The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-14
The EVENING STORY
Her Secret.

I
glass told her that and the faces OF
| her friends of her own age who had
faded about her until she was left like
the one perfect flower in a cluster,
conspicuous by her brightness.
Her little sister had just announced
| that Mr.. Bridges had driven up in
front of the house and was waiting to
| take her driving.
! But Virginia sat still She had just
: been making a resolution never to go
driving with him again and here he
was. She clenched her hands tight
"Just this once!" she pleaded to her
conscience. Her eyes met the longing
ones in the glass. Gust this once. And
I'll tell him. I will be honest. His
heart shan't break even if mine does,
She turned to her sister.
Dorothy, dear, tell Mr.. Bridges III
be right down." she said gently. Then
she rose and put on her hat
1t did seem so good to be sitting be
side him again. If only it were not for
that miserable thing which she had
promised herself she would make
known to him before the drive was
such a strong, good face oh, il would
be bitterly hard to tell him!
He seemed to have something on his
mind, too He was so grave and silent.
And whenever he looked at her 1t was
with quiet penetration.
Virginia leaned back against the
thick cushion trying to steady herself
She did not notice that Plume had
stopped LEOIIlQR ana was walking SLOW
~. But when a hand fell over hers she
started and looked into the eyes of
the man whose face had come sudden
~ near to hers.
''Virginial Dear little grill"
She knew what must come after
those words. but she could not speak.
Virginia eyes held hers-"I
love your Then he smiled his swift.
gentle smile, as If her silence had re-
assured him.
That smile seemed to break the
SPELL Virginia remembered that she
drew her hand from his and began to
say something wildly--what, she did
not know until his changed, white face
stopped her.
Virginia. what are you saying?
Promised-you? I will not believe it,
His stern voice braced her.
"Oh, but you must-you must!" she
said.
''I will not believe it. viii not be-
lieve that you do not care for me, that
1t isn't true. is it, dear?" His voice had
softened again. He put his arm about
her and drew her against him until
her cheek touched his.
TELL me all about it," he urged. ST
must know it all. There is some mis-
take somewhere, am sure. Tell, me,
Virginia
He released her gently and waited.
desperately.
"I'lI tell you everything. Arthur
she said. 81 promised myself that I
would before this drive was ended. I
could not, somehow I shall begin at
the beginning and tell it all, and then
You may think what you please of
me.
ut happened ten years ago, when I
was. about IS. and Andrew two years
older. We had known each other al
ways. He lived in that little gray house
next to ours, until his father got into
some financial difficulty and lost what
property he had. Mr.. Hall never could
get along somehow. I always liked An
drew better than any other boy; he
was so good hearted and gentle. One
night when we were walking home |
from church he asked me to marry
him. Virginia hurried little TT was
June and there was beautiful moon |
light. I had never dreamed of marry
ed so handsome and he seemed so |
much in earnest that I promised be-
fore thought. Then was frightened. |
because I knew my people would never |
she was afraid Andrew would be just |
like his father, and never amount to |
anything So we decided to keep our !
engagement a secret.
"Just after that Mr.. Hall was taken |
with a great desire to go west. He |
knew he could do something out |
there. I think he had an idea that |
gold nuggets could be picked up like |
acorns. Anyway. he was perfectly |
crazy to go and he went and took An |
drew with. him. We wrote back and |
forth pretty steadily for a while: |
Andrew didn't like the west very well
and his father was disappointed, but /
they would have to stay there until /
they had earned money enough to get |
back home with Well, don't know
II was in school and there were so |
many things to take my time that 1 |
guess I grew careless about writing |
and Andrew seemed to grow just as
LII h. LII
father were constantly on the move. !
think they must have travelled the |
west over pretty thoroughly. The last
time I heard from Andrew was three
years ago. He said he was still trying 1
to get rich and talked of going to the
Klon/ike. I answered the letter, but
perhaps he never got it.
you are the first person ever told
TITS to- she said looking earnestly at
II see.' he said. quietly. He thought
he could understand what manner OF
man it was that would keep a girl to a
foolish promise in this way for eleven
@You really think. Virginia. that
Andrew will come back?' he asked.
YES; I really think So
And you viii marry him if he
Virginia turned very pale.
you see, Virginia. Bridges went
on. gently, 81 have some old fashioned |
notions about these things. Unless
YOU love him you have no business to
marry him, were you twenty times
promised to him. It would not be fair
to him and it would be most unjust to
yourself
Virginia never had thought OF that.
Now, I'll tell you what shall do.
for I think have something to say in
this matter. I will wait just one more ]
wear for Andrew to put in his appear
ance-just one year, not a day more or
less and if he doesn't come then I
shall take YOU for myself. Do YOU
understand me, virginia p