The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
A BROKEN IDOL.

A BROKEN IDOL.
Of all the tales that are told of Lady
Emily, some of which I, one of her
slaves (and. incidentally. her brother).
have written down, there is none that
shows more plainly the greatness of
her heart and the nobility of her char
acter than that which tells of her kind
forbearance and sacrifice of her own
wishes when the poetic soul of her
cousin, Sir Anthony Ashburton, was
filled with the sorrow of a broken idol
and a bitter awakening from dream
of love.
q can only excuse the length of this
sentence by the fact that it was die
tated by Lady Emily herself; also, I
am not wholly in accord with some OF
its statements. But she takes a large
interest in these memoirs.)
1t happened one afternoon late in
were dead, and the leaves Uttered the
soddened grass. Lady Emily was
pressing her nose gently against the
window-pane, and had sighed twice.
whats the matter?' Inquired, look
ing up from the book 1 was manfully
striving to read. ct was a new book;
consequently a duty: 1.-The Study of a
Mans Soul" by a lady)
THE matteri" cried my sister point
| ing to the landscape 1.-THE abomina-
ton of desolation!"
81 have written poem" began
Anthony.
But she turned to him quickly. mot
today, Tony. / really couldn't bear it
| today"
But he was a man of resolution.
'It's-it's a kind of song he said.
"There are many kinds of song"
remarked, a little sadly.
| Anthony was already touching the
keys of the piano.
''Will not even a cousins prayer
move your implored Emily.
No, he was not to be moved. He be-
gan to sing
Dreary, dreary the autumn day;
Summer, summer has passed away.
Dreary, dreary the cold, gray sky;
On the damp ground the brown leaves
And I have come back from across the
To find that my love is false to me.
THANK your broke in Emily
There is another verse;" objected
the poet
Sadly. sadly the wild winds moan;
Here by the river 1 stand alone.
Sadly, sadly the rushes bow;
Life and color are fading now.
And 1 have came back from across thu
sea.
10 ma that my love Is not 1OA 1IlCs
The accompaniment died away will
a few sobs in the bass. Emily lait
her hand on the poets shoulder.
Anthony" she said. ''this is NOR
than the weather."
"The weather. scornfully exclaim
ed the sufferer 1--WE, too. had suffered
spinning aroud on the music stand tt
face her.
NV sister drew a chair close to hin
and sat down. I experienced sense Of
something wanting in her appearance
!, It was, I decided, her gold pince-nez..
TELL me just how you feel she said
in a low, gentle voice, calculated tt
ssBeastIyp' exclaimed Anthony, jump
ing up and walking to the window.
TITS perfectly plain, of course" saiC
Emily, rising q seemed to hear the
click of the pince-nez being closed
and a bad case. But it is quite i'm
possible for me to help you unless yor
give me details"
mo one can help" came in muffie6
tones from the window
'Who is she, Tony?'' asked.
81 say, you two. you won't laugh?'
"Of course not said Emily, frownins
heavily at me.
well. then, I don't know"
My sisters manners in society are
irreproachable; in the domestic circle
they occasionally deteriorate. She
whistled.
in love with her?" she cried.
"Who said I was in love with her p
why, any one with any sense could
see that!''
''Then I'm safe in the present com.
pany,' retorted Anthony.
Then Lady Emily's manner changed
When she is determined to have heI
way few things-certainly nothing mas
culine-can stop her. She slipped hel
arm through that of the angry lover
and said softly:
TONY, dear
Tony collapsed. There's not much
to tell. really. I saw her walking along
the road"
J "Never.'' cried Emily.
! Impossible" said 1.
She's just the prettiest, most grace
full
: Look through this" suggested
holding out my book. You'll find here
all the adjectives ever invented, and
l some quite new ones.
"Be quiet. Johnnie said Emily
sternly. scandalized at the mote in hel
brothers eye.
l "I was walking from Kirby this
morning, and overlook her. I never
saw anyone walk like her. and her face
4 Just turned my head, you know
1--WE know" said Emily, encourag-
ingly.
How was she dressed?" asked my
IN black, and a big black hat. Moth
ing grand, but very neat and dainty
, you know
I had Joined the couple at the win
dow. and we stood in silence, gazing
at the landscape. The bare, gaunt
branches of the trees were outlined or
a dull-red sky. and from the setting
sun great black cloud stretched slow
" across the heavens, as if a mighty
hand were being thrust out over the
earth. to fall suddenly and crush it ir