The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-23
THE EVENING STOR r
Iinda's Iovers.

LINDA, do tell fellow how you do
1t. You're no beauty-positively, your
nose is a snubEyet here you have
Lowton's three best beaus so. fascinat-
ed they won't look at another girl
when you're around"
Derry's voice was. judicial, but the
twinkle in his eyes belied its meas
ured note. Linda Bryson chose to ans
wer the eyes rather than the words.
Unless you stop being tiresone
shall call Aunt PAM she said. i
know she is dying to have you tell her
all about the Greer funeral"
"Say-do you know there's a law
against cruel and unusual punish
ments?" Derry asked, with an accent
of deep injury
happen to know it-being a lawyer2''
Linda flung back at him. People say.
you know, that the less law you have
the more cases you win"
People in this case meaning Phil
Gray. I didn't think he'd be SO nasty
over the drubbing I gave him." Derry
said TRANQUILITY. II shall have to look
out for myself-unless old Phil had
he never in the world would have said
such a thing"
why should he be jealous of-any-
body? We're engaged-haye been
since last InurS0ayI
Linda pouted. Derry breathed hard,
just once, then caught both her hands
and pressed them warmly, saying: 1T
see, you had to console the boy. He
was pretty crestfallen when he left
the courthouse that afternoon OF
course, i wish you Joy-all kinds of
joy-double riveted, copper fastened
and I congratulate him with all my
heart. But. honestly. Lin-are you
Sure of what?" Linda asked saucily,
though with the least shake of the voice.
Why that you love Phil-well
enough to live with him all your life?"
Derry began.
Are you sure you love Julia Moore
that way?" Linda countered.
Derry stared at her. Julia Moore!'
What has she got to do with it?' he
asked.
Linda flung up her heads
she must have heap to do with it,
since you are going to marry her.
Hushp' as she saw Derry about to whis-
tie. IT know-she told me so herself
"When" Derry asked, his voice low
and steady. Linda tried to look ref1ec-
tive, but her bushes betrayed her. ut
was-some time last week." she STAN
mered at last. I'VE were coming home
together
From the courthouse saw you
there, listening to the speeches. Derry
interrupted. Then with a quizzical
smile: with such authority, must of
course agree. All the same, Linda, L
thought you understood-that you-you
were playing with the others so as to
wait for mel couldn't speak out until
had got from under the load of my
ffather's debts
Julia can free you, that was why"
Linda began, then stopped short, her
eyes on the fire. After a minute she
went on clearly: 81 had to think you
were tired of an uphill fight; besides,
you were free as air-there had never
been word between u.s.
"No-worse luck" Derry said, rising
and walking twice across the room. 1t
was big and dim. full Of faded furniture,
the tiny, scantily filed CRATE set in the
big chimney breast speaking eloquently
of the change from a time of hospitable
plenty. Aunt Pam had the house, Linda
a narrow income; therefore they lived
without work as became gentlewomen
born though Linda was more than a
little FESTIVE.
What if l. am a born Bryson? 1t
won't hurt me to trim hats or make
knows I do enough of it for-invita-
lions, and Thank you. dear And
do believe the very people that impose
on me would think more of me If
charged them round prices" she had
said more than once. But always
Aunt Pam and Aunt PANS ideas had
prevailed. The one way out was mar
riage-with some good steady fellow
OF accent paIrlmOny, ana the kndck
of getting on in the world.
Phil Gray had both-hence stood
high with Aunt Pam She liked Allen
Derry well enough. His mother had
been her dearest friend. But there
were the debts-the only thing. Judge
Derry had left his son. spotless
reputation, of course, did not count
against lack of financial foresight. The
judge had been beguiled not only into
risking his own money. but into giving
his neighbors bad advice. 1t was the
neighbors Allen was paying, although
they had not the least shadow of legal
magnificent but not business. Aunt
Pam agreed with him heartily. Still, |
she had been always motherly kind to |
Allen, having no suspicion of what was
in his heart. and Linda'S.
Allen stopped his pacing abruptly |
and said looking over Linda's head: !
"Phil is a good chance, also a good !
fellow. 1 hope he'll make you happy |
But-tell me, have you put on his |
ring?' -,
Derry caught her hands and drew her
to her feet. He held her facing him,
and looked full in her eyes as he said,
brokenly: ""Then-give me-one. little
inch of-love. know you love me
even as love you. We wrong NOBODY
once All I want is to have you look
M at me from my breast. and say:
Allen, love you-with the love that
casteth out all fear.
ALLEN, love you-with the love tnat
casteth out all fear Linda repeated
laying her head against
his shoulder. His arms EMBODIED her
for a long minute they stood silent,
trembling through and through with
sense of sacred farewells. Then Allen
bent and kissed her, saying gently as
ne put her away from him: Remem-
Der no matter what happens here, you
GternltV.
"CSoodby!" Linda said, her voice clear
and mistaken. ''Goodby," Allen echoed
and turned toward the door. 1t stood
open, enframing Phil Gray. whose face