The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-17

who was proud enough, too, whose ma
thence had manifestly come at last to
an end. No one blamed Corey.
once in her own room. Leona's
struggle with herself began. Her re-
turn was duly chronicled in the pa
pers. Would he come tc see her? An
other precious day. and no word. In
secret and feverishly she packed and
disposed of Ill her many belonginss.
hardly knowing why. Her father
tnougnt she WassiH and talked doctor
and travel He dared not ask about
Corey. but secretly thought If she had
nnally sent him away that he, John
Scott, had missed a fine son-in-law.
Not that he wanted to lose his girl,
either, but he wanted her happiness.
Then Leona walked up one morning
to know that on the evening of the
next Kingston Corey would start for
South America evidently alone-surely
without coming to see her, even to bid
her good-by. She did not consider
that good-by would be a hard thing
for him to say when his heart had de-
pended on taking her with him.
AT noon even her pride deserted her.
She went to the telephone, called for a
special messenger, and sat down to her
desk. She had grown almost thin in
her anxiety, and there were shadows
about her eyes, her curling dark hair
was carelessly knotted and she wore a
gan slowly to write to King.
She tried again and again. What
could she say? The truth? Could she
write. II am sorry want to go with
you; cont care about anybody in the
| world but you?". She tried it, but
threw the sheet on the floor of the big
living room, and tried it again. Dear
King, have never loved any one but
lyou-won't you forgive me?" This
seemed utterly abject to her She dis
carded that also, not noting that the
fresh summer wind picked it up and
whirled it over the bare polished floor
to the door opening upon the veranda.
and that the first sheet caught on the
edge of rug.
Again she tried, and this time it was
shorter yet; she knew the messenger
would come in moment. and she had
been wasting time in thinking, in try
ing to save her pride. Now she let it
go.
Dear King" she wrote, ST can't
stand it to have you go without me.
can be ready in two days or in two
hours. If you will take me-or will go
just as am. I don't care for any
| thing but you She heard the
looking up, as the maid let some one
| in.
you will have to wait a moment,
! messenger" she said, but a queer feel
| ing came over her, and she lifted her
eyes.
| Kingston Corey, his face rather
stern and set, was deliberately reading
a sheet of paper. He stopped and
picked up another piece near the rug,
and read that. Then, his face alight
he came toward her, but tears filled
| her eyes, and her vision of him wav-
cred, though she rose and stood wait
ing, still clutching the unfinished note
in one hand. e
sLeona, did you-menn what is
written here ~
yes" she said. and gave him the
paper in her hand. land 1 mean this
too. I was going to send it to you
Oh, it's terrible not to have any shame
or pride or anything"
| "But love? 1t is-terrible, dear!
But it's-the best thing, too. isn't it p
! She nodded her tousled head, and
then sprang away from him.
Don't you think you'd better tele-
phone dad to come home this minute
There'll have to be some quick work
around here. 49, Copyright, 1911, by
| the Associated Literary Press.)