The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-20

penny-spaced opening of the purse re-
membering.
Ruth had done her part, the dear
child.
Rather than indict the whole com
munity for her death. however, let
Blanche be taken to task
This tempted creature wrote upon the
blank cards her own cold. selfish name
dozen additional packages thus be-
came unwilling witnesses to testify TO
her popularity.
Ruth had placed in the basket for
Blanche almost an equal number OF
presents, gifts truly. for they were gifts
previously given to herself.
Ever to Blanche must they be Dead
Sea apples whose cores are ashes
What can be said of the Il gifts Huth
intended for herself?
First spread them out for inspection:
Boxes filed with waste paper or STUFF
ed with straw-their outside neatness
would not so indicate. however
Sacks of candy-pebbleS gathered from
the bounteous gravel pit.
| Clam shells purSed in remnants OF
silk, but carved into beauty by mil
/ lion rippIes of the nearest stream.
! Packages OF oats, wheat, Deans ana
barley.
/ Stage thunderi
Stuff and mockeries for Ruth
Trash for herself!
But she had done her part bravely,
the dear girl
She had evidently tutored her heart to
lover the giver though the gifts were
chaff.
| Valueless were they as gifts to any
body, least of all to her lifelong play
mate Blanche
She may keep them-nay, she must
She may lose even her mind. but never
these mockeries-
Three days after that Christina
Ruth's funeral was common public
grief, as if some beloved princess hae
died. No hired mourners were needed
Her pale face seemed Daler for th'
smotheriag weight of flowers For miles
around not a house plant retained tbs
color of its bloom, and distant conserva
tories paid their tribute of cut flowers
Blanche was not at the funeral
Impartial justice may not condemn he
, because she did not keep even half o
the agreement: Don't tell anybody, will
your
Imagine. if you can, for can not, how
these haunting words could shun he
hours of wakefulness or sleep: Don
tell anybody, will your"
. This part of the compact was broker
: also She told somebody, and somebod.
told everybody.
Public opinion is very unreasonable. I
found for a major premise this truth
! The bankers child is a fraud; the syllog
ism was completed with this illogica
conclusion: Therefore, the condemne
! embezzler is innocent.
Public opinion could not escape tn
D shortest path to a finding: Like is begot
: ten of like.
t An additional prompting of public opin
ion came from later acts of Blanche
father whose gambling and speculation
g on the board of trade wrecked the bank
: Insanity and suicide. followed
Improbable as it may seem to charac
terize these results retribution. sti
0 public opinion attributed them to tn
8 questionable fact of Nemesis, the Aven
ger.
e Petitions for the pardon of Ruth
I father were signed by Judge, jurors, pros
g ecuting attorney. sheriff and all partie
e connected with trial. besides the prom
inent people of the county and distric
O His pardon followed.
Q For his freedom poor Ruth did n
: mean part: the clods falling into he
c grave on the hillside Jared open I'll
prison door Her misapproprfated Chris
II mas gifts stood sponsor for the innocen
d And more than these her poor gift
o mean:
: While Christmas comes. in memor
10 fingers. her little town is pledged to han