The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
THE EVENING STORY
That Thing Called Love.
(By Jeanne Olive Loizeaux. }


(By Jeanne Olive Loizeaux.)
Dr. Thomas Denman. on his way
from call. stopped at the first good
cafe he passed, hung up his fur coat
and cap, and looked about the crowd
ed place for a seat. The pre-Christ-
mas stir of gayety and hurry irritated
him-why should the world hurry?
It was. he thought. making the u.s.
ual hustle about nothing. Then he
saw an empty chair at a small side
table and walked over to it, asking
permission to sit opposite the little
old lady on the other side. She bowed
graciously and let the waiter give her
some soup.
The meal passed in silence save for
an occasional word of courtesy in
passing salt or sugar, and the little
lady began to study the anxious young
face before, her. Why did this big,
blonde. healthy young man eat SO lit
tile? She noted the fine, trained
white hand crumbling piece of bread
the surgeons hand. He was so man
ifestly worried and unhappy that her
always open heart went out to him.
Would he. young enough to be her son,
resent a question?
Excuse me-" she finally ventured,
"but are you ilI-or in trouble?' He
glanced up. surprised, but his face
tude. He suddenly wished for
| mother-like this woman. OF course
his own mother was dead-he liked to
| think that she would never have left
him nameless in an orphanage-sure-
| ly no n1othor would do that! He smil-
| ed at the little old lady ruefully.
'It has been called a disease he
replied. "And isn't it trouble to be
| engaged to one girl, and very much
afraid you are in love with another?
What would you advise your son in
such a case 90
He waited in silence while the wait
er changed his plate.
Suppose you tell me what the case
is?" she suggested in a low, inviting
tone. Sometimes it is a great
help just to tell it OUT
| He hesitated moment, then con-
cluded to do the unheard-of thing,
for he never talked about himself.
even to a friend.
well, since you're so good - I'm
doctor-been practicing three years,
and just heginning to make good. I
| don't know who afsa-I wasSleftE
named at an orphanage. I ran away
at ten. named myself. and worked my
way through college. Then I did
charity work in a clinic for the slums
and learned the SORROWS of the poor
T probably came from originally. A
| rich man interested in philanthropy
gave me money to study in Europe.
| I came back and established myself
and have repaid him every cent. Also
I am engaged to his only daughter
met her in Settlement work. She
is wrapped up in it. She is lovely and
kind. She has a heart and brains.
and money and position we could
help each other, and our Joined forces
would be a power. I wanted to be
a helper for I have suffered in lone
| illness and want. And 1 thought I
| loved her-we became firm friends.
And then I found the other girl, and
/ I don't know how to tell Helen-I
| can't He looked up alphabetically.
Tall n@, III nff her cyir
will never see me again.
81 found her desperately Ill with
pneumonia in a clinical hospital, where
she was taken from a students board
ing house. It looked q hopeless case.
but pulled her through by sheer force
of purpose. I believe. don't see yet
/ why she lives. She is mere child
only eighteen, and nearly through
business college. She is so very pref
ty it makes me shudder to have her
go to work in an office. And she is
delicate. She is an orphan, and ]
know her money must be almost gone.
She insisted on paying me, and was
. insulted at the smallness of my bill.
She will barely speak to me. / know
she still needs care, but the last time
) called while passing she refused to
see me. And-well-confoun the
: thing called love- he muttered.
Then he came to himself.
ST do beg your pardon! forgot
myself"
The old lady leaned forward in
; willingly over the table. who takes
care of her?" she asked
"That's what's taking the life out OF
; me. That cheap boarding house
8 What can I do? I can't send her q
: check. neither can buy beefsteak and
shoes and warm clothing for her
} unless I marry her. And there are hum
dreds as badly off as she. She is as
| proud and upright as a flower. ]
don't even dare send her the small
/ est sort of present. She seemed even
) at the hospital to be on the watch
l quired by law!- Do you suppose my
: feeling can be-n.ereIy pity? For
) you see, with Helen.s help could take
care of hundred girls like that. Hell
! S fty." mas the means anu nay
The fine old face grew thoughtful
) 'Why not tell Helen about her ano
: let her look after herr"
"Why-I-never thought of IL
Would it be fair to-Kafe? I dons1
think she would like to have another
woman-know she needed anything'
Wouldn't she feel like that?'' he STAN.
: mered sadly.
!. feel, and Immediately. She has a righ'
I to know. Doubtless she will be abb
to set you right"
He picked ruefully at his salad. q
don't believe you understand how
| feel I want to be a helper in the
world And it seems selfish to stoI
, by the way simply to make myself
! happy by taking care of one little
: girl. I have secretly in my hear
i pledged myself to the worlds multi
|, tudes of sick and poor and wicked
Kate could never help me. She is Z
; delicate flower to be cherished. She
: is the sweetest thing-oh. of course
Il can't tell you! Only-in war time Z
I man does not let heart ties keep hin
a from the battle. you know
The woman nodded her head UNI
4 derstandingly. YES" she reflected
i as from many years back. st know
The only man in the world for me
(: married the girl he was engaged t.