The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-11
The EVENING STORY
Home Love Is Best.
- SS%
(By Jane Ludium Lee.)

Wue. L want 10 lake you TO my nome
in Germany and teach you to love my
people as they will love you. Will you
have me?''
These words fell from the lips of a
handsome German who was staying at
the Ellwood inn for the summer. and
who for weeks had been devoted to
the beautiful Eleanor Short, heiress to
a cool million.
"Oh. Count Andres. thank you so
much, but 1 am not for other lands.
I'm home girl. pure and simple.
Your people would not love me. I had
hoped you would go without making
me say this"
you. knew. then. that would ask
you?''
The girl drew herself up with a
stately manner. and replied:
since you do not spare me. why
you would
Americans do not know the mean
ing Of home" sneered the count. 81
could not have gone without asking
you, Miss Short, because-well, it does
not matter now. am sorry I asked
you ana trust you will never regret
your answer. You will hear of me
again." and with stiff bow he left
her.
Eleanor, once more on the piazza,
dropped into an armchair and rocked
slowly back and forth. 1t was a beau
tlful night--a night for happiness, not
Ior tears, and why should she cry?
Yet tears would come to her eyes. She
did not love the man who had just
left her, and she did, love some one
else. She did not want a German
home nor a German husband, and she
resented his attack on the American
and sighed.
A shot rang through the stiffness of
the night air, followed by a piercing
scream.
In an instant the conservative pat
rons OF Ellwood inn became a cIamor-
GUS crowd. surging on the piazza from
every direction. The men rushed this
way and that, and in q few moments
the Hfeless form Of woman was car
r1ed into the hotel lobby. Miss Short
nag oeen snot In the back, perhaps
fatally, and her slayer was still at
large.
: While the doctors worked over the
injured girl, searching parties were
organized to find the assassin The
GROUNDS were carefully guarded, de-
through their usual methods of cross
the employees of the hotel.
and hours dragged by with no trace of
the man who had fired the shot.
BuiIetins We're issued from time to
time regarding the condition of the
patient, and by morning symptoms
showed that there was a chance for
her recovery.
With the recovery of consciousness
came speech, and her first rambling
words were: "Oh, how could he!"
An anxious mother leaned over her
and gently said:
'Who, Eleanor dear?"
The injured girl gasped, 1.-THE
and again lapsed into uncon-
sciousness
But one count had been at the ho-
lei and it did not take long to find him
n his room and place him under ar.
'est. He was placed under heavy bail
until Miss Short either recovered to
ACE him at the trial or died
Days interviewed while the patient
lung between life and death, but fin
ally she began to pick up the broken
threads. and was well on the road to
bedside of the girl fondly caressing
her, said:
Jack has been here every day,
lear, asking and pleading to see you,
and We have promised that he shall
2e the first. Can you see him today i?
The poor boy Is almost frantic
Eyes. mother, I want to see him
whenever you say I may
"He has been waiting in the other
'oom for two hours, SO I will call
him.
A well-built, brown-faced man ap-
oeared at the door in answer to the
mothers call and kne1t down by the
'ide Of the girl, slipping one strong
lrm about her shoulders, and nesting
1is bronzed face close to hers.
Dear heart" he murmured.
"Why. Jack. mother is here looking
1t u.s." said Eleanor, as the color
,ame to the pale cheeks.
your mother knows all about it, |
lear Haven't 1 been telling her every |
lay for the past two weeks? You see |
n01f1dn't tell T had fell |
ome one and thought your mother a |
afe repository for condolences, but |
Tou mustn't talk, dear. You are just |
o get well and then I'm going to take
'ou away for months and months. |
lust you and I, dear"
Eleanor proved a good patient, and |
ach day found her stronger than the |
ne gone by. Jack was in attendance
lmost as constantly as the nurse and
IRIS. Short, and many happy hours he |
at beside her, with her head on his
while he read aloud. One day
8 the twilight approached she leaned
yer and closed the book that he was
eading.
Jack, dear, you have not told me
hat you loved me-
why, Eleanor, how can you say
hat 1t was the last thing I said last
vening when your mother turned me
ut"
IT remember now, but that was yes
she said as she nestled closer
> him. "That was a whole twenty
our hours ago."
"Dear heart" he said with smile,
as each twenty-four hours elapse
ove you that much more You know
nat, dear. and I don't seeN why we
ave to wait until you get entirely well. |
Why not be married quietly. right here
4 this little room, where we have
cen so happy with each other and let
1e nurse YOU back to health 90
''Why, Jack, you selfish man! Not
ave a wedding, no bridesmaids and no
,ng, white satin dress with traini
n, how could you even suggest it?
mi IL you want me to will, dear, for
hen you go far away from me the
hole light seems to go out of my life.
nd it's been dark such a long time"