The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-22
THE EVENING STORY
winning Gloria.
(By Temple Bailey,l

IL Is not often that woman builds
house with her own hands. and then
the soil and getting out of it living
for herself and child.
But that is what Gloria Strong did
IN new country. and it had not
spoiled her beauty In fact. the sup
pleness of her young body, the vivid
color in her cheeks. the brightness of
her eyes testified to the power of out
of-doors and hard work in the making
OF the perfect type of woman.
There were people in the nearby
town who criticised Gloria why,
doesn't she take her little brother and
work in some kitchen? That would
be woman's work"
5 When Gabriel Marks heard that
taunt, he turned to the man who had
made it and demanded: "Can you
the whims and caprices of another
woman-your wife, for example
II don't see." Seth Bowles retorted,
that my wife has any more ,whims
than the rest of them"
NO.. Gabriel admitted. ''but the
women of our town weren't brought
up to keep servants. and they don't
know how to treat them. And 1 can't
imagine Gloria Strong taking orders
from any one
Not even from a husband?" Seth
sneered. "If Gloria Strong should
"
master of any woman
Gabriel felt that he would like to
strike that sheer from Seth's face.
But he knew the futility of such a
feeling. What could such a man
know of the tfmidity which the most
masterful man feels when in the pres
ence of the woman he loves?
It was this very tinidity which had
at first kept Gabriel from confessing
his love for Gloria He had titled the
soil Of the adjoining farm. and as the
two plows had met at the fence cor
ners, the man and the woman had
rested and talked in the shade of the
trees. It was In these moments, stol-
en- from toll, that Gabriel had learned
to appreciate the sweetness of wom-
anliness which lay behind the almost
masculine firmness of G1oria's char
acter. There had been hot days, too.
when the small brother, Bensie, had
brought from the house a pitcher of
cool milk, and the brown bread and
cream cheese for his sisters lunch.
And she had made Gabriel share these
things.
1T is So easy for me to make more"
she had said, land you have to depend
on stuff from the bakery-you must
get tired of it,
How do you manage to do mans
work and woman's?" Gabriel uues-
toned.
For moment a shadow lay in her
eyes, then she laughed ST am hap
pier" -he said. when I am busy"
Three times in five years Gabriel
asked her to marry him. But she
would not. 81 must live my life alone .
she had said, and would not be per-
suaded beyond that.
Gabriel was patient man and a
strong one. He bided his time, but
couraged. She seemed SO divorced
from any need of masculine protec-
ton. Yet he often sighed, wishing
that some chance might bring her to
him to ask a favor, SO that he might
show his willingness to die for her If
need be.
At last the chance came, and al
though she did not ask him to give
his life for her, she asked something
greater than that, for she put his
honor at stake.
you remember, Gabriel" she said
coming into his house one night when
winter storm ragged, that you told
me that an old woman had given you
some money in trust for her soma
queer old woman who feared banks
there was five thousand dollars-and-
and must have 1t tonight"
wait until the morning and I will
get 1t from the bank
81 can't watt have just had let
ter from Cyrus living"
Cyrus Twing-you know himf
Yes,
but he is a sailor who left seven
years ago, and you have lived here
only three
Il know-but I knew him-before I
came"
Something in her manner, something
furtive, stung him into the demand
What is he to your?
She held out an imp1oring hand
''Don't ask me. Only give me the
money. He has forged a note. Unless
1 can get the money to him tonight he
will be arrested and 1t will all come
QUIT will all come out"
She sank in a huddled bunch at his
feet. His eyes softened as he looked
down at her. ''Tefl me-" he said, "sure-
ly you can trust me. Gloria"
YES" she whispered. Eyes, I can
trust you"
"Then tell me-what is Cyrus
living to your"
She threw up her head and faced
him. HE is-my husband"
"Your-?" But no sound came from
his lips as he stood staring at her.
blankly
yes and Bensie is my child I was
married when I was very young and
lived on the coast-and Cyrus came
home from India, and he gave me a
string of pearls and a coral comb, and
he told me tales of strange countries
until I was fascinated. And we were
ledge. Cyrus dared not confess. be-
cause he was afraid she might leave
away from him the faw paitry dollars
that are in that box. At first I did
not understand 1 thought 1t was be-
cause he loved me SO much that he
wanted to have me all to himself but
later I learned that he had a sweet
heart In every port. Then his mother
moved west, and came too, for Cyrus
sailed away on a long cruise. and he
promised that when she died. for she
was old and i'll. he would confess his
marriage to me. But told him after
Bensie's birth that did not want the
world to know had found him out,
and I didn't want Bensie ever to have
to own such a father. So I worked
and shaved and have made a place
There are strange things in this
world" said Gabriel, heavily his mind
dwelling on the fact that she was a