The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-25
THE EVENING STORY
The Man VINO Failed.
(By Virginia Blair.)


duly, ST have lost my money and r
have lost the girl
Durham smoked in sympathetic 81
lence- IF she is worth her salt she
won't let you give her up"
I shan't leave the decision to her"
Stafford said. quickly. IT wrote her
| this morning that I couldn't drag her
down to poverty. Besides she couldn't
love a man who has failed"
"Oh, look here Durham expostu-
lated. You haven't failed in anything
except an investment that has taken all
your money. But you've got your
profession
Yes Stafford laughed. bitterly. land
do you know what that means, Dun
nam! 1 have got to make a good ap-
pearance before the world. have got
to keep my office up, and my automo-
biles-although everything I have Is
mortgaged up to the limit. It's all very
Well for a man living alone to econo-
mize closely, but you can't ask a
woman to do thing like that"
Then don't try to bluff it out" Dun
ham advised. bluntly. Wind up your
affairs and start in a humble way in a
different neighborhood."
NO., was the stubborn reply. do
you think Margaret Dare would care TO
marry a man that the world called a
failure? She is too proud for that
she is a loving woman before she is
a proud one was Dunham's shrewd
estimate.
She Is loving light came into
Safford's eyes, then f1ickered and died
but can't take advantage of her af-
| lection, Durham
You have already taken advantage
of it," Durham said. quietly; you won
| were uncertain
| But was so sure" Stafford said.
There was the doubt Durham in
sisted. There is always a doubt when
q man puts money into gold mines.
ana you were too busy looking after
other peoples ills to watch the men
VINO were managing your affairs 1t
isn't your fault that you 1ost-but it is
Margaret's right to say whether she
VIII share your misfortunes as well as
your fortunes"
But I am as proud as Lucifer," the
doctor began, land to feel that I am
dragging her down.
II know" Durham smoked for a
moment thoughtfully, his eyes on the
fire, then he said with some hesita-
ton, that's the reason I never tried
TO win her. I am only half a man,
SANFORD. am down and out as far as
my ambitions are concerned. Since
| the days you and I studied medicine
together you have gone UP, but I am
known as man who can't be trusted
| because he-drinks.''
His voice sank and died away, but
presently he went on. But I want
Margaret Dare to be happy, and you
have no right to turn her away now,
Philip"
''weH. won't let her marry a man
| reiteration.
He was interrupted by the tinkle
of the telephone. There was a baby
| ill somewhere in the suburbs He
threw on his coat and started Good,
! old man. he said before he left. 'T
know you want us both to be happy
| but somehow life has cheated me of
| happiness
selves" said Durham wisely, and
stared once more into the dying fire.
| There. was fight foy the baby's life
and Stafford drove home at dawn. He.
morning was symbolic Of the life that
stretched before him without Mar
garet.
He had Few hours sleep and came
down to find the that the morning
mail had come. There was a letter
from Margaret. "Come to me this
morning. she said. eff you have ever
| loved me-come.''
His pride fought against going. He
| felt that he could not face her. He
had held his head so high. He had
lavished upon her all the bounty of
| his wealth and now he was to present
himself to her as {. man who had
| failed.
But he went, and she received him
in the great library. A fire burned on
the hearth. Beside it basked a moon
eyed Persian cat. Everywhere there
was the evidence of luxury. The
| thought of Margaret driven to econo-
mize stabbei him. She was born for
power, for position. He would not
| take them from her.
! Even as he thought of her she came
toward him swiftly, a little graceful
figure in her clinging gown of dull blue
LAS If you could get rid of me-" she
said, and lifted her face for his kiss
| DON'T he said hoarsely.
| She turned very white. do Won
mean," she said slowly, that you are
going to let little thing like losing
your money stand between us?'
1T is not little thing
"Oh," she flung out her hands. "Do
you think am made only for ease, for
softness? Do you think that 1 am a
woman who can't work by your side
who wouldn't be glad to show you how
1 can help?'
But you don't know" he told her
| what il means. If take you into ms
life the world must know that l have
failed. But could not let you suffer. -
Oh her eyes blazed. ut is your
between u.s."
NO" he said, sit is not that; but I
have failed, Margaret
She saw the pain in his eyes. the
working Of his strong features, and she
heart; let me help"
For just one moment he gathered her
into his arms.
Then he said. .'There is no other way.
dearest I must win the money back,
and can't ask you to spend all voI,r
youth in waiting
Why shouldn't I wait?'' she asked
quickly. There never will he anv
other man, Philip
He looked at her 81 am man xrb,
has failed" he repeated bitterly.
She swayed toward him a little. do
you call 1t failure" she demanded.
simply because you have lost a Httie
money: If you had failed to answer
the call of those who suffer. If vo1, r,a \
neglected the boy with the broken Ien
or the baby who is going bIind-thaf