The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-30
THE EVENING STORY
The Damaged Article.
(Rv Annie Hinrichsen.N

A donkey, drawing a small cart,
strolled leisurely along the road 1t
was winding road, which led up a
long hill and lost itself on the high
cliffs above the lake. The donkey
followed the road to the cliffs and as
his driver left his destination to his
own wishes he turned into a fork that
ended at a cabin built on the edge of
a BLUM. Here he stopped, planted his
feet wide apart and refused to retrace
his journey.
Miss Neale stepped from the cart
and tried to turn him. Billy stood.
bear cub Billy, with one jump
loosened Miss Neale's hold on the
bride, turned and galloped down the
road
my bear is harmless" A young
man came from the cabin. Il am
sorry your donkey has been fright
ened."
Mildred Neale's eyes opened wide.
Well groomed young men in tailored
clothes did not inhabit the cliff cabins.
The young man looked after the de-
parting Billy. rs your home far from
here?"
"six miles"
''Will you let me take you there in
my carr"
"A car in this region -
Il brought a lot of my junk. in
Guiding my car. with me when 1
moved here" the man explained.
woods the other day-has chased
away your steed. you will surely let
me provide you with another convey
ance."
the world, do you? ?" he asked as the
car glided away from the cliffs.
Il live at the Willow Branch farm.
You know the place."
"A model, up-to-date little farm. l
have often passed it,
n
woman agriculturist." Her brown
eyes met his frankly without the
WaVering of self consciousness. Her
voice was devoid of the accent of the
locality.
Have you always lived at Willow
Branch farm ?" he asked.
mo. The place was my refuge
after my fathers death. When his
estate was settled this farm, which l
had never seen. was all that was left
for me. I came here to try my for
tune as lady farmer. And you?
Why are you living on the bluf?'
He turned abruptly from her. grip
ped the steering wheel and shot the
again he had apparently forgotten her
question.
Nearly every day the big car came
from the cliff above the lake to Will
at first acquaintance had feared it as
greatly as he had the bear, recognized
it as a familiar friend.
''No man." the cliff dweller an
nounced has right to bind wom-
an unless he can come to her as
whole man. sound in body and in rep
utation. The greater his love the less
willing should he be to give her less
than she gives him"
AS Barnard spoke Mildred watched
his face. On his forehead and around
his eyes and lips were lines of mental
pain.
but suppose she suggested, that
the woman cares for him p
He should not allow her to-" he
answered CURLY. He should go away
.as-a3 I intend to-"
Are you going away?''
81 must. It is the only decent thing
1 can do. You know I love you, Mild |
red But you don't know-you don't
know why 1 must not ask you to love
me-
He hurried out of the room.
A few hours later Billy trotted into !
the yard of the cliff dwellers cabin
He had come very fast. His driver /
jumped from the cart before it stop /
ped and hurried toward the house. !
Barnard came to meet her.
1T is not true" Her face was white !
and her lips were quivering. but her |
voice was firm. Il do not believe a !
word of it. You could not have done
It."
Done what?"
ried. 1t was the magazine section Of
4 Sunday edition filled with stories of |
people famous and Infamous. On the /
front page was large picture of the /
cliff dweller. Beneath 1t were great |
black letters. Remarkable Disap-
Dearance of Daring Embezzler. Man /
Who Wrecked Garden Bank Still at
Liberty. No Clew." Several columns
descriptive of the gentlemanly male
factor and his crimes followed.
The cliff dweller read the story.
so you don't believe 1 did it?" he
asked.
Il know you did not"
"Whv do you know it?''
Because I know absolutely that
7ou are good and honorable and true
know it by the look in your e. IS and
ion which is given to a woman to
show her the difference between truth
md dishonor. I understand now why
rou would not ask me to care for you.
You thought your wrecked reputation
made you a man UNIT for woman to
owe But you are not a bank wreck
II, and / care for you even if you will
Tot ask me to-
s'Will you go back into the world
With me if 1 give myself up and stand
~ me while 1 try to prove my inno-
,ence2"
Eyes"
He turned a page of the paper. The
second page contained a picture OF a
nan weak of chin and crafty of eve
Beneath 1t in large letters were the
words John Morley Barnard. Young
millionaire Seeks Health in Lonely
Cabin on Lake Shore Well Known
Capitalist Lives in Retirement with
IN Automobile and a Pet Bear-"l
There We're several columns describ-