The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-01


child thinking. whence came the hid
den feeling which had prompted the
query?
Margaret. despite the close atmos-
phere, shivered. Why had Lassiter re-
turned. and why. oh, why. had he
come here, to destroy, this time for
ever, the peace of mind which Mar
garet had believed so secure at last.
And this poor child who loved herl
Involuntarily Margaret wrung her
hands. How hard. how complicated
was lifei But. thank heaven. tomor-
row she need see him no more.
There was a step behind her on the
soft carpet of fallen needles, a quick,
firm tread coming hurriedly down the
path. Margaret turned. 1t was duslky
under the thick sheltering boughs, but
she recognized at once that 1t was
Lassiter. At sight of the white figure
before him the man started. y
Margaret" he calculated sharply
Margaret But he caught himself
at once. 81 beg your nardon." he
smiled. "You looked almost like a
ghost there among the trees. 1 am on
my way to the bathhouse," explaining
easily. "Belen and young Morris are
on the lake and it looks so like a
storm"
Margaret, glancing upward, saw that
in truth the last star was hidden: from
afar came a dull rumble of thunder.
His vague anxiety communicated itself
suddenly to her. She turned toward
Come" she said quickly. 1t had
grown very dark. The sultry air was
breathless. Not, a sigh stirred the
branches above. The slippery over
grown path was difficult to find. But
Margaret sped unheedingly on. That
little frail canoe out on the tumbling
waters. Oh, why was the boathouse so
far! And then all at once gnarled old
root thrust coldly out, caught her foot,
she tripped. stumbled, the next instant
she had fallen into Lassiter's arms.
1t was only for one brief fraction of
time, one half anguished moment dur
ing which the man, his stern self-control
shaken, had gathered her close. Then
Margaret broke from him.
"Belen.' she gasped. The lines around
Lassiter's mouth whitened.
II know he said. II know" But
despite his effort at Self-mastery, the
leashed. The bitterness OF years surged
to the surface.
Margaret" he cried "Oh, Margaret.
why did you send me away"
IL didn't know" murmured the wo-
man unsteadily. IL thought didn't
care. And then it was too late; you had
gone. But--but you are happy now"
she urged. 'Belen-'
"Belen is child" said Lassiter quiet
ly when she was left so alone with
only me for guardian there seemed moth
ing else to do. 1 shall try to make her
good husband. But you-Margaret--"
his voice suddenly dropped to an uncon-
scious entreaty. Margaret
Margaret, her throat aching and throb-
bling, was again hurrying blindly down
the path. She must not listen. The
thunder was drawing nearer. A low
moan was beginning to shake the pine
boughs. The storm was almost here.
Then out of the gloom a voice echoed
clearly across the water.
mo, no. it sobbed and both man and
women, stopping suddenly, recognized
the voice as Belen's You mustn't talk
so. 1 can't marry you; oh, I can't. He
loves me. Miss Aston says so, and he
has been too good to me. 1 must not
break his heart. But love Billy"
Across the murky darkness leaped
white flash of fire. tremendous crash
ems; and then suddenly the rain, loosed
at last, came pouring down, cool, cleans
ing, revivifying, bringing a grateful
freshness to the thirsty ground, restored
equilibrium to the surcharged atmos-
phere.- Great drops battered or ~ the
pine bougI1s. But Margaret, her eyes
wet with happy tears. was not conscious
of the pelting rain. For in that seemed
when lake and woods had stood distinct
and clear, silhouetted against that un-
earthly brilliance, in that instant Of Wis
ion had been revealed the picture of a
man and q maid, a picture old when
Time was young-Billy Morris kissing
Belen.
Margaret cried Lassiter, hoarsely.
"Oh Margaret You saw. you heard.
Belen is going to marry Billy Norris
And you-you are going TO marry me-
Aren't you, Margaret?' as she lifted her
face to his.-(Copyrighted. 1907, by
Homer Sprague)