The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-01
SHE WON THE PRIZE.

She hung over the little teatable with
pretty ecstacy of delight, Tor tnere'
placed in the center of the fine Eneii
CLOTH was a silver plate beaped win
fresh ripe Strawberries. She placed the
chairs in companionable nearness ana,
glancing at the clock. began to put
cream and sugar into the two little PINK
china cups.
when he comes 1 shall love to see his
facei How his eyes will flash when ne
catches sight of my lovely berries. anu
i shall say, Rob. they were all grown
for you, dear. in the sunniest patch IL
my garden three minutes more,then-
and the smiles escaped and became
happy laugh
Just three minutes later step was
heard on the stairs and quick lmpeIa-
tive knock on the door was followed oS
the entrance of the expected visitor
Miss Wizards fiance, Robert GaDpo1l.
But what had happened2 Usually the
gayest and most debonaire of fond low
ers, he had, today, a gray shadow WITH
in his eyes. and his lips We're uncom-
promisingly clenched.
Twice his lips parted, but he could not
find the words he would say Inc girl $
face was transformed also, and, without
Epea king, she, too stood with an an
swering stare, twisting the sugar tonS5
nervouSly between finger and tnufnO-
At last his mood found utterance-
We'll, Maisie-I should never have be-
neved it
Believed what2"
Believed what! 1 suppose you thought
] never bought such Il paper. l don't.
This was, fortunately, given to me by 4
friend; otherwise 1 might never have
known the depths of degradation 10
which my future wife was capable OF
lowering herself"
There was another throbbing pause.
then something in her attitude and ex-
preston fired him, and he began to
stride up and down the room with i-ee.e-
less disregard for bric-a-brac. and the
words fell brokenly, tempestuously from
his lips:
You, of all DeoDle-was it done in
Joke? If so, it was hateful. inexcus-
able, banal to the last degree. ] know
your beauty has been fiagrantly-and
hitherto, [ should have said repulsively
Haunted before you, but I always be-
lieved all that sort of thing offended
your taste. You told me you hated the
painter who called you his madonna
faced infidel'- now L understand why.
after that you permitted him to gaze on
that same madonna face for hours to-
gether, and hang his vilely- praised re
suit on the exhibition walls. Lies? De-
ceit? All of it. then2 And those little
tender fushes when 1 praised your hair
and lips were the outcome of an inbora
colossal conceit. oh, Maisie! Maisiei
You of ali people!"
When he paused her eyelashes flick
cred swiftly. and she said slowly: Go
on, what more have you to say?"
"The sheer brazenness Of the idea at
first so staggered me that I laughed
actually laughed! And then horror and
disgust overwhelmed all other feelings
The worst part to me, almost, was how
you had always protested such magnill-
cent contempt at the mere suggestion Of
having your photograph taken. Altogeth-
er. remembered only half dozen Of
you-cne Of which is now in the hands
of the high-souled editor of Sly-Cuts.
Then the color" He drew paper Of
unmatchable yellow from his pocket
Your face emblazoned on a field of
goldi OF course, it may be that in youi
modesty you never dreamt of getting the
prize; certainly, judging by the few cop
les have seen of the paper. 1 should
not have accredited the owners with
such good taste. I thought perhaps the
money tempted you. but" glancing
around the room with an expressive
shrug, that is, of course, absurd. To
think everyone will see. everyone will
know in spite of the feeble alias, what
was it?"
He stopped before her. half fright
ened at the lock on her face. With
fingers that shook ever so slightly, She
slipped off the engagement ring dropped
it on the table as if it scorched her
finger. and pushed it toward him, then
she dragged herself to her feet an6
moved across the room to the bell
When he had gone Maisie stopped 10
pick up the yellow paper, and fiicked
over the pages impatiently as he had
done, until the glaring truth lay before
ner and sent the hot blood swirling 70