The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-27


II am SO sorTy!" she said, sympa-
thetically
..Thanksl You see, I didn't want to
marry her myself, but 1 think she
might nave waited a little 1t made
me look SO very Intellectual
By the way" he remarked, what
sort of a man do you want to marry?''
Oh she answered, he viii be
man who has done something; man
taking some share of the world
burden"
And putting some Of the proceeds in
his pocket"
Yes. if you like. Honest toll de-
serves some tangible reward But
above all. he must be man of ac-
1T somewhat tallies with a descrip-
ton Of Hartell, the pet government
engineer" put in the Duke
Mr. Hartell is very remarkable
man, began Lady vi.
He seems to revel in horrible hard
work." nurmured the Duke He
paused and looked at her complacently.
Were you thinking of him?' he asked
calmly.
I think it would be glorious to be
the wife Of one who had such grand
schemes on footl'' she said, enthusi-
astically. To feel one was the help
mate Of man who" Her voice came
to a stop as she caught sight OF the
Dukes face He was smiling broadly
What on earth are you laughing at?
Nothing much he replied, StrOk-
that this desire to be a strong mans
helpmate seems to be spreading among
my friends
She locked quickly at him.
Yes, it's true. I am Sorry! ne
said, in a compassionate voice. 1
thought that perhaps you had heard
He paused. The strong mantle doer
of big things-went to Cairo, and-and
married there!''
A tiny wave of color swept over Lady
Violets pretty cheek. She bent her
head.
"And whom do you think this strong.
simple fellow won for wife2" contin-
ued the duke gently.
"WhOm?" she whispered
"None other than the triple million
airess, Mamie Garrison.
Lady vi looked up, and her gaze met
the dukes. There was moments
pause; then they both laughed.
We're in much the same plight, ne
said, softly Aren't we ridiculous?
There was the sound of voices ana
George Alesham and Mrs. Rollofeld
same I'D to them
I'VE shall have to be going back,
Dick" said Alesham to the Duke. Then
he turned to Lady vi. Has he told
you of his exploit coming Over?''
NO; he said he was stupid enough
to get Wetl"
Charming nodesty,' laughed the
commander. You must know. Lady
Denham, a destroyer being SO low in
the water, gets the weather pretty bad
the Straits. and a stoker, coming up
from below in his greasy boots, stepped
on to the steel deck when there was a
bit of a roll on. Before he knew where
he was his feet had slipped from him
and he went under the taffran into the
s'well, what happened?' asked Lady
vi breathleSSly.
s.FTe could not swim. and he stood a
remarkably good choice of drowning
before we could get a boat out to him.
Dick slipped off his coat. Owed in.
Look here. Georgel" broke in the
duke. He looked a trifie uncomfortable
and red That's quite enough"
And we brought EN- both In, and awful
wet they were. Come along, Dick-we
must be back at Glib. by six
The Duke held out his hand Good
by" he said
you saved a mans life.'' she whis-
pered. Il thought
THAT I never did anything useful? I
don't often. This must last long
time
Il was wrong" she broke out.
Yes, you're wrong occasionally he
said gravely- You assume I am too
lazy to be even sentimental; that pro-
posed to you as If I were asking you to
take an ice. Perhaps am no hand at
expressing my emotions. But should
like to tell you this-that it was no
chance that brought US together today
that ever since you left England
felt I couldn't rest until I saw you
again. / traced you down to Gibraltar.
then heard the yacht was here. I was
in a fever of Impotence because there
was no vessel crossing today. Luckily
George came to my rescue, and that's
how I got here. There never was any
one else-there never can be. thought
I'd just like to tell you, that's air.
Then the old smile came again and he
held out his hand "Good-by."
Must it be 'good-by?'" she said.
The duke looked at her eagerly.
what! after all, vi?" he exclaimed.
She just nodded. He caught her hand
and pressed it. Then let it go as George
Alesham came striding up to them
Really, Dick-,'' he began in a tone
of expostulatiOn.
s.Oh. George" said the duke calmly.
Lady vi and I are thinking of getting
married. You'll be our best man OF
course2''
s'Of course. my dear fellow" he STAN