The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-02
THE EVENING STORY
With All His Faults.
(By Ethel Darlington.

Jealousy eats into happiness as
acid destroys lInen," declared Kath-
crime, sententiously.
Despite which epigram you will
friend. The two girls had paused at
the corner of the street. where Kath-
crime Intended taking a car. 1t was
not IN sight. SO she turned to finish
the discussion.
Why not?" she asked. 81 am not
the woman to give ground for jeal-
ousy' while Kenneth, on his part,
Knows L would never forgive unjust
suspicion, which is what Jealousy
amounts to. Real love insures per-
rect trust and faith"
With some natures possibly, but
kenneth Had1ey could no more help
peing Jealous where he loves than he
cou!d stop breathing and Hye," retort-
60 mildred; why, at the MeresdaIe
euchre party every one but you could
Then he must have concealed his
Ieelngs admirably" declared Mr.
Hadley's f1ancee, for he said nothing
to me-"
Some day he will
Katherine Felix shook her head
Doubt is degrading, and happiness
can not exist in its atmosphere. Mil
dred, I'll be frank. Kenneth and L d1d
once have a wretched misunderstood
ing, which came near separating U.s.
l warned him then that such scenes
would kill whatever sentiment 1
cherished for him. In becoming his
wife 1 do not relinquish my individ-
uality. He takes me, as accept him,
a soul matured, giving to him clos
er intimacy than to any other, yet,
with natural reservations. We come
into the world alone-depart alone, so
must there always be silent places in
our lives, to which even the nearest
can have no key"
Her friend, unconvinced, started to
say goodby, but returned impulsively
to the charge.
Theoretically, Katherine, there is
truth in your argument. Jealousy is
no temptation to you. Should you
meet Kenneth walking with a girl, I
doubt If it would occur to you to even
ask her name. Your error is making
secrets of nothing .--
The others eye flashed resentfully.
"You say that because 1 would not
tell you where I am going now.
Nonsense, it's none of my affair;
but suppose you had met Mr.. Hadley
instead ~
IT should have declined to explain"
Then the emergency of her errand re-
curing to her mind, she added: Here
comes my car. Goodby, Mildred, I
wonder if it would not have been bet
ter had Kenneth met you first; you
would have yielded to his exactions SC
graciously.' With a smile at the 9TH
er's indignant protest, she motioned to
the motorman.
Reaching her destination, she entered
a large manufacturing establishment.
Sending in her card to the advertising
she was at once shown into
his private office.
Half an hour later, returning home,
she encountered Hadley, who plainly
showed his delight at the unexpected
What luck brings you to this part
of town." he inquired.
Business was the light response.
(Which in woman's vocabulary,
means pleasure" A quick look showed
he was conscious of the evasion, though
he did not press the point. wish 1
could return with you; but an appoint
ment forbids. How dusty it is. Give
me your handkerchief, Kathei There's
a rude, black smudge, dangerously near
your eye"
Katherine laughed and, feeling for
her handkerchief without success, re-
marked that she must have dropped 1t
somewhere, adding: Use yours" At
his compliance she thanked him, nod
ded goodby and was gone.
She was seated at the piano drawing
soft melody from it's keys in the mellow
light of the shaded lamp, when Hadley
arrived. He watched her for some mo-
ments before she discovered his pres
ence. Then she swung round gayly on
the stool with extended hands.
Come and kiss me, which ceremony
you omitted when we last met
AS he crossed toward her something
in his expression made the girl draw
back from the invited caress.
what is the matter?" she asked.
''I've brought back your property"
He tossed a crumpled bit of linen into
her lap; a large K, embroidered, show
ed conspicuously in one corner.
my handkerchief Thanks! Where
did you find it?'
you ask that? Tell me, rather, what
takes my promised wife to visit Charles
Truax?"
IT answer no question put in such a
tone"
at is my right to know" The
mans eyes took angry measure of her
resistance. 81 put the same question
this afternoon and you evaded it. 1
thought, when you insisted on your
rights and privileges, that your little
were no concern of mine.
What do 1 find ? That you have been
closeted in the private office of a mar
ried man, an old flame of yours.
Truax refused an explanation. What
have you to say? A woman of leisure, |
you can not plead business in a fac
tory as an excuse.
'You go too far
mo, it is you! love you as my life, |
and you drive me mad with doubts.
knowing my weakness. you play upon
It. 1 will have the truth. Or
Katherine's face. gazing white and
passionless in his. arrested him.
'Kathe,' he pleaded, "I can't stand |
t. Right or wrong, you must have |
40 secrets from me, it's torture
Argument is useless, Kenneth" !
Katherine's voice was cold as her |
ook "Quite useless. If told you this !
here would be something else tomor- |
.ow. 1 am not the woman for you
Tou are not the man for me-
"Dic you love me as L" began |
he man, passionately.
Its not a question of love- re-
urned the girl. I'm not going to al /
ow you to spoil my life with your I'M
doubts, nor will 1 sacrifice !
ny individuality on the altar of your
ealousy We have gone through this
before, and you beat down my reason
by appealing to my affection. Now