The Topeka state journal., 1911-04-24
The EVENING STORY
In the Sand Hills.
(Ry Phf1in KaanN.

In the Sand Hills.
(By Philip Kean.)
"I can never marry you and live
here" Margaret told her lover.
why not?" Allan demanded.
"I hate this country" Margaret said,
'I thought when 1 came to Michigan
to teach that should find it fertile
land, but here on the shores of the
lake 1t Is all sand and sky and water"
II like it," Allan said sI was
brought up here, and somehow the
shifting of the sand and the wind
across the lake are music to me-
Margaret shrugged her shoulders
you don't know of anything better"
Allan grew little white. Perhaps
not" he said. ST realized as soon as
you came that I had my limitations
You have seen so much of the world"
oh, If you could Sc the city on the
other side of the lake." Margaret said;
with the lights af;d the life and the
gayety. Sometimes I long for it until
1t seems as if my heart would burst.
Some day am going back to it."
And I'll be left alone.' Allan said.
why shouldn't you Gomez" she
asked. There are many openings for
men in the city. You would succeed"
He shook his head. ''I think not L
am not used to men; 1 mean to the
strife and striving of men. My father
opened the first store in the commu-
nifty. He made solid reputation for
himself and / have followed in his
Footsteps. All the country people come
here; they are my people and this is
my country
But you would love it," she urged.
''The excitement would be like wine in
your veins. When 1 was at college we
used to go downtown, crowd of us
at night. and it seemed as If all the
world was young and gay, and here
there is nothing but silence, and all
day teach. 1t is monotonous grind
when the spring comes I am going
away; I am going back to the city, and
some day you will follow me-" She
looked up at him with a challenge in
her eyes.
"I think not" he told her. "Yet
who can tell? I feel that you are
mine, that I cannot live without you;
must work it out"
She came very close to him. eff
you will come to the city" she urged,
81 will marry you-and We will live
happy ever after.''
He caught her in his arms. "You
will marry me he demanded. ''Then
some day I'll come, but 1t may be that
we shall not live happily. may be
like a Gagged wild bird. You may be
ashamed of me-"
But she shook her head. "I shall
never be ashamed of you,' she said.
But I don't love you well enough to
live among the sand hills
When the spring came she went
back to town. She had wrung a half
promise from him that he would fol-
low her, yet as the summer waned he
wrote that he could not yet make a
change in his business. IT was not the
time to sell out. wouldn't she come
back?
sNo, no, no." was her answer.
His answer came back. eff you love
me you will live among the sand hills
Secure in her power, however, she
flung defiance at him.
You'll come" she said, II know it.
I am going to teach here this winter"
At Christmas time he visited her.
"I must look around" he said, and
she showed him all the sights of the
big city, all the glitter and glare and
Igayety.
don't like the pace you live; there isn't
air enough or sunshine enough; and
you are looking white
"Silly,'' she said. and dared not tell
him of her sleepless nights.
you'll come back ?' she pleaded, as
he left.
He looked down into her pale face.
"Yes,'' he said briefly, "I'I come soon
and marry you but I can't tell you
what kind of husband I'll be if live
here. 1 wasn't born to be Gagged
anu WASN'T 10 1lSIeH W INC
wind and the waves and the shifting
of the sand,'' she said bitterly.
Once more he visited her before he
made his final decision. He found her
fainting and gasping in her hot rooms.
Tomorrow we'll be married." he
said with decision. land I shall take
you back to the sand hills
"But,'' she protested
"You need not stay" he told her, "if
you do not like it,
Their honeymoon journey was trip
on the lake. 1t was golden morning
when they came to their destination.
Margaret, drawing deep breaths OF
the summer air. whispered: Il shall
I like to stay here a little while, but
We'll go back, won't we?''
"'If you wish it, he said, gravely.
He led her into the rooms he had
prepared for her. The broad, low
windows faced the lake The soft sum-
mer winds stirred the curtains and
brought refreshing GOODNESS.
"I will leave you here" Allan said.
| Curled up on the window seat, Mar
garet drank in the beauty of the view,
and was rested by the quiet and cool
ness.
| She fought against the charm of it
all. "But 1 love the city" she told
herself vehemently.
They had their supper OF the wide
porch, and after long winter of badly
prepared food Margaret's appetite was
tempted by the delicious fare.
| That night Allan worked late at his
books in the back of the store. 1t was
liz o'clock when Margaret stole in.
| do you mind" she asked gravely,
ssif watch v011 7''