The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-11
THE EVENTNG sToRY.


As they walked she told her cempan-
ion of new plans. That very day she
had secured employment in the blanket
factory and would commence work the
next morning.
Six months before she had come home
a broken wreck-her husband recently
killed in a drunken brawl. her own life
spoiled, as she thought, by the maa
against whom she had been warned
But now. with renewed health ana
resolution, she was about to commence
life again, to build up from the wreck.
Halstead listened quietly until she I'm
isheds then broke out:
You know there amt no need for it,
Kitty. You know I've been Waitin' for
you to get strong so I could say the
same thing did before-before you met
him. 1t didn't seem right to persuade
you when you first came, you were so
weak an tired. But now you're strong
again an know your own mind. An,
Kitty''-his voice trembling in spite of
his efforts at self contrOl-''I'Ve been
waitin' a good many years. I've never
felt to marry anybody che
Her hand rose impetuously to stop
him.
But you must think to marry some
body else, Halstead,' - she said earnestly.
You're too good a man to be wasted
that way. An you must stop thinkin'
what's gone by. amt much, but I
couldn't be so mean as to harm a man
like that. Now, Halstead, please =
touching his arm as she saw the grim
amusement on his face-"don't make
me go on feelin' I've ruined your life.
There's Nelly Bocup. She likes you,
an -
HaIstead laughed aloud.
mo use talltin' that way, Kitty" he
interrupted. Il want you, an if can't
have you now. I'm willing to wait
awhile. When it gets too hard shall
grab you up an run so fast an far
you won't be able to get breath to say
No."
..Pm sorry. Halstead." There were
tears in Kitty's eyes, but her voice was
firm Il shan't ever marry any man
to hamper him. It won't be no use for
you to wait an ask me again ever
There was much sickness in the town
/ that fall-a malignant spotted fever,
/ highly contagious-and one by one the
| poorer portions of the town were put
| under quarantine. Then one evening
| Halstead helped what he thought to be
I a drunken man to his home, and the
next day the man came down with the
| fever and within week was dead.
Within an hour after Halstead heard
/ this he was on his way to the WOODS
! for what he said was to be few days
hunting. In reality it was to watch
one morning before people had begun
/ to appear on the streets he staggered
to the sidewalk outside the fence of his
sisters home, where Kitty boarded.
MARY! Oh, Nary" he called. Then
when his sister appeared at the door:
Don't come any nearer. You know
that empty cabin up by the big rock
where we walk sometimes?"
yes
well I want you to send some food
and water there soon's you can. I've
got the fever. Wait" raising his voice
a little bitterly as she withdrew hur-
Tiedlz1 into the house. "There amt a
mite of danger this far, not for you
nor the children. I won't go near the
cabin till you get the things IN, SO II II
be safe. III stay off in the woods
couple of hours. But please hurry "
for I'm beginning to lose sense OF
.sHalstead!" It was a quiet but per-
emptory voice from an upper window.
Halstead raised his eyes and tried TO
fix his mind on what he saw there.
ssKitty. Kitty" he said dreamily,
| that you? Better go in an shut the
window Maybe the winds BLOWN
that way"
ssHalstead.'' the voice said slowly and
distinctly, "can you go straight TO the
cabin by yourself?"
Course" Indignantly, "straight's an
arrow. But I'll wait two hours"
mo- peremptorily, you must go at
" once. STTal&nl. Will see dOO0N LII
food an everything else. I'll have a
doctor there almost as soon as you
are. An II have a nurse. I'd ma Ike
you come-in here, but there's your SIS
ter an her children, an there's chill
dren in both the next houses. So may
be it wouldn't be best Now go
straight. straight to the cabin
| Halstead raised his hand to his fore
head undecidedly. But the voice mad
beer. clear and incisive, and just now
- r han r.
it was easier for him 10 opey IMAM ,e 70
think So he nodded vaguely and stag
gered up the sidewalk. Kitty watched
him anxfously until she realized that In
spite of his wavering steps he was
heading toward the cabin. Then she
hurried downstairs. Mary met her al
what do you mean, Kitty?" she be
gan wildly. you're not going up there
to him an then come back to me an
the children? Most everybody died OF
the fever so far
That's all right, Mary" answered
Kitty soothingly I'm not comm back
/ You wouldn't have HalStead be without
a nurse, would your"
But everybody dies most, an you'll
sure take it," demonstrated Mary hys
tericaIly.
Halstead did not die, but it was more
than three months before he was abl'
to leave his bed and totter across th'
l cabin floor to a seat in the doorway
IneTe ne sat Tor a long TIME 5dSplias
for breath and gazing moodily at tn
i distant mountain tops. Kitty came t
him there after she had arranged hi
bed and tidied the room.
Doesn't it look good, Halstead?' sh
. said.
He did not answer at once, but pres
I emily turned to her with a 5ireary smile
t IT don't know as it does. Kitty,
l he replied. you heard the doctor te
me it would likely be six months befor
= I would begin to do any work an tina
F my eyes an hearin' wouldn't ever
quite so good again. That's just tn
same as if I was gettin' to be an oil
man" He was silent for some minute.
! then added: AN that amt ALL Kitty
TIN take every cent I've got to pay tn
/ doctor You see, before you came
never saved anything. I didn't feel an
e need. What I got I spent to help Mar
oT,sT7-ov7 i've r,y7Ixr F7ocr7 ra1afffr