The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-13
THE EVENING STORY.
Not Found Wanting.


Harrison Hill. stretched out on the
yellow beach under the shade of a huge
umbrella, turned on his elbow and look |
ed curiously at his friend
You know, too, that you're most
idietieally in love with her!" he said
quietly.
Dr.. Bergen's patrician face flushed
holly under its deep bronze tan. That's
a nice speech to fire at a mani" he
commented
Harrison Hill laughed lenient1y. "Oh,
you never mind what say. That's one
Of the privileges of friends
And feols,'' cut in Bergen coolly.
You have me there" acknowledged
Hill. I believe those who wore the
motley were permitted to express their
opinions with some frankness. Well,
you may class me with those If you
wish. But I'm going to tell you straight
that you're making mistake about
that girl. You admired her tremen-
dously last winter in the city. Well.
we all did, for that matter. But you
had the best show of the bunch. She
wouldn't look at a little three-for-a-
cent chap like me, for instance. And
you held off-yOu're holding of now. ]
wish I knew whyl You're in love with
herr he repeated stubborniy. Il haven't
known you all my life for nothing"
Max Bergen laughed uneasily and
evaded a direct reply.
Miss Delamere is a very beautiful
young woman he said. "She has
wealth, social position. many friends
You have all those" his friend in
sisted eagerly.
went on the young surgeon. she
was always bediamoned, exquisitely
costumed. perfectly coiffured. Her
sh oulders were like white marble, and
her hands were the loveliest a man
could look at. But-WaS there a Wo-
mans heart under that fair bosom
Did her feet ever go on an errand OF
mercy2 Was that perfect hand ever
extended in kindly deed? doubt
It'll"
"Ah, so that's the reason!" said
Hill. "Well, I can't prove it, but !!
think you're tremendously mistaken"
IT wish to heaven you could prove
it," said Bergen with an intensity that
shook him. I'D give ten years of my
! life to know France Delamere is what
I wish to believe her!''
"Hark!'' cried Harrison. His red
head was notwithstanding. Eyes" he
called, t'Dr. Bergen is here!''
Both men were on their feet in an
! instant, Bergen towering over his
companion. An excit- group was
bearing down on them. The foremost
Ia hysterica1 Woman-Spoke.
''It'11 take SO long to go up to the
town. Dr.. Frees is away anyhow. A
woman's burned gasoline stove
we seen the fire in the back yard.
| and
Bergen tossed his keys to Hill. ''Run
up to my room for my medicine case
and follow me. Where did the acct
dent happen?"
The woman knew him for one of
the rich city guests at the White
Horses.
Maybe you won't go" she whined.
Its over in Washerwoman's row"
Bergen was off on a run. He knew
the poor part of this fourishing sum-
mer resort, where the laundry work
| of visitors was done by resident wom-
en-. The little creature who met him
at the gate of the frame cottage had
an appealing face and an air of sin
gular refinement. Her speech also
Confirmed the latter impression.
She would put on one of my cotton
dresses and help me- she explained.
'She knew was up with the baby all
last night. Not that it's the first time
she has helped. and
But how did it happen?'' he inter-
rupted hastily.
Fannie was sprinkling the clothes
and laughing. She didn't know how to
iron. But she said she could mind Ted
die and do that at the same time
And the stove exploded7'
Not right away, sir. I was ironing,
and she noticed the stove was smoking
hard, Teddie had crawled up close
to it. She just few across the kitchen,
tossed the child to me and grabbed UP
that stove-it's one of those little ones
you put on the table. She carried it
and flung it out in the yard, but just as
it left her arms it went to pieces. It's
a mercy" she added trembling, lit
didn't explode an instant sooneri"
She was a brave woman!" said DR..
Bergen.
he went into the small bedroom to
look at his patient She was lying on
the cheap little bed. A print gown
showed marks of fire, and on the left
arm the himsy material was burned
away. The flesh revealed was badly
scorched, but that lovely handi The
bewitching face that, drawn with pain
strove to smile up at himi Those deep
unforgettable eyesI
France DeIamerel' he cried.
women are so awkWard!' she pro-
tested-and laughed.
He jerlzed off his coat and went tc
work, but his fingers tTembled and there
was a queer blur before his eyes. Hill
came up with the bag and heard al
that Greta Fallows had to say. On his
way back he told his companion what
she had said.
''She's a proud little woman. She
I. would not take all that Miss Delamere
: would have given her, for she's poor
as you can see. But because they ha6
: been friends and neighbors when botf
were children she has allowed Miss
: / Delamere to come and help her, chiefly
. in taking her children off to a secluded
l fpart Of the beach and minding them
while she got through her laundry
work. Is the injury bad, MAXI" he
ended anxiously.
= Nothing to what 1t might have
= been, thank Cod They will bring hel
t back to the Oaks this evening. I ex-
amined the stove. 1t was rotten
worn out. She saved the baby-all
But If He broke off shuddering.
According to Mrs. Fallows, France
kindness to her is only part of whai
she's been doing for many poor wo-
men, So your opinion
MAY God forgive me-and may
she!" prayed Max Bergen. It was not
professional, but next morning when
he bandaged the poor arm he bent and
kissed it.
'fWill you be very angry II tell you
= that I love you % he questioned
She smiled up at him from heI