The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-13
TIE EVENING STOR r
TaIe b an AntIque Rug

The morning sunshine enYelOps me in /
q rich flood OF yellow splendor; IN the |
evening the blazing logs in the fireplace /
caress me with pickering shafts OF goI- /
den light; at night lie in the soft dark /
ness and dream happily Of the days Of
my youth.
Allah is good am content
was an old rug, worn smooth by the
bare feet Of the Faithful, even before
was taken from the Temple and brought
/ to this strange country across the seas.
For months lay in dark, evi3-smelling
| places, before that day when I found
myself once more in the blessed sun
light. amid a babel OF strange sights
I and sounds The worshiDpers IN this
new temple swayed and jostled each
other noisily-the priest waved his arms
madly. ''Going-going- gone" he cried.
Going going gone!"
Aside from the crowd IN the corner
where I lay, two men were standing.
1 One talked earnestly to the other who
listened with a certain embarrassment
Tell her what you have told me"
said the frst. go home to her now.
| Get down on your knees and tell her
that you've made all kinds Of an ass
Of yourself and you know It. Beg for
/ her forgiveness. Beg for one more
chance Beg. for the boys sake. to be
allowed to try again"
The other man flushed DULY. 81 have
not been home for weeks" he said
huskiIy. IT couldn't. I've done about
I
I couldn't go from that other crowd to
her-and the boy
But you are done with all that now"
protested the first eagerly. you have
had your fling and you've found it yields
nothing but Dead Sea fruit IN the end
It isn't too late to go back. She will
forgive YOU
How can I ask he TOT" said the
other YEARLY. Think Of the previous
Tus9 bara mas +a1ve-, ,,v ans oar
ried over to the priest, who held me
aloft in his arms while all the people
craned their necks and jostled each 9TH
er in the effort to get a better view.
AN Antique Gheordeg Prayer rug
chanted the priest. "a sapphire on an
opal ground. A rug shat IS to other
rugs what rubies are to other precious
1stones-rareIs more brilliant, more cost
ly. Notice the harmony Of the con-
trasting colors-the n1osaiCs Of the
borders-the splendor of the design.
How much am I offered for this superb
antique prayer rug?'
Then the tide of the shouts oflthe de-
vout broke against the priests chant,
and in its midst I found myself car
ried once more to the corner where the
two men stood. They examined me
carefully. The face of the one who had
held back was flushed and eager.
This is the anniversary Of our we'd
ding day he said to he other, land I
will do it. will go now. I will take
} her this rug as a thought of the ami
versary and on 1t, where so many
prayers for forgiveness have been Of
| fered I will offer mine"
"Oh. AllahI Be nerciful." he added
under his breath.
} So I went with him to his home and
! he let himself in gently with his latch
key and tiptoed softly to the library,
} and laid me- before the fire. Then he
rs SSrs Wharton at horne p" he asked
the man who answered his ring. and
his voice trembled in spite Of his eff
forts to steady It,
The man eyed him curiously. 'No,
sir" he said respectfully, Mrs. Whar-
ton and Master Edward have been gone
sir. some. days
Mrs. Wharton left a note, and there
is other mail he added placing sheaf
of letters on the table and retiring with
2 a bow.
/ My master tore open the small, square
envelope on top and his face went ashen
, gray. Il have warned and prayed and
I entreated" he read DULY" and now 1
have gone where shall at least be
: spared the insult of your presence You
I have ruined my life-and your own
but the boy shall be saved"
: Under the small square envelope was
l long white one. Her lawyers" he
repeated monotonously, opening 1t and
stumbling mechanically though its legal
Z phrasing.
! Then he threw himself in a chair and
; buried his face in his arms on the table
: "Oh. my GodI" he sobbed brokenly.
"Oh, my Godi"
> After that night I aid not see the
master for many months. Then, one
e evening he came into the library, looking
e older and sterner, with deep lines in
t his face. After that ne spent nearly
e all his evenings in the library. some
S times with friends. but oftener alone.
= reading-or just staring straight ahead
( into the fire. So the days rolled into
weeks and the weeks into months and
years until one evening the master came
and stood for long time looking at
/ the picture of a woman and boy on
! the mantel. Three years tonight" he
Z said slowly. three long years"
I The curtains Of the doorway parted
I | and a woman came forward part way
/ into the room. q slender graceful woman
5 who carried her head haughtily, al
( though her lips quivered with nervous
q ness
/ The master turned abruptly.
= Elizabeth" he cried
, You are surprised to see me here2''
4 ssFlizabethI'' he said again in dazed
{ establishment; then-'the boy what is
: wrong with the boy7'' he cried sharply.
a She flushed painfully. cit is because
y Of him I am here; he has some claim
e on you still even though have none"
She stopped abruptly and walked over
( to the fireplace then turned and looked
! | at him with proud, appealing eyes
/. II have not money enough to educate
! the boy properly" she said simply and
] there is no one could come to but you
= his father"
!. he did not answer er. but with one
\ quick step forward took her hands IN
ssF,lizabethls he said almost fiercely,
IT love you-I want your
Trembling. she leaned against the
~ 80 a ets~ IN aid-s17e d.
/ vorce-the boy
s9The fault was mine. loved you
Z through It all. have eiways loved you
/, II love you now
:, He looked eearchingly at the sweet,
2 averted face, then with q quick happy
/ - t,.,-s 1Ff4z