The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-08

Fads and PaiIanthropy.

was rOse-color at the beginning, and
somber gray at the ending. That she
herself, was responsible for the tinting
did not alter the fact that Honor's eyes
were wistful, and her lips very near
to trembling. She turned from the
window to che readers, wondering aim
lessly if any Of them had had ideals,
and were sorry.
Finally her eyes Travelled to the far
ther corner. where were the news
paper files. There stood a man, his
back to her. He was very shabby, but
he had yellow hair, and he was about
the height-just then he turned a lit
tie, and began tightening his belt
Honor heard the noon bells ringing
She had heard that If one were very,
very hungry, It helped little to grid
ones waist very tightly. Poor fellow!
Then he turned entirely around and
took up his ragged hat. Honor drop
ped her magazine, her gloves, her
purse. her handkerchief, and her para
sol and sprang toward him.
Why, MerVin Fairbanks. How glad
am to see you"
We'll we'll! How my fame as i
prophet scars. said that you should
not see me again till you would be
glad of the sight; and how goes the
gay world with you, Miss Honor Wild
ing?"
Honor expected him to shrink from
her, ashamed of his apparent poverty,
but she remembered he usually had
done the unexpected. He picked up
her belongings, and they went out.
Standing in the shadow of the gray
stone building, she lifted hesitating
eyes to his.
''Will you come home with me, Mer-
vim? I want SO much to know of your
wanderings these past two years"
She was surprised again at his quick
consent. She rem nbered Mervin Fair
banks as furiously proud of his pedi-
gree, his good name. and his appear
ance. What could have happened to
reduce him to poverty and to change
his nature?
"You expect to hear of Paris and
London, and maybe Egypt and India %
he asked, after luncheon was over. To
Honor's third surprise he had eaten
very little. Il haven't been outside
San Francisco until yesterday"
Honor regarded him with reproach-
You never let me hear from you"
she said.
what was the use? You said it
was all off between US I couldn't be
as philanthropic as you desired, and
didn't like to pretend that I might
grow to it, because I knew shouldn't
How are your proteges2'
Honor colored. L don't know"
Mervin smiled at her quizzically.
Did Bacagalupi rob your house :?
Or Morairity take to the black bottle
again 20
mot exactly; but what I did for
them didn't seem to last; they were
constantly expecting more. I simply
got tired of it all and stopped. Then
I realized that it was only a fad any
way like my cat farm and other
things. I woke up one day to the real
ization that Honor Wilding was de-
ceiving herself; that she was only
egotistical when she thought she was
,-.f+I- Ill 10 N q n
since. I have been hum bic. and niser-
able" she added under her breath.
He smiled tenderIy at her. You
were only trying your wings, little
She looked at him gratefully. But
Mervin. tell me of yourself; your
your=the past two years" She want
ed to ask him why he came to be re-
duced to so dismal an appearance, but
she hesitated.
Let me see he unused. Il asked you
to marry me when you were eighteen.
That was five years ago. wasn't it?'
Yes" Acknowledged Honor, her heart
beating furiously-
And you refused because you were
anticipating a career. It was to be wo-
mans rights. I believe"
Honor, her eyes downcast, was twist
ing her bracelet nervously.
"Then when you forgot your speeches
and had several unpleasant encounters
with unpleasant people. you decided that
you were mistaken in your calling"
Yes" said Honor again.
when you were twenty-one. I asked
YOU to marry me; then it was the cat
farm. think possibly you might have
let me be a partner that time, only
objected to the cats. I didn't mind one
feline pet. or two; but I believe used
some emphatic language in regard to
the farm"
you certainly did, answered Honor,
smiling family.
THE third and last time was two
years ago, when the farm had lost It's
glory and it's cats. You were Honor
Wilding, philanthropist then; you told
me If 1 would join forces and fortune
with you in your life's work that YOU
would be pleased to walk NIT me- as
your friend, the scrub-lady, said.
couldn't see it that way. and you re-
marked that I loved myself better than
you; and 50 we parted"
Il was unjust" murmured Honor. y
/ have been sorry many times"
Il resolved to go away and forget you
/ I did the one but not the other. I want
you this minute more than I ever de-
sired you in my life; and my eyes tel
me that you are not Indifferent. Nonor
! my little girl, will you wait for me till
I can come to you as a man ought
! But she was leaning forward eagerly
her eyes suffused with tears, her sweet
/ lips trembling
why must you go away?'' she plead
ed. Don't let a w-ctched matter oil
money part US now. We have lost five
4 wears Mervin and I have dollars a.
plenty for both. Don't let your prids
stand between US now. Mervin."
For a moment he looked at her curl
ouslv; then he smiled, albeit his eyes
were gravely tender, and he put his
= % he said fervent1y. "Tu
richer than you are, twice over I've
kept on making money these two
years. Just so I shouldn't think 81
/ hard. I was going to ask you to wal
TIL I went to the hotel and arrayee
myself in decent clothes before WI
plighted our troth. I didn't want yol
TO feel as If a beggar were making love
to YOU spoke Of waiting. for though
the tailor said he would have then
there by noon. knew by sad expert