The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-26
TIE EVENING STORY
Audrey's Aphasia.
(By EDes w. Sargent.)

1t had been rubbing it in to ask
DICK Fitzgerald to act as one of the
uShers at the Craven-Mountford we'd
ding. Dick had been in love with
| audrey Craven long before Sir Henry
| Mountford had come across the water
| IN search of bride and a bank ac-
| count.
Mrs. Craven had shrewdly argued
that with Dick acting as one of the
ushers she would put a stop to the
| last shred of gossip. For several years
their friends had looked for the an
nouncement of Dicks engagement to
audrey, and the new turn of affairs
had not met with popular approval
II Dick was an usher he might seem
| TO give countenance to the alliance
No one blamed Audrey for the en-
gagement Mrs. Craven, had she been
| a man, would have achieved credit as
a ward boss. In her feminine sphere
she hectored her family. the charlt-
| able societies of which she was IN
variably the president, and even the
rector of st. Jude's recognized God
Mrs. Craven and the bishop in that Or
| der.
| When Sir Henry was graciously
| pleased to accept Mrs. Craven'S dlplo-
matte overtures their set had regarded
Dicks fate as sealed and, with a muir
INJURED Poor Audrey" gave their at
tention to other affairs. The announce
ment that Dick was to be one OF the
ushers brought forth an additional
Poor Dick" but he rather enjoyed
his duties, as, standing on the steps OF
st. Jude's, he explained to the Wedolng
guests that the service was postponed
owing to the absence of Miss Craven.
1--WE only know what word was sent
up from the house." he assured Mrs
Ponders. Miss Craven went out to
visit Nell Testra last night she Iett SO
early that no escort seemed necessary
but she did not return home. No one
knows what happened. Mrs. Craven is
Frustrated. Sir Henry? l understand
he is taking it very badly"
He bowed her away and turned to
the next conner. There had been no
time to recall the invitations and the
six ushers were too busy to give more
than passing attention to any one per-
son.
Sir Henry was taking it very badly
indeed. He was storming up and down
the long hall OF the Craven home, and
between disappointment ard wounded
pride the fioodgates Of speech were
opened and his language would nave
done credit to stable boy.
Mrs Craven shut herself into the IL
brary long before he had concluded
his remarks. and the stolid butler, aid
ed by the coachman, elected Sir Henry
from the house to the huge delight OF
the reporters who had vainly besieged
the front door for the last hour or so.
Mrs Craven took to her bed and
vowed that daughter OF hers should
never marry into the British nobility
while Carver Craven hurried down to
the police station to ask that a general
alarm be sent out
Nothing came of this action. and. af-
ter a couple of days. the papers
dropped the sensation. Dick was dis
tracted Two days before the cere-
mony Audrey had assured him that
things would turn out all right and
told him not to worry, but her long
silence argued that she had not been
on
planned, and that she had killed her
self rather than marry man she. did
not love
In the hope of distracting his mind
the senior Fitzgerald intrusted MIN
with a commission in Chicago. and
Dick glad to get away for few days, |
took the train, after exacting prom |
Use that he should be informed by wire |
of any development.
The trip seemed interminable, but at
last he reached town and established |
himself at a hotel. He could not see
the people he wanted until the follow |
ing morning, and to dispel his loneli- |
ness he hunted up Jim Dalton.
Dalton and he had been chums in |
the college days before Dalton had |
gone West to study medicine. He was
inferno in one of the hospitals now, |
and after dinner Dick and he went out. |
want to see the animals?" asked |
his chum after the first flood of ques- |
tons had been asked and answered. |
Dick shook his head.
"Id rather talk" he said. I'm in no |
mood to look upon suffering"
"We'va got one celebrated case"
said Dalton proudly. "Been in the pa
pers almost a week now. A ripping |
pretty girl with aphasia- Doesn't know |
who she is or where she came from or
where she wants to go. The funny |
part is that she suffers none of the |
causes of the disease
Dick smiled. "It must be pleasant |
to forget everything sometimes" he |
said You couldn't innoculate me.
could your"
ct never knew that it was infec- |
tious" said Dalton. 'Stin you might |
try it in the interest of science. She |
usually comes in for a chat in the |
evening She likes to talk about her |
case. She knows as much about the |
disease as I do"
He rank the bell and a trim nurse |
appeared. "Wili you ask Miss Smith |
he said, and he turned to Dick.
"I'll have to inroduce you as a re- |
porter" he said. ''She's not like the |
average charity patient in a clinic, you |
know. It's evident that she is gently |
bred and she might resent being on ex-
hibition."
Dick nodded, but when the door |
opened to admit the patient he scan |
dalized the physician by jumping up |
and clasping the girl in his arms
To Dalton's further amazement the |
patient did not appear to resent the ca
ress, and 1t was not until he stood be- |
side them that they appeared to re-
member his presence. Then they sep
arated, the girl blushing a rosy red.
THE sight of Mr.. Fitzgerald has re-
called me- she said in explanation. at /
am Audrey-Audrey Craven, am I |
not ?" she asked. Dick nodded
"I remember now" she went on. "I |
was to be married to Sir Henry. Where |
is Sir Henry, Dick %
Home" said Fitzgerald, beamingly. |
SAILED the other day. He was kicked |
out of the house for cursing at your