Speiser. Nelson had not
dreamed that he would be like Deaths
head at their feast. ''Such a joyous occa-
sion, too, - he unused, 1.-The announcements
of the betrothal of our beloved Barbara to
the man of her choice, that lucky Lewis
who of course is worthy of her if any man
could be-
But Barbara was radiant. The spectral
figure had not affected her high spirits,
except possibly to increase them.
81 shall be leaving so early in the morn
ing that will not see you again, Neil
son." said Speiser as they were parting for
the night. 81 want to infict a word about
myself" he said, Ito add my confidence
to Barbara Floyd's. You will agree with
me, think, that after witnessing her hap
piness tonight there is no further need of
hades' to expiate my cruelty to her. You
could not of course know that you were
telling my story too. - Philadelphia
Times.
An Interrupted Meal.