The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-16


that. while adoring Kate. he had not
/ ceased to worship Nora
Just as Kates touch had thrilled him,
so Nora's thrilled.
Kate's gentle, winsome face bewitch-
ed him, so did Nora's glowing cheeks
and dancing eyes.
Kate's voice was low and tender.
Nora's as clear and silvery as q high
toned bell. The sound of both was mus
ic in Dicks ears.
Kate held him captive by her sweet
seriousness. Nora by her enchanting
gayety.
They were as dissirnilar in their ma
lures as in their appearance. Both ma
lures, alas, appealed TO Dick Even the
discovery that Nora had a temper did
not affect his impartiality.
The situation would have been riiicu-
lous had Dick not been so desperately in
earnest.
How happy could be with either
Were other dear charmer away.
sang some one in a frivolous mood.
Dick echoed the sentiment in all sood
faith.
At the end of six months Of mingled
bliss and agony Dick. in a sudden burst
of confidence, was moved to make full
confession of his dilemma to his chum
and other self, Charlie Bourchier-
Charlie. with great simpleness and di-
/ rectness, advised Dick not to be d eool
1 Then, pereeiving that his advice made
little impression he proceeded TO prove,
to his own complete satisfaction, that
Dick was not in love at all.
When Dick recovered from the first
shock of these novel sensations he told
himself confidently. and with a hugh
at his own expense, that such an i'm
possible state of affairs could not pcs
sibly last.
At present. he argued. he probably
loved with a superficial passion engen-
dered by purely external charms, in
which case it was conceivable that two,
or even three or any number of women
icould inspire the same emotions.
AS yet. he told himself, he had not
studied the true inwardness of Kate
and Nora He was unacquainted with
their real selves, their characters, their
mental and moral attributes.
Time would reveal all these, and then
surely he would know whether to read
his fate in Kate's soft brown. eyes or
Nora's laughing blue ones
But as time went on Dick only grew
more and more distracted in his mind,
for Kate and Nora, on closer acquaint-
ance, appeared as equally lovable as
before.
Love, my dear fellow he remarked
p1acidly. lis an an-absorbing passion
for one woman. The very definition of
love makes your case impossible
But how do you know that this
1
manded Dick. My own experience
shows me that it is not
Charlie tried another tack.
Perhaps you're really in love with
only one Of them all the time without
knowing it, he said. Tell me, doesn'
either of them ever engross your
thoughts in preference to the other =
of course when one only IS near me
can give no thought to the other"
But when neither happens 10 be
there. what them
.sThen I think of both all the time
'.Supposing both were in danger Of
their lives at the same moment. which
one would you try to saver persisted
Charlie.
Dick gave a gfoan.
IT'S no good, old man. he said wear
i1y i've tried all that. I've asked
myself all the questions you're going TO
ask dozens of times. About saving
their lives. for instance-I couldn't an
swer that I only know that both their
lives are equally precious to me- I've
analyzed my own sensations till !
thought should go mad. and always
with the same result I'm abnormal
suppose. and there's an end to it.
ITS an outcome Of your general broad
rnindedneSS Dick. You never could make
up your mind to reject one side OF dues-
thought you would carry your principles
into your love making.
4 can't help it. I wish to heaven
ssVVen. you can't marry them both, vol
know said Charlie mildly BY the way,
he added. do you happen to know Tsaetfl
er your affection IS reciprocateaz
How do / know tin ask thenl2 Ant
how can I ask them bothz
We'll one generally has an mixing oI
| liked you and the other didn't. wouidn'