The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-03
THE EVENING STOR z
Berries INDIGESTION.
~ Tna Wrlght Hanson. ]


by Ina Wright Hanson.1
Martha's eyes were troubled as she
hung ND the receiver
Just like Bertie,'' she nuse&@. taking
up her coat, cap and goggles and go
ing slowly up the stairs Exactly ike
BERTHE. This morning we were to spend
our last afternoon sailing; at noonTlme
he sends a messenger to say he had
changed his mind, and would come. IN
his automobile: now he telephones thar
We will go on our wheels to the red
woods
UNSTABLE as water, but handsome as
a king-ought to be" was her thought
a few minutes later. They were walk
ing down the garden path to the pi-
cycles waiting al the gate.
Here's flower for you" ne SAID
gayly, STOPPING to pick a pelargoniuEn.
Fitting symbol of you Is this Martha
Washington. Not a bit heightened, puI
smiling alike on the rich and the poor;
delicately coIored. but sturdy for an
that, my Martha"
She responded absently to his clatter.
She was glad he did not seem to expect
much of her in the way Of converse
ton
7 suppose you have been wondering
why I changed my mind so often.
They had walked up hills, and Wheel-
ed down them. and over the level places,
and along the cool shady path 70 the
redwoods. They were sitting Whete
streamlet leaped forward TO KISS LAY
feet of the ferns; where the redWooos
gave out soothing fragrance 1 1.s+
steps away was garish sunshine, pul
here, shade and GOODNESS, ana qdlee,
Martha's troubled heart lightened, ana
she smiled winsomely into BERTHE lace
"Why?'' she cueried.
Because am going 20 ash =,
something. and wanted to choose ths
best place for it. This is the best q
all, isn't it, beloved2 want you g
marry me. Martha, tonight, ana ~
away with me. or not go away. a con- !
know that I care anything dpout sS9AAiS
New York anyway ,4
You want me to marry you tonlghl
for fear that by Christmas or eple sli.o
Der, or tomorrow, you might chahse
your mind Thanks for the compl-
ment. and no, thank you, for the olIef.
Berries face was white. she vas
savagely glad she had hurt MN. ne
might realize a little of her suffering.
ssDo you think I want husband Wlo
changes his mind on a subject as many
times as there are hours in day
What pleasure is there in you, Befls
Harrison, and what confidence can olle
have? We we're to feaa - " wins ~
our minds You began with WillldilA
Tell=at the arrow scene theL So9
took a chapter in Merchant q
Venice; next you thought buA toAi
i9 .sDon't Martha, BERTHE interrupted.
probably I shall thank you some
time. bnf lust now / can't stand any
more than a homeopathic dose ~.
If BERTHE had gotten furious Win y
her or if he had cried-she felt as II
she would not have been surprised 70
see him cry like any glrl-she tOulu
have kept on pelting MIN Win l.sl
sbarD words: but to have him quiet all9
waite-that was som eth1ng she coulu
moi hear Tears dropped on the
Martha Washington in her cold mana;
tsForgive me, dear, didn't mean
Pardon me, Martha, think you
meant exactly what you SAID II ~
flash of your words, I see what 1 Won
der [ have failed to discover nefelo-
fore Isn't there a saying lhaI =
vo11 can properly diagnose case, the
cure is half effected? II L oveEcoIIle
the fault and make a man OF Lily IS
may I expect your favor, marina
She shook her head
at can't have any faith in you,
BERTHE, but after all you are not %
blame. You can't be different; there
are too many odds against you II s
bereditarv-rav father knew your faith
er well. Geminii is your birth sign
two forces pulling in opposite dlrec-
tons; then your fortune STANDS IN your
way, and even your name GU couio
stCan any good come out Nazareth p
he said bitterly, "but you remember
the Best did come out of Nazareth. II
you cared for me
Il care. BERTHE, If that's any conso-
Ilation. 1 could wait years for you
'swer. that's enough" BERTHE threw
IN his cap. and caught it as it came
down. The red came back INTO ms
smooth cheeks t'Now I will fare forth
into the world, and show you what a
mans will can do in spite of heredity
and astrology and all the rest You II
see maid Martha"
This sudden change Of spirit was 50
like variable BERTHE that Martha
sighed. I'm sorry [ can't encourage
It was year before news came
from the absent BERTHE. Martha might
have inquired from his friends IN her
own city, but she was too proud. He
had turned from her as lightly, as
easily. as he had always fitted from
one phase of life to another but
terf1y, she thought. scornfully; why
should she waste tears on him2 So
she spent her days among her flowers
and books: and if her nights were
not always peaceful, she gave no sign.
At the years end a thick packet
came to her With nervous. tremb bling
haste. she tore off stringand paper, and
brought forth Berries diary.
And to think I doubted him." she
sobbed. as she found her name on
every page.
He had taken with him to New York
one hundred dollars of his fortune.
pledging himself not to touch another
penny of it till a year had gone. He
had sought service fmme diately. be-
ginning with the most mental tasks
how his sensitive nature loathed them
none knew better than Martha. He
had kent at each employment till he
found something a step higher.
At the end of four months he dis
covered friend of his fathers. who
offered him a clerkship. and gave him
freely all the Information he needed.
-T-7s
that he had made his code of rules.
After Office hours, a two-hour walk,
dinner, then study till II, his bed
time. This was not to be varied for
six days. Sundays were to be free.
"I am beginning he wrote, "on Ma
caulay's history. swear not to take
up anything else till these volumes are
finished"