The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-10
THE EVENING STORY
His Ideal.
by Desta E. Brown woods.l

by Desta E. Brown Woods-l
Now, Harry, honestly you don't be-
ieve that?''
Yes I do. A true woman is always
coward Brave is a masculine ad1ec-
tive. incapable of being used with
feminine noun.
ooh. bosh! You are old-fashioned,
my boy"
neither Joan of Arc nor Boadicaea stirs
my heart, like certain little girl who
faints when she pricks her finger with
pin"
ideal is based on what you think to be
Miss Osborne's character. Now. for my
part, I believe that young lady capable
of heroism."
the very thought Of physical pain turns
her cheek pale; but in the matter Of
moral courage-well could stake my
life on her there. She has such a high
ideal of truth and honor. She is So
ooh. yes. yes! Spare me! Remem-
Der am not in love-"
An hour later he was sitting with his
hancee, puzzled, panied expression on
his face.
IT don't think that understand you
he said slowly. You don't mean that
you told your father the money was
for charity, when you were spending
| it on this silly speculation
| Jessie Osborne's pretty cheeks were
very pink.
well, thought 1t a good investment
| and father never let's me try stocks.
But, Jessie. you have been deceivlns
| him for months"
A pair Of little white hands new TO
| hide the pink cheeks.
| "Oh, I'm sorry. Tn miserable-and
you don't care" came in broken sons.
There. there" he said soothingly'
as he took the slight form in his arms
ct didn't mean to be cross, but my
darling, We must be honest. We must
help each other to be true and morally
brave"
home, "her father must have known
| from the first what she was doing ana
| simply meant to give her lesson py
| allowing her to proceed. Poor little GIRL
she didn't mean any harm. put al
| disappointed I didn't think her capa-
| BILE of the slightest deception"
AS he turned the corner. lead1ng 70
his boarding house, the light streamed
out from Dr.. Gordon's ofiice ana ne
| IT say, Nell, you don't look weill
What's the natter" the doctor IN
quired. T
"Oh, I believe I have nerves, and
| haven't slept we'll lately"
you had better let me give You
sleeping draught and then take
weeks rest soon."
The sleeping draught had the desired
effect. and scarcely had Harrys neao
1
ped in deep slumber. After time ne
| was dtmly conscious of hum or voices
in the street below. The room was not
and he tossed off some OF the ped-
| clothes, His throat smarted and MS
head ached. There was a strange roar
I, ing in his ears. He struggled TO rouse
| himself. but it was too great an enort,
and he lay dreamily listening TO the
| voices below.
came to terrified tones from Or. GOT
| don. 1T gave him a dope and the noise
has never wakened him.
I'VE must take rope to him. salo
Evans. and Harry wondered vaguely at
the unaccustomed ring In his friends
aBut howe" Again it was Dr.. Cor
don's voice THE front verandas are
all in flames" 80 tho
new building? That beam runs parallel
with his room. .a Mr.
1T would be madness" exclaimed MI, MI
Osborne 1.-THE beam Wouldnt nold
through at the end next the NELSON
Was it all a nightmare Harry won.
dered. or was it an awful reantyf but
the next words which reaGneu ND nnd
cleared the vapors from his praln anu
made him spring from his bed with a
The beam won't hold you heavy
men, but can go. I only weigh nus
ty hounds. I'll take the rope, caliie
in Jessie's well-loved voice
Neil rushed to the window ana hur-
riedly sized up the situation. his
; room was In the corner or the lhiIo
fiat, with two win 100 nna at the side.
From the front window he coulo see
+he firemen at work. The veranoas
and whole face Of the house were q
mass of fire and smoke w alSr Iluali
crackling Of the flames came like the
. 1aurhter of a victorious hends-
II He ran to the side window "A new
building was in process OF coIlse,u o
ton, but the skeleton STRUCTURE hau
: already caught fire.
Ths smoke cleared for an instant.
.,d the crowd below caught sight OF
him. He recognized the white races OF
MT Osborne, George Evans ana Dr.
. ! Gordon. Life was sweet was there
NJ escape? And again he scanned the
new building.
some one was coming to him. a
!, 1;rl in a Jersey waist, and short tweed
ssL;rt carving in her hand coil OF
rope' Her face was appraised for a
, mamen+ and he recognized Jessie Os-
/ borne. Frail, timid, little Jessie amid
The Are and srnokei She must not
. | $500 farther. and placing his hand on
tha window ledge, he prepared to de-
; scend. @.x, b.,ou
; Neil, for any sak g. r. o IL death for
| VOL, both !" shouted Evans
t Convinced that Evans was Llgnt, ne
nased and watched the girl below.
2 Light and agile as a kitten. sne
5 climbed from beam to brace and from
brace to beam
A few hours before he had boosted
! of his strength and bravery, yet here
; he was forced to stand with folded
t arms while this mite OF girl brought
hin, s,1ccor, The heat was intense ana
avarv nerve was strained to the ut
? most, as he watched the approaching
) figure. One wrong step meant DEAN.
. crowd. but Jessie reached the second
story in safety, and then advanced
: cautiously, until the third was gained.