The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-10
MERELY AN EPISODE.
From the Mail and Express.l

has, or has had, secret when sne mas
not shared And in the main this Is
true But there is one little episode
merely an eDisode-in his life, to Wnlch
Dick never refers: it is his one secret.
And il nearly concerns Constance, TOO.
The wind was blowing wildly against
the smoking room windows, bringing a
snow storm in its train.
Hang it ALL" remarked Dick Char-
teris, going to the window and gazing
out disconsolately over a world growing
rapidly white, mo hunting today. And
Con won't be back till tonight lie 1T
q pipe drew UP a comfortable chair IL
front Of the fire, and prepared to make
the best Of the inevitable. the morning
paper lay on a table at his elbow. He
took it up, glanced carelessly through it,
and soon put it down again Judging
from the expression of his face, his own
thoughts were supplying sufficient en-
beg pardon. sir" The butler stood
before him with a somewhat DerDlexeG
0ountenance.
Captain Charters reused himself
We'll. Hiiton?"
There is a gentleman wishing to see
Sir Godfrey. sir. I've told him Sir Geof-
frey is out, but heAWants to wait. But L
don't know exactly-the dining room
and drawing room is all upset, and her
ladyship's in the morning ROOM Would
you mind. sir-?''
Charters was. perhaps. growing trifle
tired Of his own company.
Possibly some begging chap though,
coming at this hour he thought.
stretching his long legs and glancing
lazily at the clock. 1t was barely u.
The first glance at the stranger, how
ever dispelled this idea. Dick looked at
him critically. A tall, dark man on the
wrong side of 40. with a clever, clean
shaver face. His eyes burned with
curiously eager light. THE mans i'll,
was Dicks first thought.
He went forward with easy courtesy.
II &c h.
remarked. pushing a chair toward the
other. He had to go to a magistrates
meeting However. he can't be long
now, and perhaps I can do duty as host
in his absence. I can't say I'm exactly
son of the house, still, by this time
next week | hope to be Sir Geoffreys
SOn-tn-laW."
The stranger had been listening al
most mechanically to Charters easy
flow of conversation, but at the last
words he became suddenly alert and
eager.
Indeed" he said. with scarcely re-
pressed anxiety. May I ask your
Charters. Won't you sit down.
But though he took the chair. he paid
no attention to the question in Dicks
tone The latter began to feel al a dis
advantage carrying on conversation
with a stranger. name unknown
L should be sorry to miss seeing Sir
Geohrey." remarked his visitor, his dull,
even tones contrasting so oddly with the
fire in his eyes. L am an old friend of
time
Charters glanced at him again. He
concluded the man had just come from
abroad, which would account for the
somewhat odd cut of his clothes and
the general look of a certain absence of
up-to-dateness about him
No doubt Sir Godfrey will be in di-
rectly, he remarked. passing the cigar
w. A.
confusion today. There's to be a little
dance tomorrow, in honor of the ap-
preaching wedding"
The other slowly lit a cigarette Il
understand you are going to marry one
of Sir Geoffrey's daughters he oh
served slowly
Yes. Constance" He blew a ring of
smoke into the air and watched it lazily.
DO you know Sir Geoffrey's daugh-
ters?' he asked, curiously.
The dark eyes watching him seem to
glow and burn.
I used to- he answered. briefly.
There was a pause. Dick began to
wish his father-in-law elect would hast
en- his return.
When is your wedding to be?" was
the next question.
The stranger spoke as one who has a
right to ask, and Dick found himself
answering meekly.
Next week. the twentieth I want
ed it sooner. but Constance said she
wouldn't be married until after the six
teenth. The fact is, she was engaged
before"
He STONED abruptly. vexed with
himself. What on earth could his af-
fairs. and Constances. matter to this
MANI Il quite understand" replied the
other, in his level tones 7 have heard
Of Miss Merton's former engagement. -
"Oh, See. Dick looked relieved He
mated explanations and reflected that
this was probably some old family
friend. He lit another cigarette and re-
summed in a more confidential tone. You
see she had been, engaged to this chan
for nearly year; Forsyth his name
was, and then he went abroad and for
got her. the brute
How do you know he forgot her?''
The question was one, apparently. of
Idle curiosity.
Dick flung his cigarette in to the fire
with energy. "Oh, well. when a man
never writes or answers letters for two
years, you naturally conclude he has
forgotten. And Con has waited-until
just now. Why it's only two months
ago that she promised to marry me
though / have known her all nv life
and cared for her, too You see. she
thought she was still bound nv her
promise And nothing would induce
her to be married until after the six
tenth, because that was his birthday
and he had once said they should he
married on that day. But that was
yesterday"
There was silence. broken only nv
the snow beating against the windows
There may have been reasons yvbv
he-that man Forsyth-dfd not write. In
the depths of the bush there are many
difficulties. Letters are lost. people one
has trusted prove unfaithful"
Thus was an undercurrent of passion
In his tone not lost upon his nearer. He
stood up. straightforward and tan. on
the hearth rug.
Il hope you don't think I'm not act
ing on the square by this char
Forsyth" he said warmly But it does
seem to me that poor little Con ha,
wasted two years over a good for-noth.
ing chap. And I mean to make it IN r.
her now"
The other man smiled, oddly. Il he
lieve you, Captain Charteris' he said
pertinence should like to ask Won on.
question"
by all means"