The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-14

and his hair thinned bit more; but
his smile grew very gentle and fine
quality crept into his voice. He slept
and began to be really rested, and
some of the daze passed.
After a few months he began to
read again-magazine stories--fool
ish things, but they reminded him
love and laughter in the world.
Then there was Ninette. She was
the landlady's little girl, curly headed,
warm hearted. With the confidence
walked into his heart and took pos
session. She would come up to his
room, creep into his arms and demand
story. Unable to deny her anything,
he bestirred his memory, his imagi-
nation. and the stories became an es-
cape from reality.
1t was his first step up from the
depths of apathy. He would think
things out to tell the baby and he took
to buying her candy and cheap toys.
had practiced self-indulgence. He did
it as a lover wastes gifts on the lady
of his dreams. One night the child,
over tired. fell asleep, her yellow lit
tie head on his breast; and he held her
awhile before carrying her down to
her mother, who was none too sorry
to have the care of the child fall some
times upon this big, kind man.
He became lighter of heart and
brighter, and his work had a tinge of
his boyish energy in it. 1t occurred
to him one morning just as the senior
partner came up to speak to him to
| ask for raise. Without giving him
self time to weigh and ponder, he did
| it confidently on the spot. The re-
quest was granted: he had forgotten
| that man was valued by himself and
! that others rated him with some de-
| pendence upon this valuation.
| That night he bought a new gray
suit and took the band from his hat.
1t was early summer. and he took
Ninette out for walk in the little
park.
Sitting in red swing in the twi-
! light, with the sleepy child in his
arms. all of sudden his heart was
full of Amy Bartlett. Where was
| she? He longed to see her, to hear
her gentle voice and see the wom-
AMY, motherly, comforting smile
Being fair himself, he liked dark
women; there was to him something
deep and sweet about them. He re-
membered that Amy had a dimple
in her plump cheek. Then he car
| ried the little one home and went to
his room with his mind full of Amy
| Bartlett.
The next day he asked Mrs. Farley
who had been years in the office, what
had become of her. The older woman
looked at him with a sort of pity be-
fore she replied.
''Well. you actually want to know
She's at Woody s-two whole blocks
away. John Akers! And while were
talking about her, let me tell vol
something-you're the most awful
idiot. Well, it's time you were
catching STEP
That night he walked out of the of
flee thinking. What had Mrs. Farley
mean What? He did not go home
He went for walk, passing out of thu
hot streets to a Quieter way, one tina
led to the little park. 1t was earl.
evening. He went along, and then sud
denly he turned his head to glance a
a woman sitting on a bench. He me
her dark eyes.
1t was Amy Bartlett. and he wen
straight to her-it was as if she Nigh
disappear before he could tell he
something. She held out her han'
and gave him a smile, but there wa
a pathetic look in her eyes. A grea
light came to him.
Amy he said low and breathless
", "do you know how 1 have starved
for you? how I have loved you? D
you know? I wanted you to know
it will be easier then to go on alone.
She choked a little and he saw tina
her eyes were brimming with tears.
"Alone? Why should 1t be alone
John?"
They sat long into the twilight, an,
the heavy past lifted itself like a mis-
and floated away, and love REVEALED
her clear and shining face.-(Copy
} righted 1910 by Associated Literar
Press.)