The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-07

who was at the Deccan house2'-
Alice asked abruptly
Not d soul. TIE servants went with
Belle. No one saw me That's some
thing to be thankful Sor. ."
In her pale yellow gown the proud
Miss Van Orken looked like her former
SELF again, as in the days Of old, before
the grind and its carking care. She
had a fire head, not too large. and well
poised: and expressive eyes that took on
inherent deep tints in turn She was
not tail. though she seemed so, for she
held herself erect and with grace. and
dressed with great simplicity and GER
tain elegance that seemed INDEPENDENT
OF fabric and quality. The fresh tea
roses she took from the crystal jar. ana
dried the stems carefully. Foolish, hut-
tering BETTY How she trembled and
turEed pale and red by turns, starting
at every sound What might happen?
Who could tell
Miss Van OrlSen lifted the flowers ten
DERBY, as if seeking inspiration in the
sragrarca and softness Of their velvety
depths.
.Rcadv for the masouerade7" she
said, with an assuring smile.
She thrust a piece Of paper into
Alice's unwilling hand sinking down in
a heap upon the floor as she did so,
Ditiable little mass of pink and lace
shaken with violent emotion and moan
ing and crying loud in a dazed way.
Alice glanced at the paper. 1t was
her own handwriting.
ssThedford, dear it began. ''as you
say, we are suited to each other with
the same tastes, the same interests, and
enough money. So take my life into
your own keeping, since you have my
heart; and may we be happy ever after!
Why so slow in arriving at this con-
clusiOn2 Discipline Theddy. discipline!
relent out of kindness to your
"A. VAN or
It was dated six years back.
ssE4e never saw it, whimpered Betty.
Il was too clever for that. 1t made me
frightened to think of destroying it, 50
+ I've always had to keep it. You see, It
didn't suit me to have ThedfOrd in love
with you for 1 wanted to marry him
myself. We were so poor, you know.
You remember the night Of the Ain
slies'? Thed asked you something about
/ q message: a, message from heaven l
think he said. And you laughed and
answered gaily: The only MESA ge
you'll find, Sir Knight of the Doletul
Countenance, is over there among the
yellow roses The other heard. though
no one understood. But I did, Alice,
because YOU spoke very slowly and in a
low voice. And when you do that, even
now there's always something up. So 1
slipped away quietly and found this
note. Thedford never knew. When he
looked. there was nothing there. And
he turned away sorroWfully 1 saw
him"
Alice stood transhxed This. then. ex-
the change Betty. miserable Betty,
without principle, pride or honesty had
attempted to ruin her life. If one person
could ruin the life of another, her sue
cess would certainly have been assured.
But in that supreme moment, it was
given to Alice Van Orken to see the
everlasting light no longer burning dim
land to realize that the soul itself alone
has power to work its own destruction
The past was gone and would come not
again. The future2 That was never
hers The present remained; and today
must begin the salvation of the weak
and sinful, the selfish, worthless woman
groveling at her feet.
Get up she said sternly, in hare
voice The Van Orkens were never
pleasant enemies
Betty remembered and shook with
fear. "Oh, what are you going to do2'
she shrieked in terror, as she sprang t
the other side of the room. XIII me-
Oh, do not kill me- God knows I'm
, punished enough already Why, Tn
married to ThedfOrd Prince! It almost
drives me crazy He's just like a fu.
neral most Of the time, dark, sinister
horriblel Five years of it, just think
FIVE years of hell"
= What was Alice going to do2
Betty watched silently as she sealet
5 up the note in an envelope, writing g
few words on the outside. Then the