The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-16

frantic APPLAUSE. and caused Tom to turn
a bright purple.
After luncheon there were more
crowds more cheering and more
speeches, the last delivered from the bal
cOny of cur hotel, where we had invited
our hosts to tea Feeling that / might
as well 'go the whole hog" I booked
four dances with Miss MayoTesS. If the
four subsequently expanded into eight it
was really nobody's business but my
OWn-and i quite enjoyed my undeseryed
when at last we were left alone, but he
only jeered at me, said I had done
splendidly, and ended by asking how
liked hero worship.
'-Confound you, I said angrily, ITS all
your fault Anyway wen be. out of this
first train tomorrow morning
But we did not leave WeStcheSter with
such dispatch. Reflection convinced me
that It would be a poor wav to return our
tunity. and besides, I felt that It would
be a shame to drag Tom away from his
castle when I explained this to him, and
it IS not worth while repeating what ne
said.
The end of the week found US stin lin
gerlng in Westchester, and myself at once
the happiest and most miserabl OF men.
| felt sure that Enid returned my love,
but how. much was for myself and how
nine We practically lived at Tsghdeid,
The mayors place, but would not stay
to do so It IS such a nuisance to have
your bag thrown after you when you
nave .DG9n ANONYMOUSLY KICKED out OF
house, and that that would be my fate
sooner or later I felt sure A hundred
a hundred times a day I funked it when
it came to the point. Tom was far too
busy with ms own affairs to bother about
mine, and grew moody and desperate
At last, one morning, after we had been
dining at Highdeld, and Enid had been
more DeWlIcnlnS Inan ever, 1eit that
could stand it no longer, and set off for
fession before leaving Westchester- a bro
ken and despairing man. had informed
I'm " niS AiltsllselGl d DteAh1ese--I mine,
L may say consisted of a brandy and
soda-and the wretch had only laughed
my life I was never SO near being down
right angry with him before.
was half way up the avenue when
pretty girl never looks so pretty as in
furs on q frosty morning, when the keen
cheeks and The sparkle or the snow ana
crystals is reflected in her eyes Almost
unconsciously led her to a friendly seat,
took her hand and houndered through
my mingled tale of love and humiliation.
II am not Tom Cason, " G., but Jack
an unmitigated fraud, and not worthy to
Il knew that last night she said. re-
garding me gravely, though laughter
The deuce you did," I cried. startled
into forgetfggllness of the preprieties- who
'.Jaciz.-that is-Tom. suppose should
say" she replied.
lessly.-
s'And / think it was disgraceful of you
to win a poor girls heart under false
pretenses-"
''Then you
Perhaps / do. sir, but I made up my
mind when I was a little girl that
would marry a v. c., or no one at alI''
"Ohn, | said Iamely, my temporary
hopes dashed to the ground.
Enid looked at my forlorn face, then
burst out laughing, and handed me an
envelope, saying: There, you silly boy,
read thativ
read it in dumb amazement. Tt was
official Hnr1o md
you told me there were no letters for me
the previous morningi And it informed
me that in recognition of certain services,
which need not specify, her majesty had
been -graciously pleased to confer on me
the Victoria Cross, a notification of which
would appear in due course in the Lon
don Gazette.
am as assured of my wifes affection
as I am Of anything in, this world; but
I sometimes wonder what would have
happened had not that most undeserved
". @. arrived so oppOrtunelY.