The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-19
TIE EVENING STORY
A Scheninp NTa,nn,a

e1e mana he held.
"Goodby," she repeated. but without
an equal Show of feeling.
II shall come back
Wnen You are older, and then you
N1ii not see me with the same eyes,
II snail love you then as now
remain away
II remain away twenty years
tnere VIII be no change in me-
Sucn was the parting between Milton
Dyer, widow, aged twenty-five. He
was going to a distant city to begin
business career at $40 a. week and
was heartbroken because she would
not consent to an engagement.
For fifteen years Robbins devoted
nlmself exclusively to two things
money making and writing letters to
the woman he loved. He had a nat
ural gift for the former and was not
half bad at the latter. Mrs. Dyer re-
piled to his effusions at intervals, but
at the end of ten years dropped her
side of the correspondence for long
while. When she resumed it, Robbins
was pleased that a rest seemed TO
nave freshened her feelings. She re-
sponded more heartily than before to
the warmth he put into his own words.
AT last he wrote that he was getting
MS affairs in shape to go and claim
ms promise. The lady intimated mod
eStly that her friends assured her that
hers was a remarkable case of woman
keeping her youth, and If when he saw
her he was of the same opinion and
felt the same toward her as when they
parted she would consent to marry him.
He replied that he did not love her for
her beauty and whether she looked old
or young he would claim her promise.
When Robbins first saw his Alexia
after SO many years separation it was
in the cleaning of a summer evening.
1t did not occur to him that q woman
under the circumstances would choose
- I1~-I,A LII. 81
the change in her. Nevertheless the mo-
ment he saw her he started, not at the
change, but at the want of change. He
knew the interval that had passed and
could not believe that time had left her
SO nearly what she was. But when she
came forward covered with b.ushcs to
welcome him with the same peculiar
gait. the same unique toss of tie head
by which he would know her among
hundred, he gave no thought to changes
or want of changes, but took her In his
arms.
When his first transports were over
Alexia said to him, Tell me, and tell
the truth, wherein am 1 changed?"
Robbins surveyed her critically. You
look he said, ST should say about five
years older than when we parted"
Then, noticing that she was disappojnt-
ed. he added, mo. only about two years
older
AT this she smiled the same sweet
smile he had loved SO well, and he
went on: 'One thing notice in you, 1
grant, is changed. Your voice was the
only feature in your makeup that 1 did
not fancy. 1t was a trifle shrill The
years have meilowed it into a rich con-
tralto."
This compliment seemed to please her
inordinateiy. She could not repress a
self satisfied smile that lowered about
her lips. She did not seem to tire of
such criticisms and asked for other of
her improvements, and he, seeing that
to hear them pleased her, told her of
number.
And now" he said at parting, NJ
take it that nothing remains but the
wedding. beg Of you not to keep me
waiting. I propose trip to Europe. |
have only admitted time 20 spend.
away from my business, and every day
spent here must be taken from our So
journ there
IF you care no more for display than
I we can be married immediately"
Very well. Let 1T be tomorrow
that sails at i o'clock
The couple were gone two months
when they returned to the brides home,
where they rested a few days before
going to their new one. One evening
Mrs. Robbins said, II wish you to tell
me whether you are perfectly satisfied
with me-
Il am more than satisfied. I am delight
L
there were certain traits in your character
that at times grated on my sensibilities.
Time has not only obliterated them, but
developed many attractive features that
did not even know you possessed"
And you love me better than my other
self that you knew years ago?"
Far better. You always told me that
middle aged men prefer younger women
that when I should be at my present age
1 would scorn woman of your age. In
reality while 1 find that you have changed
but little physically. your mind, your soul,
is greatly improved"
He had hardly finished speaking when
portiere was pulled aside and a middle
aged lady came into the room. She was
without hat and gloves, and seemed as
much at home as if she had always lived
at the house
this is my mother
Your motheri" exclaimed Robbins, as
tonished. 81 didn't know you had a moth
"Oh, yes, she has, said the lady advanc-
ing, with a SMILE land scheming one.
Milton, don't you know me?"
Robbins stared at her and recognized
the woman he had loved IS years before.
AS he looked he saw what he had escaped.
"Alexia," he said calamity, 1T love you
still, but it is you who have forced me
to love you as my mother"