The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-26
Were you really there?"

Were you really there?"
"Of course / was there, and waited
till o'clock in the morning. suffered
1T serves you right-you may suffer
if you can't understand a joke
Satisfied that she played such a fine
trick on the doctor, and that she was
loved so passionately, Catherine burst
into laughter, and suddenly screamed
with fright the horses made a sharp
turn into the gates of the club. When
Catherine leaned slightly towards Star
zov, he clasped his arms around her
waist and kissed her on the lips and
on the chin, and then held her in a
frmer grasp.
Enough said Catherine dryly.
moment later and she was out of
the carriage. Starzev hurried home, but
returned within half an hour. Dressed
in hired frock-coat and a white tie
which was for ever getting the best of
his collar, he sat in the club at mid
night and spoke to Catherine with all
the fiery passion he could muster. "Oh,
how little they know who never loved!
1t seems to me that no one has ever
properly described love-ft is indeed i'm
possible to describe that gentle, joyous,
sweet, yet often painful feeling, but he
who has experienced it will not venture
to describe it. But what is the use of
superffuous eloquence! My love is linn
itless I beg, implore you," he
exclaimed, ''be my wife,
brief pause, a very serious expression
| on her face-"Mr. Starzev, I am very
thankful to you for the honor; respect
you, but = =" She rose and re-
sumed, standing, but you must pardon
| me, cannot be your wife. Let us speak
seriously. Mr.. Starzev, you know that
love art above all else in life; love, I
adore music, 1 have devoted all my life
| to it. I want to be an artist; l want
fame, triumphs, and you would like me
to live in this provincial town, to con-
tinue this empty, useless life which has
become unbearable to me. To be your
wife-oh, no, beg your pardon! One
! should always strive to attain the high
| est and most brilliant goal, while mar
ried life would only bind me for ever
Mr.. Starzev, you are a kind, noble.
knd man, you better ear than
| in her eyes. ST sympathize with you,
but you understand me; I can
not" And in order not to burst into
| tears, she turned and walked away from
| him.
| Starzev's heart was beating fast On
! leaving the club he first of all tore off
him He felt ashamed because his self
respect had thus been Inundated; he did
iieve that ali his dreams. and torments,
ing. And he was so sorry for his wasted
| For three days he could do nothing he
could not eat or sleep,but when he
iedrHeu THAT Catherine ndQ gone 10 MOS
cow to study music, he Gained down and
his life flowed on peacefully
Four years went by. Starzev was by
this time a very popular physician, with
a large practice in the city.
| One beautiful summer morning he re-
] ceived a letter from the Turkins, in which
| he was requested to call without fail in
\ the evening. There was postscript in
| the note which read: Il also invite you
| to come. Catherine
In the evening Starzev went up to their
| house.
You never come to see me, Doctor
said the hostess with a reproachful smile.
| "Of course, | am too old to interest you,
but my daughter may be more fortunate.
| She has just returned from Moscow"
| Though Catherine had growner thinner
and paler, she still looked beautiful and
| graceful But the doctor noticed that the
| former expression of childish naivete was
no more. There was something new,
something timid and guilty about her
| manners, though she felt herself out
| of place here in her own home.
| "How do you do?" she said, shaking
his hand and Regarding him steadfastly
| and eagerly. How stout you have grown,
| how manly, But on the whole you seem
to have changed but little.
StarZev was silent Somehow the pallor
| smile. and her voice-all these did not APP
| peal to him now, and soon he found fault
! with the dress she wore, with the very
| armchair in which she was seated. He
! hopes which stirred his soul four years
ago-and he felt ashamed of himself.
They drank tea with sweet cakes. Then
| the hostess read aloud story of her
| own, after which Catherine played the
| piano as noisily as ever
TT is a good thing that didn't marry
| her." thought Starzev
! Catherine ceased playing and looked at