The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-19
THE EVENING STORY
sonleflafne Id sen.
lBy FraneIs q. Corey. }


weeks?
she cried, giving him both her hands /
She always had for him this warm
impulsive greeting. But Davenport
was not responsive, for once. The /
slender, JeWeled hands were quickly +
released. His lips wore no answering
smile. There was a new line in his
face.
Something has gone wrong, Teddy" |
she said. in her quick, direct way.
Yes"
rs it so very. very bad?"
AS bad as it well can be- he groan- |
Elizabeth paled a little. Teddy was
not one to take alarm at nothing. But
| instead of asking what troubled MIN
she drew a little nearer and said:
/ Let the unpleasant news wait.
want to talk of something else. yes
terday we were debating whether We
would announce Our engagement at
once, or not until next month. Why
not settle the question now ??
That's the very thing I came to talk
i about! he exclaimed: then he went
on hurriedly. before she could make
any response.
Elizabeth, I'm glad now that we
! took no one into our confidence. Twill
make things easier and better Tor you:
You are no weakling-you may as Well
! have the truth straight out / very
much fear that everything will have to
be given upis
She looked at him for a moment as
if stunned. 'sWllat-what do you
mean ?"
you know. dear, nearly my whole
fortune was put into Lookout Mine
/ I so wanted to double it-then I'd be
as rich as YOU. A man likes to have
as much money as the woman he weds-
/ So took desperate risk. Everything
| promised well at first But I've just
] had wire from headquarters. The
/ mine has gone snash-water, you see-
Utterly worthless. Nobody would take
'sOh, Teddy. I'm SO sorryl'' she said.
''Of course it means financial ruin
| I'll have to begin at the bottom of the
| ladder. It may take years to work my
/ way up It would be unjust TO you
TO ask you to wait. I win not do it.
give you back your promise. You
are free
A sudden trembling of the white lips
/ showed what the words cost him. The
/ look on his haggard face went to Eliza
+ betIs heart She was deeply in love
/ with Teddy Davenport. She loved MIN
for his handsome face. his manhness.
I his courage. and strength, his high
notions of honor. With q swift impul-
/ sive gesture she slipped two slender
white arms. lost at the elbow in en-
chanting frills OF lace. about his neck
ssRut | don't want to be free" she
cried. "Oh, what a goose you are,
i Teddy. AS If 1 hadn't money enough
for US both. and wouldn't deem it
privilege to share all l possess with
you'll"
the clasping arms.
Yes, Elizabeth, I know you would
do it. and willingly-if I would permit
the sacrifice. But will not. How can
, I take so much and give nothing in
You will give yourself. That is
enough"
Not from mans standpoint. Don't
41,fes Nv
self before I came. I shall always love
: you-always be true to you. But, I'M
: til fortune smiles again we can be
j only friends"
: Elizabeth loved him the better for
> his unyielding firmness and pride. At
: ter he had gone. she stood for a long
time at the window, the light gone out
Of her beautiful eyes. What a pity that
so paftry a thing as the loss of a for
tune should wreck the happiness of two
lives? Could nothing be done?
Suddenly a thought came to her like
an Inspiration, and she acted upon 1t
at once. Crossing the wide hall to a
small room at the rear of the library,
: she took the telephone directory from
its shelf, ran her finger down the long
column CT names until she came to the
letter S. Then she called up Mr. San
ford. of the legal firm of Sanford &
Rollins, and the following converse ton
/ took place.
Mr.. Sanford. you have charge of
Mr.. Theodore Davenport's business at
+ fairs?"
rs It true that his Lookout shares
have greatly deprecated in value?'
Excuse me, madam. That is a pri-
vate matter. I can not discuss it with
'sYou needn't be afraid. Mr.. Daven-
! port has just gone from here. I'm Miss
! Elizabeth Mellen, of Gramercy Park
; "Oh=ah@yesi" It was curious
the change that had come into the
: voice at the other end of the wire. "Of
course, then it is quite unnecessary to
keep anything back. The mine is in
very bad shane Even worse than
/ I'D like to have a talk with you, Mr..
3 Sanford, If I may. Can you call at
i, my house this evening at eight, to meet
my business manager"
4 IT viii come with pleasure, Miss
: Mellen''
s Thanks. OF course you understand
that Mr.. Davenport is not to know Of
= this?'
e .sYou can rely upon my discretion =
2 THAT is all. Good-by until eight"
0 The following afternoon Elizabeth
sat waiting with flushed cheeks and
! shining eyes. On the stroke Of the
3 clock, Teddy bounded UP the steps.
{ Without giving the servant a chance
y to announce him, he rushed into the
1 drawing room and caught her in his
arms.
, such wonderful news. my darling!'
t he cried joyously, kissing her. ''San-
: ford has sold my Lookout shares at
/ par To somebody with more money
= than brains! The mine cant be in such
a hopeless condition as was led to be-
lieve. Sanford dropped q hint that
the new owner has been investigating
privately, and knows what he's about.
Well, he's welcome to make what he
can out Of it It's off my hands. thank
Heaveni And now we will announce
our engagement as soon as you please.
'sThen let it be tomorrow. Teddy
5 Elizabeth nurmured with downcast
eyes.
There was a Dunctured silence.
Tt have a prejudice against long
engagements she whispered pres