The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-21
THE EVENING STORY
The Problem.
(By R. B. Shelton.)

OatSAiy AOOAC0 Up IL jill lAAC lAttCA "a
papers on the library table and re-
garded thoughtfully the pretty. anx-
ious face of the girl who sat close to
the fire.
I'D no idea your father was so
heavily involved in this matter" he
said. There is precious little left for
you. If he had lived, no doubt he
would have made an immense for
tune out of this thing. At is is-well.
about twenty-five hundred is all 1
up as best can"
The girl said nothing. The past few
days that Caverly had been figuring,
figuring, always figuring. had prepar-
ed her for the worst.
You can't live on what's left. Cath
erine," he said slowly. the while he
looked frowningly at the ceiling. You
simply can't. 1 really think the only
way out of this-the only feasible
way
He paused, while his frown deepen
ed.
What is the way you suggest, Jim ?"
the girl asked very quietly.
.Well, you see," said he, "I have
money enough Fact is. Catherine
have more than I know what TO do
with. You must let me take care or
you We better be married. you and
I. That will give me the right
The girl flushed. She looked at the
homely. honest face now bent again
ooh, Jim she said. breathlessly.
"How can you? 1 know how you
mean it, she hurried on, as look of
panied surprise crossed his face. You
good and too thoughtful. But mar
ried!" She laughed bit hysterlcally.
"Oh, dear, mol"
II wish you would" said he. rather
heavily :.As I say, 1 have money
in plenty. and this estate of your faith
ers-'
Jim, husht' said the girl. at is inn
possible Please, please don't say any
thing more about it. I'll take care OF
myself somehow. There's a little mon
| ey,, you say. Well and good. | shall
| have to support myself. I shall sim
ply have to learn to. There's my mu-
sic. I certainly should be able to do
| som ething with that I'm sure l can
| make a good bit giving Lessons
| Caverly looked doubtful. "Of course,
| If it's quite impossible"
cit is she declared.
| well then" said he. still dubious
| ~, you might try the music lessons.
But If you fail, the offer 1 just made
still holds good"
| He arose and picked up his hat and
gloves AS the door closed behind
| him the girl stood at the window.
| watching rather wistfully the broad
shoulders and the erect head, as their
| owner made his way toward the ave-
nue..
Something like a rueful smile curv-
| ed the corners of her mouth. If Jim s
| offer had only come under different
| circumstances and in a different way,
she was thinking, it would have SIM
plified matters amazingly.
| But Jim was such a Whole-souled,
| honest, slow-minded chap he never
could do a thing tactfully, nor hide
! the real import of his meaning
| Caverly, on his part. stalked down
4 <-kr
earth he had ever the courage to
make his offer, and feeling decidedly
Hike a man who had taken an unfair
| advantage. $50
Met he said scornfully to himself
and half aloud Catherine marry
me? don't blame her. I swear I
don't. My face would stop clock two
| blocks away; and I'm just about as
much suited to her as an elephant Is
to humming bird. Lord knows,
though, L can't bear the thought OF
her working for her living.
/ Nevertheless. the music lessons be-
gan. But somehow they were not a
/ great success. Catherine struggled on
| bravely, but pupils were few and far
between. and at the end of the first
year there had been an amazing
/ shrinkage of the slender legacy that
/ had come to her at her fathers sud-
| den death
| Another six months, and so little
1 was left that Catherine was genu-
| inely alarmed. 1t was then that Cav
erly heard the news one day that
| Catherine was to marry Frederick
| Brewster, her fathers partner. The
| rumor stirred him to action, and with
| no waste of time he hurried to the
4 house He found the girl in the lit
| tie library where he had seen her
last
/ 1t was a rather tired Catherine
| who greeted him-a thin and pitiful
Catherine. with big eyes and an air
Of WEAKNESS that reused his inmost
i being to anger.
/ Look here he said with all his
usual candor; you look just about
/ played OUT
"Well. am" she said. almost de-
! family.
"And what's all this hear about
your marrying Brewster" he de-
manded.
s"The truth" she said YEARLY.
i Caverly began pulling at the fingers
of his gloves. His brows were drawn
}, together and his eyes refused to meet
her own. Plainly there was some
thing he wanted to say. Catherine
knew the symptoms of old. She
waited patiently.
i What are you marrying him for p
he blurted out at length.
Money" said Catherine through
tight lips.
There was another period of silence
HE hasn't got as much money as
| have" said he.
The girl was silent.
why didn't you marry me?" he
said sharply. "Id have given yor
more money than he can. I'd have
been better to you, too, I'll warrant
you. 1 know Brewster. L can't heal
the thought of your marrying him
| You know me. You know I'll at leas
be decent to you. I'll not trouble you
I'll keep out Of your way as much a,
you ask. Why don't you marry me p
ct can't" she said.
"Why not?'' he demanded.
"Because-because- it's differ
emit I can't marry you just for mon
ey Jim. I can't. I can't"
why not?" he repeated inexorably
Don't you know?' the girl asked
. I I. fac.n f,rr-r ,ad