The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-20
The EVENING STORY
The Wall Between.
by Troy Allison.l

L would ask you to marry me-"
Graham said bluntly. but can't"
Her eyes dilated, but she was quick
OF wit and action. and her reply came
without a moments hesitation.
indeed? Your attitude pre-supposes
tnat l would accept you-if your sys-
tematic and well-ordered mind had de-
claed upon the asking ironically.
res think you would he replied
re1ectively.
Angry spots blazed on Miss Fenton's
cheeks. This is-a little too much
from even you she gripped the arm
OF ner chair and leaned forward, her
blazing eyes looking closely into his.
nave never been able to decide just
what manner of man you are-your re-
tlcence, your phlegmatic temperament.
anu your crudeness, are so foreign to
me that they are an unreliable text.
I've thought at times that they might
cloak either a vast amount of intellf-
gence and capability-or the lack of it.
large man like you only has to be
reticent to make the world think he is
a force to be considerable he cared to
exert himself. I have wondered at
times If your reticence masked a lack
OF original thought. But under no cir
cumstances had 1 imagined it hid-co-
lossal conceit"
Graham's powerful hands, without a
trace of the nerve tension in her own,
took from her the Japanese fan that
she was unconsciously tearing in
shreds.
Il am not conceited-but I do think
that you would marry me-if could
ask you," this in the fashion of a man
of little worldly polish, he failed to
soften and explain his statement by
adding that the desire of his heart was
to make her his wife.
She, judging without this inner know
ledge, fought as a woman will-fought
to keep it from being known that she
has given Ter love unasked.
II will admit see no foundation for
your conceit" The ache in her heart
goaded her to merciless cruelty. How
or why should you think that a woman
of the world like myself, who has been
accustomed to comfort, if not to luxury,
should care to marry young physician
without, as yet, a practice? Perhaps,
my friend, you took stock of your beauX
yeux-they are impressive, I'll admit.
Your broad shoulders and physique in
general might also be counted assets
but not sufficient to balance the conceit
that could imagine I would be content
to wear homemade gowns in order to
admire them a lifetime. I-who love
pretty things" taking her chain of pearl
heads and holding them before him, let
ting them slip between her well-mani-
cured fingers. She lied bravely, Sitting
the memory of the little joyful plans
that had for several weeks fitted
through her mind-plans for making.
home on his small income when he
should ask her to be his wife.
Graham, his face pale, spoke slowly.
Unlike myself, you are never at loss
for words-but I think you have said
more than your world would consider
courteous he said tersely.
Her highstrung temperament had
reached a point where she gave her
nerves free rein. LAS far CARING
she leaned back in her chair and laugh
ed recklessly. "Of course your conceit
would prevent your discovering that
was long and dull-you were the most
available man, and interesting because
you were-less readable than the others.
One looks with interest at-an unread
book. With such explanation, 1 hope
your sorrow that you could not decide
She rose with a little ironi-
cal smile that intimated that she was
waiting for him to say good-by.
Graham lowered above her as he rose
Marion, I'm crude-as you say-and
l am going to tell you that 1 absolutely
disbelieve you. You care-as much as
do. I'll admit that you started out with
the intention of amusing yourself-and
that I met you half way, thinking that
you might interest yourself and me at
the same time I had no idea that either
OF US would learn to care. But we have
both of us-and yet there is a barrier
my asking you to marry me
"a wall between-and I don't know
that I'll ever be able to get over it."
She smiled whimsically, with the sud
den change of mood characteristic of
her.
Tell me about it. I'm full of curl
kind ?" wat
I'm not at liberty to tell-but it's
rather hard one to scale"
"Glass on top?" Laughter coming
back to her face.
"Figuratively peaking-lots of IT
Are you a child or woman. Marion,
that you jump from one mood to an
other this way?''
More of barometer, 1 suppose.
But I'm intensely interested in that
wall. 1t sounds medieval. Couldn't
you produce rope ladder as fitting
measures for scaling obstacles only
seen on the stage-I never saw one in
real life"
"Girl-there is a serious side to YOU
somewhere-but it's very elusive. It's
the serious side want to talk to now.
don't know that I can ever even
make an attempt to scale that wall.
If 1 felt could do so honorabIv 1
would try 1t with my bare hands, His
face lit with an emotion she had never
before seen in it. You will call it
but it is-that care SO much
hat 1 don't want you to wait for me,
# I never get the chance to try to
climb the wall to reach you"
She put her hand on his impulsiyelv.
But you want to come ?" she asked.
More than anything on earth" he
said. and his face grew whittier.
considering the WALL think Won
had better go now" She followed him
% the door and held out her hand. 1T
I'M glad you care" she said simply.
When she heard the hall door close
behind him she sat down on the couch
Ind stared absently at the torn fan
yfng on the chair near. She picked II
Up and tore it slowly and systematicaI-
y into strips.
II am glad-he-cares." she said
mechanically.
In the two years that passed, she
Jaw Graham occasionally on the street
Ind nodded to him in passing. Their |
ew mutual friends seldom mentioned