The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-20
All'S Well That Ends Well
A STORY OF FOUR-sIDED Love

Jnconsciously his voice took the dog
matte tone which so often characterized
81 In the performance of ms clerical
dusies.
Life is such a serious natter I do
not think we half realize its tremendous
seriousness
''Talzing-of- er-tigers2" said she.
His voice dropped to one OF surprise,
almost irritation What do you mean3''
he asked
'Ihaven't grasped the connection, she
said tIt Is only when I am in pain
that 7 feel like that
Plainly DE was seriously affected. for
he even ignored her frivolous aside
oh what is ft2" she asked There
must be something she continued
HAS the Vicar'-here. she smiled. al
though unwiuingly-' has his reverence
been insisting on the fifteen minutes
limit for your sermons again2'
You couldn't neglect your mother for
any one" she said. brayely-
No" he admitted, no that's true
$50 you are forced to make duty Of
necessity" she said.
He waited moment repeating her
words over to himself as though he had
not reached their meaning.
GIVE me- ne said ''oue crumb of
consolation to help me through the
empty days If there had not been this
plain, straight way Of duty for me-
could you=2'
Eyes. OH yes.~ she said
IT had to speak2' he questioned
81 can bear it better" she said. since
you have spoken"
b IT love we're au9' % he quoted
Nothing else could have made me
love you like this. said she
only his look thanked her Now" he
said. YOU must forget that once I was
tempted 20 play the man. You must
only remember me as the conceited
young curate who tried
Dent" she exclaimed, don't hurt
me Ike that
Take your own way. then" he wills
pered, with wintry smile. And bless
you always, my own love. You alone
hold my secret-safs with YOU.
Dear God. how safe" she cried.
And so they parted. II was the only
way.
IT,
But that was not the only confidence
with which she was hon0red at a bout
this time and, strangely enough. il was
the Curates mother who next put her
powers OF secret keeping to the test.
She urefaced her confession with
touch of hattery
4 hope YOU win not laugh at me for
q silly old goose
las il 7 should
II don't know-wait and see I sup
pose that IN your idea no one could pos
sibly fall In love after-well, 35?'
ooh, why not2"
Very well tried. dear Very credita-
bly, said- But am more than So and
am in love. don't wonder You start
II don't-think-I did,
Not badly, But there 7 don't want
YOU TO think that because experience
has taught me TO laugh in the face of
misfortune 7 cannot still feel Child,
there is no lore like lare love for
tearing Your heartsUri1gs- Practice
helps TO make perfect. perhaDs-I don't
know Women love and marry and live
happily ever atrer-huudreds of women
DO that. But I have had experience,
and I know what I am saying j. true5
% rarfn
finds her ideal as ]. 50 late. have found
mine
Oh said the girl doesn't he
doesn he-forgive my asking-bur
doesn't he love you2t
Yes. dear. that's not the barrier.
. think ait my age. YOU know. a failure %
4 return my a1eCtiou would have marred
the picture In the beginning. have
broken no the likeness to the ideal TOO
soon- would have stayed the springs Of
love before much harm had been done
no. I am spared that But ] think YOU
know how I have lived for and in my
son ever since his father died. I have
brought him up to honor his dead
rather beYcnd all living men How can
I now acknowledge to him that great
or than his father has arisen for me2
How can 7 uunlicly set another in the
place death has made sacred Wouldn't
ir be Ike sacrllege in his eyes, The seed
7 sowed i'm my boys heart has hourished
beyond neitef-his very love of me is
eutwired with it, If struck at the one
might I NOT endanger the other27
The girl summoned all her store of
courage to her aid.
But II he sh0uld-think Of marrying
himself wouldn't that make a differ
ance r.
You thlnk that because you are 50
young yourself. dear girl And how pa
tient Ecu have been To me-" she said
coming back to her accustomed .cOnsfd-
Grafton for her companion. Sometimes
nave felt must speak. just once or it
7 t-.r
know"
Yes, said the girl. Eyes"
III
These were the questions which
troubled her. filed her waking thoughts.
sent her restless to bed
And while she still waited she becarne
tne victim or YET another confidence
TINS Ltne Irorn man again. but middle
asea ana iron-gray
You look sensible little girl" he
began. abruptly. Are you 2''
7 hope SOL She smiled
Ihen' although We don't know much
or eacn other you'll forgive me for ask
ing you a question or two which NAV
seem beyond my limit believing that
im1ertinence IS the last thing Drompt-
Suddenly arrested in interest the girl
nodded
Then. viii YOU tell me il You ever get
below the surface. as it were. in those
long and seemingly confidential talks
you have with our young curate2.s
Have YOU q right to ask2.
II have. at any rate. a large interest
at stake"
That sounds almost the same thing
am afraid Of what ] may and may not
say. but I don't see at this moment anv
reason why I should not speak the
truth
Then YOU have2"
some times she admitted
once in particular. perhaps"
Il must not tell YOU
What are you going to do2' gasped
the girl
am going to tell our curate how
matters sfana hat.rear liz r,.tf.- -