The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-11
THE EVENING STOR Y
Paying the Price.
(By Louise ]. Strongly

greetings saluted him from a croWdeu
auto car that just missed him as IL
chugged by. He bowed gravely to the
smiling occupants, observing that she
was of the number, and then he pass
ed on to the business appointment that
had prevented his being in the party.
1t was an appointment that he might
have easily evaded but that he felt the
need of time to consider an astonishing
revelation, which had been made to
him that morning.
Because 1 think it has gone far
enough-or, too far, for that matter
and to save you the pain OF a refusal
tell you this open secret" the IN
former had declared magnanimously
for it is an open secret in our
crowd, where all have conspired 10
keep it from you, that Miss Annabelle
Mills, before she met you. wagered a
box of gloves with the girls, that she
would bring you to the point of pro-
posal-you, the hitherto lnvulneraple
in three months.
Ordway had taken the blow without
f1inching. He had thanked the con-
comment, to the mystification OF that
individual who felt cheated OF his an
ticipated sensation. 1t was lnstinctVe
self-defense in Ordway, VINO knew
Cathcart's interest in one OF the Ialr
wagerers, and suspected the magma
ninity was but an effort to help ner 70
win But he could not doubt the truth
of the communication, in the race Oh
the evidence given. -.
His reflections were exceedingly Dit
ter, as he plunged along in an apsorp-
ton that drove all thoughts OF business
from his mind. He had been an easy
victim, he had not resisted, but nao
succumbed almost at once to the WlleS
of the beauty. From the moment OF
meeting she had stood to him LOT al
that is lovely, charming ana true III
woman: and he had early acknoWi-
edged to himself the desire to win her
If possible and the determination 10
endeavor to do so. And ne mao s suIn
become aware of the fact, lncreoDle
as it had seemed to him, that she was
not wholly averse to the winning. ne
had, at last felt sure of that peyonu
peradventure, and his heart nao tnrll-
ed with the inspiring certainty OF SUI SUI
cess; a success that he regarded WIZ
reverent gratitude, and vows OF great
er worth mess. The sly railery from
their common associates, upon MS evl,
dent and entire subjugation ne mao
borne with the equanimity of the vic
tor: never dreaming they were Scout
ing him as an easy, an amusing Vlctiili'
nor suspecting that her adorable ylelu-
ing was insincere.
He had come to love her with all his
mower to love woman! Losing her ne
would go through life alone, and the
wound of her falsfty would never neal
He had given his all for the furtnerancST
of a vulgar wager, had yielded the soul
Of his manhood a puTpet i'll a game! In
the Just anger that presently SUI
over him. for the moment soaring MS
pain. he eelt that she was little petter
than a murdcress. She had known irU t,.s
the first-he had not tried to conceal ms
iove-she has deliberately iured him on
TO the wrecking Of all that was pest IN
nirc-she was unworthy or the snBhteSS
respect He wondered that ne coulu
have 80 loved one go utterly false. But
some inner consciousness cried out az
thi; harsh Judgment of her. AS ne
Thought ever all that their intimate as
ISOLATION had shown him OF her char
acter. 1t seemed impossible that she
could be the frivolous, cold hearted CO.
o11ette which the situation declared her
to be-and yet-and yet-witn a weary
sigh he abandoned the EFFORT 10 uloer-
stand.
Rs,t the hurt remained, and deepened
- he recalled his appointment with her
for that evening, an appointment whlch
meant that the hour had come Tor the
asking and answering of the question
more important to. him than life itself.
And nv the look in her sweet eyes, when
she cyrarted him permission to come, ne
had felt assured that she understood
and did not repel him.
Did it mean to her but the GROWING
of her mean victory? Well, she should
have the poor qualification of winning
the senseless wager! 1t mattered little
to hlm-notbing mattered to MIN now
He tried, humbly, to outline future
and new associations, where he would
etrive 70 forget-and also strive to re-
gain his faith in humanity. some time
he might perhaps, feel scorn OF MIN
self that he could not scorn her openly
and fling her puerile dupl1clty IN her-
face. ,,,+,,
surprise that it was lighted up, ana as
he entered the hall he heard famlllar
voices and laughter. She was In haste
then to faunt her victory, and had as
sembled her confederates IN readiness
He set his teeth and resisted the nm
mise TO retreat, to leave her valnly
i5-eitirp the butt of her triumphant al
lies The humiliation through which 1t
seemed she designed to drag MIN ought
surely to be the death blow TO MS loVe.
For that, if for no ctner reasoh' lie
would endure it.
He waited her in the library, formu-
lating his speech in the fewest words
nossible. and the least expression OF
sSentinnert. that would give her the vic
tory for which she had demeaned her-
II am taking you from your friends"
he began as she entered. VIII Keep
you but moment. wish 10 ASH
ST She came to him swiftly with raised
hand. de- .,,.t,
ing. 1 have confession TO MAKE, anu
then I want you to go away quletly:
and leave town tonight, that none OF
them may know that you have peeh !
tere If is the last-but 1 have not
Won can not understand until 1 have
- she faItered, her shame-dyed face |
dropping -"Before 1 met you Inc
pirls-I-I can scarcely voice the |
sba meless-You had been represented
81 nTa sfnguIarly Indifferent toto
one who had never been interested
enoush in any woman to sue for her
fayor-it was predicted that you neV.
ar Gould be brought to the point OF
oeeoriro yourse1f-to-" she stammer-
ed nitifuily and caught her BREATH
was challenged to try my power with
ex,,ltant prophecy of failure, and 1t
Ied-to-to a silly wager. accepted
the dare-an this before L had seen