The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-24
Concerning a Sovereign.
Iron the TatIer1

Speaking strictly this is not a short
story. It is mere incident-the incident
that with its after events put Dick Car
doun on his legs again; or, to look at it
from a coarse, common point of view,
that led to Dick making q "thundering
good CATCH to a wife.
Dick was broke-comp1etely, irrevo-
cably, hopelessly broke. He had seen it
coming for the last two years, and partly
from natural foolishness, but chiefly from
the shocking discomfort any attempt at
retrenchment always invokes. he had
made not the slightest attempt to "pull
out" So the inevitable came to him and
he dropped silently out Of his circle, drop
ping until finally he dropped on to the
pavement, and one miserable, wet day in
March Dick Cardoun drifted aimlessly
and very forlorn under the portals of the
Empire at Leicester Square, and stood
watching the rain and sucking drearily at
a pipe that was empty as his ragged to-
bacco pouch. The usual little crowd were
around to keep him company.
A carriage drove up, a swagger red
wheeled contrivance with hood half over
it. There was no footman. A woman was
inside, a very lovely woman. buried be-
meath rugs and furs. Now the liveried
guardian of the Empires gates had van
ished inside for a space, and it seemed
that the woman would have to remove her
rugs for herself. She tried and soaked
pale suede glove as she lifted the heavy
streaming outer waterproof. Dick stepped
forward, raising his battered hat, which
act alone should have warned her. and
deity removed the rugs.
Watch now the ordainings of fate. Why
the woman should have had q sovereign
in her hand at that precise moment is a
thing not to be explained in this place.
The fact remains that the coin was there,
and before Dick well knew what was hap
pening she had passed it to him. But
there is no greater insult than to offer a
gentleman pay for doing a thing for which
the instincts of every gentleman would
prompt him to do. He realized that the
sovereign was in his hand. that folk were
looking, and that the woman was wait
ing for him to get out OF her way. He
glanced round and his eye caught haw-
ker with tray holding. among other
things, a wonderful penny pamphlet en-
titled Manners. This was Fate, and moth
ing in the world but stark, staring, ag-
gressive Fate. He took pamphlet. drop
ped the sovereign in the tray, and in view
of all handed the woman the book.
Then she blushed. perceiving her mis-
take, and Dick suddenly realized that he
had been unreasonably cruel and rude,
and blushed also. 1t may have been a lit
tie twinge of pain, or it may have been
anger, that made her lips CULVER as she
leaned forward; her eyes were full of re-
greet.
sII am very sorry. I did not know
Thank you. have been taught Home"
So she drove away with the rugs all dis
arranged as they were, and forgetting
that for which she had come to the EN-
pire 1t Is confusing to be harshly rebuk
ed before strangers Dick noticed she
took the pamphlet with her, and he went
out into the rain with the memory Of her
eyes for company.
1t may have been about half past twelve
when Dick discovered himself wandering