The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-24
THE EVENING STORY

(By Temple Bailey.)

| At the foot of the pine tree the
cousins made their compact.
Neither of US shall ask Corinne to
marry us until we have twelve hun
| dred a year"
I'm this forest that would be riches
Maurice, the younger, said.
1T is easy enough to earn Hugo
boosted.
He was a man of great strength,
| and he had studied law. He meant to
wrest fame from the world. He was
sure that he should win Corinne. but
| one owed something to past friend
ship. and he and Maurice had played
| together as boys. They had loved
| their fair little cousin, but as yet they
/ had nothing to offer her. Hugo was
going to the city to seek his fortune;
| hence it might be judged that his COM
| pact with the cousin, who was to stay
on the field, was not entirely disinter-
ested.
Suppose" Maurice said. slowly,
that Corinne should love one of US
now; what then. Hugo?"
"She is too young to know her own
mind; We will watt
! IT wish" Maurice's tone was visit
| full, that I had a profession. But
there have always been so many to
| support, and the work in the lumber
camp been steady"
And you are the steady fellow to
do it," was Hugo's reply. Some day
you will be foreman"
1T shall stand little chance" said
Maurice sadly, against you, and
| Corinne deserves the best that life can
| give her."
said q voice from the other side of the
pine tree, and they turned quickly to
| see sprite in red and gray, who look
ed at them reproachfully.
| ST heard your bargaining she said.
| do you think that I am to be
Il was afraid" was Hugo's bold as
sertion, that you would marry Maui
rice before I had time to win you"
stamped her foot ct will marry Meth
er of you, 1 swear it-as long as this
! pine tree lasts"
Their eyes took in the firmness and
youth and strength of the tree, and
| they turned pale.
4 have said it, her lips trembled.
but her cheeks were red. 81 will not
| have my love bought"
| She was gone before they could stop
her. For a moment their eyes met
| blankly, then Hugo said, I'll cut it
"she would know it," Maurice said
heavily. perhaps it is the will of
God. Men have no right to talk of
bought or sold. 1t is sacred"
"Nonsense!" Hugo's brow was black.
''When 1 come back with a fortune
she will marry me: Women qe1n+ are like
|
"Corinne is different" Maurice
said, heavily.
Again Hugo insisted. "She will mar
ry me, 1 tell you, when I show her
| what I can give"
Maurice stood up and spoke hotly.
| ct would rather she lived singly till
her dying day than have her break her
word. 1t is her goodness that love"
After that Hugo went away, and
Maurice plodded daily to the forest.
Often as he came home tired he passed
the pine tree, standing straight and
tall by the roadside. In his mind 1T
stood as a symbol of lost happiness
1t was as if Corinne had given her
word of betrothal to the tree, that
only it's death would give her the
right of widowhood to be sought by
another. He grew to hate its slim
strength, its vigor, its proud head
which was never beaten down by
storms.
"Do you think" Maurice demanded
of it one evening, as he walked home
in the shadows, do you think that
you are stronger than L? We shall
see-I love Corinne-surely the good
Lord will let me have her
Once he spoke of it to Corinne
why did you say such a thing ?" he
| in your heart for me-are we to live
and die alone while the pine tree
| fourishes?"
Il wish had not said it, she con-
fessed, eyes trimming, lips quivering;
''I wish had not-but Hugo hate
Hugo, and I gave my oath, and now
nothing can change that. Can it,
Maurice; oh. can it. Maurice?"
Nothing but the will of God" he
told her, grayely. II would not have
you break your word"
But Hugo had no such scruples. and
| when he came back at the end of the
year he brought a necklace of pearls
and a ring with blue stones for Co
rhine.
at have the house in town." he told
| her, land a servant to work for you.
Luck has been with me, Corinne.''
'T do not love you,' she told him,
land besides I made my promise to the
pine tree
He laughed and caught her hand.
| "a woman's promises" he said, ARE
like thistledown; they blow here and
there with the wind
"Can you think that of me?" CO.
| rinne demanded, "and love me?''
'I want you for my Wife" Hugo said
land the pine tree has nothing to do
with it,
'In your case" Corinne said with
spirit, ''the pine tree has nothing to
| do with it. I wouldn't marry you If
| you were the only man on earth, but
love Maurice. Is that answer enough,
! Hugo ?"
At the look on her face. he turned
on his heel and went away, knowing
that there at least was one woman
whose will was not the winds will.
A little later, as Maurice came along
| the road from his evening toll, he
| found Corinne at the foot of the pine
| tree. sobbing.
soh. what am I going to do?" she
said to him. Must I live my life
alone, Maurice %
They were simple folk. holding on