The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-12
THE EVENING STORY
BY the Old sundiaI.

(By Virginia Blair.)
Back of the Martins new bungalow
was terraced garden with rose Dor
ders and a fountain at the end. In
the very center of the garden stood
|sundial around the pedestal of which
the dark-leaved ivy chung.
The Martins had made their money
in patent medicine. Their so-called
six servants. In the bottom Of her
heart Mrs. Martin would have prefer
red a Six-roomed cottage, with one
maid to do the heavy work. she was
a round, rosy, healthyminded wo-
man, who liked to cook and scrub, and
who was distinctly bored by her mag
nificence. Her husband was bored
also, but he hid it because he had
really made his money against her ad-
vice. She had feared that they might
lose their happiness. when they gain
ed a fortune, and she had not been
far from the truth.
Their daughter Angela was like
her mother. In spite of her ethereal
name, she waxed round and rosy as
she grew into young womanhood. She
was domestic in her tastes and would
have made an excellent wife for a
poor man.
But her father had made up his
mind that she should not marry a
poor man. Hence, when suitors came
to WOO. he selected an ambitious
money, united to his own income.
would make him a power in the fin
ancial world.
Angela rebelled in vain. She had
her own ideas about the man she
wanted to marry. On the other side
of the hedge at the foot of the garden
was a little stream. and here, every
day in midsummer, came certain
youth, on fishing bent. Perhaps the
stream would not have held as much
Co 1T h., IRo Mt Gynn
that Angela was on the other side of
the hedge.
The two young people had been
classmates at school, but the Martins
increasing fortune had taken Angela
into more fashionable Surroundings.
During her years at boarding school
she had been shut away from the
friends of her childhood, but when she
came back to her home town she
showed herself constant to her youth
full companions. Her father objected
strenuously.
Hence it came about that it was
only when John West fished in che
little stream that he could meet An
gela. Every day when she could slip
away she spent on the other side of
own garden at the slightest warning.
The days that she could not come
she tucked a note into certain niche
in the carved sundial, from which
JO0n w est, reaching over Inc USuSCs
distracted 1t.
So it happened that the sundiai
knew all the secrets of the pair. 1t
hearl their VOWS as they sat in the
shadow of the hedge, and it kept their
notes safely in that inner pocket of
stone.
The plans of the young couple for
the future included a modest cottage
in a distant town. There was to be a
garden, but not terraced garden, with
flowers in it. They were to raise veg
etables and keep q COW. All OF Ange.
las instincts were of the country bred.
She had heard her mother tell of the
first days Of her married life and OF
the Joy there had been in their hum
BILE home.
with money" Angela told her lover
''but I won't, I WON'T"
There is only one trouble" John
said slowly, "everybody's going to think
that I am marrying you for your mon
ely. Even if don't take it, and If We
live on my income, they will say that
l expect to get it sometime"
eff he would only cut US off without
a penny" said Angela; "but mother
won't let him do that because she is
afraid I will suffer"
You see if you cannot talk her
over" John advised. 81 do not want
to be known as a fortune hunter"
But Mrs. Martin was obdurate.
Though riches had brought her I'M
happiness, she still desired them for
her daughter. and at last John West
took a stand.
II love you better than anything else
in the world, Angela" he said,
"but as long as your father accuses
me of wanting your money cannot
marry you"
Angela turned pale. Then you do
not love me-" she said.
She turned and left him. and after
that the sundial heard no more bliss
full plans. No more notes were
tucked into the concealed niche. An
gela, growing thinner and paler every
day, wandered through the garden
alone. The flowers faded and dropped
and the cold winds of autumn blew
the leaves from the trees. All the
world seemed gray as her own heart
At last she gave in to her fathers
had selected, and would try to be
happy. Her mother, troubled little
at Angela's listlessness, planned a
trip to the city to buy the elaborate
outfit worthy of her position.
So on that last day, before they left,
Angela wandered out into the garden.
The wind blew from the east and
there was a drizzle of rain which made
the garden wet and sodden. She Sob
bed to herself softly, remembering the
summer days of happiness. She had
not had line from John West since
he had gone away. His pride still
stood between them. Before she went
back into the house she gave a little
letter into the keeping of the sundial.
Probably John West would never get
it, but at least it contained the out
pouring of her hearts misery.
The next morning she and her
mother left for the triD to town, Her